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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers Nan Hampton, Jimmy Mills and Barbara Medford to be the culpable and capable parties. Yet, others think staff members Damon Waitt, Joe Marcus and Philip Hawkins might play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

Questions From Near You

Sarasota, FL
Non-monoculture turf grass for Florida from Sarasota FL
I am looking for a non-monoculture turf grass suitable for the Florida climate. Will Habiturf work, or perhaps you have some other suggestions? Please advise.
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Sarasota, FL
Tradescantia as a water plant
I have a spiderwort plant, and when I found it at the nursery, it was in water by the pond plants, (I had no idea what kind of plant it was at the time) So I bought it, took it home, and repotted it w...
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Sarasota, FL
Plant identification for shrub in Florida
On our street we have ornamental shrub planted in the median that has small waxy green leaves, produces small fragrant white flowers, and red berries with white pulp and small seeds on the inside. Th...
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Sarasota, FL
Fertilization of recently-transplanted yucca
I planted a soft tip yucca a week ago, the spineless type. I was doing a landscaping job, it was dug up, left for a week without any dirt around the roots, and when the customer did not want it, I pl...
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Sarasota, FL
Replanting of non-native Christmas Palm from Sarasota FL
Do you know of a proven technique to plant a Christmas Palm in a built-in concrete pool deck planter box - using gravel around the soil root ball to delay the root bound condition we just ripped out?
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Sarasota, FL
Transplanting non-native bougainvillea in Florida
Hi, My neighbor has two established bougainvillea that he is giving me..I just have to dig them up and not kill them..what is the best way to dig up and transplant them?
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Sarasota, FL
Tilo (Justicia pectoralis), a tropical American plant
Re: keelo plant (Seminole, Fl. herb used to treat stomachache-St. Pete), try Tilo: Justicia pectoralis
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Sarasota, FL
Plant identification from Sarasota, FL.
Hi I recently went to Discovery Cove in Orlando Florida and saw a purple flowering tree/shrub that had branches similar to okra shape or starfruit shape, the leaves were very grainy similar to alligat...
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Sarasota, FL
Is Common Milkweed a Succulent?
Is the common milkweed (butterfly plant) classified as a succulent?
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Sarasota, FL
Are Royal Poinciana and Royal Empress trees the same?
Hi, can you tell me if the Royal empress tree and the Royal Poinciana are the same tree?
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Sarasota, FL
Florida law on removing orange trees
I live in a co-op mobile home park with a board of directors that tell me that if I have to cut down my orange tree that Florida law says that I have to replace it with another orange tree. I say that...
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Sarasota, FL
Phytoremediation using Paspalum vaginatum
Do you know of any on-going research using Paspalum vaginatum as the prime plant (monoculture) for use in phytoremediation. Utilizing this plant in Vegetated Swales, Spreader Swales, Grassy Swales,...
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Bradenton, FL
Problem with non-native Houttuynia cordata (chameleon)
I have a Houttuynia cordata chameleon plant in a clay pot. My zone is 9b and my yard is partial sun. Up until January, it was thriving. Now, it is dead. I think the cold killed it. I kept it moist at ...
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Bradenton, FL
Pachira aquatica loosing leaves.
We have an indoor money tree that is 20 feet tall, the leaves have started to turn brown and fall. We water twice a month and mist about the same. Can you opine what what we are doing wrong the plant ...
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ellenton, FL
Winter wrappings for plants in Ellenton Florida
Hi and thank you for your time, I do appreciate it. I have one question. I live in Florida and yes we do get frost and temps down to 28 degrees in the winter. last year I lost almost 50 plants tha...
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Nokomis, FL
Can Carolina wild petunia be planted over septic tank in Nokomis FL
Could you tell me the root depth of the Ruellia caroliniensis/ Carolina wild petunia? Trying to determine if I can plant it over septic tank.
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Venice, FL
Selective herbicide for non-native bermudagrass from Venice FL
Is there a selective herbicide that can be used for grasses like Floratam and Bermuda along with various weeds that will not damage Wedelia?
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Venice, FL
Distance from existing structures for live oak
How close to your house slab, driveway and footpaths should you plant live oaks so as to avoid in the future damage from roots, falling branches, etc?
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Venice, FL
Trimming non-native plants
What time of year is best to trim my Alamanda cathartica, and also my Plumbago auriculata? Thanks
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Anna Maria, FL
Are palm leaves poisonous?
I live in a second story house surronded by various types of palm trees on the west coast of Florida. My 1 year old son crawls on the decks and tries to taste all of the palm leaves that sneak through...
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North Port, FL
Groundcovers for Sarasota County, Florida
I would like to replace the grass in my yard with native or any other appropriate ground cover. I live in North Port, Sarasota County Florida. I would be grateful for any suggestions. Thank you in ad...
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