Native Plants
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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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Questions From Near You
Dublin, GA
Spotted spurge in Dublin GA
I noticed that you did not have a "Spotted Spurge", or "Chamaesyce maculata" listed. My Aunt asked me for help identifying it, until she remembered what it was.
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Bonaire, GA
Stopping Soil Erosion on a Slope
I live in Bonaire, GA and have a slope in my back yard. The soil is red clay and it gets sun most of the day. A small section of this slope tends to have a mudslide to the bottom of the slope. How ...
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Lyons, GA
Trailing milkvine, Matelea pubiflora, identified from seed pod
I have a vine that has a seed pod that looks like okra. Inside the pod is a small flat seed and a cotton-looking fiber. Please help identify, if possible.
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Louisville, GA
Need a shade tree in a limited space in Louisville, GA
Mr. Smarty Pants, Hello! What kind of tree would be good to shade, in a limited space, and having a taproot? This is in middle Ga. One side of yard has main water pipe coming in off the road and ...
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Milledgeville, GA
Wildlife gardening in Georgia
I am looking for native shrubs/flowers that will attract butterflies and/or birds. I live in Milledgeville, GA which is in central GA, 1 mile from the Oconee River. Some areas of my yard are full sun...
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MACON, GA
Plants to prevent bank erosion in Georgia
I NEED LIST OF PLANTS TO HELP PREVENT BANK EROSION. WE LIVE AT BOTTOM OF HILL THAT FURTHER SLOPES TO A POND. THE AREA IS SHADY AND WET FACING NORTHEAST. ANY RAIN CAUSES THE POND TO MUD UP. WE HAVE...
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Macon, GA
Are the seeds of my Graptopetalum paraguayense in Macon, GA fertile?
I have a Graptopetalum paraguayense that has finished blooming. I put several of the dead flowers into a Ziploc bag and shook them around, and a few hundred seeds came out. They are oblong and very sm...
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Lizella, GA
Where and when bloom; will they bloom in artificial light
Do wildflowers grow through out the world, even in desert and Arctic regions?
When do they bloom?
Will they bloom in artificial light?
What is the most interesting fact about wildflowers?
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Claxton, GA
Plant identification
Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have some plants I cannot identify. They were given to me after a funeral. I love them, i would like to know WHAT THEY ARE??? Here are descriptions. I can get photos. (PS I liv...
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Waynesboro, GA
Source for wintergreen to make tea in Waynesboro GA
I want to know where to buy a wintergreen tree to make tea from. Thanks. I live in Waynesboro,GA.
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Forsyth, GA
Identity of a plant at UGA Trial Gardens 15 years ago
Looking to identify a plant that was in UGA trial gardens about 15 years ago, large plant with purple flowers, fuzzy leaves like a lambs ear. Thought it started with a Thiobana or something like that
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Warwick, GA
Lilies with with wide lush foliage in Georgia
I love lilies of all kinds, but I particularly like lilies with wide lush foliage. An example would be Agapanthus foliage. What other lilies present that same attribute?
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Madison, GA
Establishing a wildflower meadow in Madison GA
Can a wildflower meadow be established by seeding in a sunny pasture without removing all existing vegetation, just mowing low and slightly loosening soil with the teeth on a front end loader?
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Augusta, GA
Plant identification for vine in Georgia
A wild vine is taking over our cypress tree. Cypress tree is in our yard beside the fence. Very thick woods behind our fence. Leafs, on vine, resemble small maple leafs. It has orange flower balls....
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Augusta, GA
Plant identification
I'm trying to figure out the name of a plant/shrub purchased a couple years ago. It was a shrub (about medium sized) with yellow blooms that smelled like lemon. I don't think it was lemon balm or le...
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Americus, GA
Are Cleveland Pear trees in Georgia toxic to horses and/ or dogs?
Are flowering Cleveland Pear trees (Pyrus calleryana) poisonous to horses and/or dogs? I have read that the prunus species are, does that include pear trees? Please help!
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Americus, GA
Replenishing a fallow field in Central Geogia.
I have recently taken a 54 acre field out of cultivation and would like to replenish the soil with native cover plants. There is a slope to a portion of the field that is experiencing some erosion. I...
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Ellaville , GA
Evergreen shrubs as dust barrier in Georgia
Mr. Smarty Plants, I live on a dirt road in West Central Georgia. Could you recommend a fast growing, low maintenance evergreen shrub or small tree (that will not harm my horses or goats) that will fo...
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North Augusta , SC
Plants for erosion control along creek in South Carolina
We have a creek that runs thru our property and it is eroding our rip rap. The creek runs head on into an embankment which is causing the worse issue. Is there anything we can plant to help stop the e...
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North Augusta, SC
Evergreen flowering shrub for North Augusta GA
I need suggestions for shade-loving evergreen flowering bush that will grow 6 feet or so, besides azaleas.
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Ellabell, GA
Help identify a plant.
Could you help me to identify this plant?
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