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
Cookeville, TN
Native plant initiatives for universities in Southeast U.S.
Hello, I am an undergraduate student majoring in botany at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN. I am a native plant enthusiast and would like to promote n.p.'s on campus. Do you kn...
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Granville, TN
Plants for a steep lot in Tennessee
I have built a home on a very steep lot (approx 1 1/2 acres)in Northern Central Tenn in Jackson County. The lot is too steep to mow and some of it is too steep to stand on comfortably. My question is...
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Crossville, TN
Need suggestions for a vine to grow on a fence in Crossville, TN
I would like your suggestions on a vine to grow on a fence in part shade that would look good in winter as well as summer, if possible, for a site in Crossville, TN.
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crossville, TN
Plant ID in Crossville TN
I live in Crossville TN and have found a common plant on hikes in the state park. It has long (1-1.5)narrow leaves that are green and deep red? What is it please?
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Crossville, TN
Yellow butterfly in Tennessee
I live in Crossville Tenn and am seeing a butterfly that is yellow with a long hanging. What is it and what is it doing?
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Crossville, TN
Plants for centerpieces that can be planted in a garden
I want to purchase flowers in Crossville, Tennessee to use as centerpieces and then plant in my garden. What are the best suggestions to do so?
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Watertown, TN
Planting native blueberry bushes in Tennessee
I have long wished to have wild blueberry bushes at my home. They are native to mountainous regions of my state, but I don't know whether or not it is reasonable to expect to be able to grow them wh...
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Jamestown, TN
Plant identification
I have found a small tree like plant that is small and the stem or trunk was thin and the leaves look like fern leaves. I also found a larger one it was thicker and closer to the ground the leaves wer...
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Woodbury, TN
Plant identification
Need to identify multi branched plant, feathery appearance, approx 6' tall stalks, grows in clusters. Tiny whitish/pink flowers at top of stems. Very similar in appearance to milfoil, only these grow...
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Woodbury, TN
Plant ID in Woodbury TN
Please help identify this unusual plant.
I am in Middle TN, Cannon County.
This plant comes up every year and looks like something tropical. It has huge leaves about 16 + inches wide. and grows abo...
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Altamont, TN
Native Suppliers Directory
we are a wholesale wetland plants nursery.we'd like to be added to your wetland plant suppliers list.
thank you
tammy sons
tn nursery
12845 state rt 108
altamont tn 37301
931-692-4252
www.wetl...
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Murfreesboro, TN
Propagating Magnolia grandiflora from Murfreesboro TN
There are several Magnolia grandiflora (Southern magnolia) that have been planted in my neighborhood in middle Tennessee by a landscaping company, and now that they all appear to be producing seeds, ...
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Gallatin, TN
Native plants for roadside in Gallatin TN
What native plant would you suggest that we try to establish on 100 feet of road frontage which gets full afternoon sun? The soil is mostly clay, and it's on a rather sleep hill about 10 feet high. ...
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Gallatin, TN
Smarty Plants on Echinacea paradoxa
What kind of habitat (soil, sun, water etc) does Echinacea paradoxa like to live in?
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Gallatin, TN
Identification of shrub with red berries in Tennessee
Hello,
I've got a shrub in my backyard; it has leaves off in groups of 3 and it has multiple reddish berries in groups by the dozens. I'm not sure what plant it is. The shrub is stick-like and appr...
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Edmonton, KY
Premature leaf drop on Red Maple in Kentucky
I have a ten foot Red Maple tree that has been set out for 4 years. Its leaves have slowly turned colors until it currently looks like fall. The leaves are not falling off nor is there yet any s...
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Hendersonville, TN
Is the fruit of Bradford Pears toxic to dogs?
I need to know if the little Berries on the Bradford Pear trees are toxic to dogs? My labrador loves eating them.
Thank you,
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Portland, TN
Mystery plant in hay fields in Tennessee
I found plants growing in my hay fields that are about 4 feet tall, large leaves and blooms (ball shaped) bell flowers.That is, the blooms looks like a pom pom with about 50 to 80 small flowers "hang...
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Old Hickory, TN
Insect pests in Gaillardia aristata in Tennessee
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have a couple of 'Oranges and Lemons' blanketflower plants in a butterfly and hummingbird native flower garden that is the foundation planting of my house. They bloom prol...
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Antioch, TN
Identity of white flowers, 6 petals and 5 yellow stamens
Have white flower with 6 petals and 5 yellow stamen in middle . Looks like yellow stamen star cluster. Could be Gladious or Star of bethleham but Star has 6 yellow stamen in middle right? Can you id...
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Antioch, TN
Identification of vine with 4-petaled purple flower
Does anybody know what vine has a purple four petaled flower with small bulb in middle??
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