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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Questions From Near You
Manistee, MI
Effectiveness of house plants for removing household air pollution
I have heard that there is a combination of house plants that will increase the oxgyen in your home. Could you please tell me the names of these plants? I think
there are a group of four of them. ...
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Custer, MI
Insects in non-native weeping willow
My weeping willow is dropping small black insects. Thousands of 1/16" cover the ground etc. Insects stain a raspberry, purple color when smashed. Insects are very soft.Insects present about 3 weeks...
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Pentwater, MI
Does music affect sunflower growth from Pentwater MI
Does music affect sunflower growth?
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Grawn, MI
Invasive Indian paintbrushes in Grawn MI
I have lots of Indian paintbrushes crowding my lawn and taking over the grass..what kills it without killing the grass?
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Shelby Twp, MI
Removal of invasive horsetail in Shelby Township, MI
Please help me or direct me to who may be able to help. I have horsetail (Equisetum) invading my Blue Rug Juniper.
Please tell me what I can use to get rid of the horsetail (Equisetum) without killi...
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New Era, MI
Identification of plant resembling garlic mustard, but with purple flowers
While searching for the invasive garlic mustard I am finding a very similar looking plant (triangular, alternate, toothed leaves; four petals, same habitat of shaded roadside and interior woods) excep...
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Maple City, MI
Deer-resistant shrubs for Michigan
I live in deer country. I'm looking for shrubs that are attractive to birds but not to deer. Our soil is sandy. I have a part sun, part-shade situation. I live in zone 6, two miles east of Lake Michi...
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Traverse City, MI
Care for non-native hybrid hydrangea from Traverse City, MI
We just planted some new Hydrangea (Summer Beauty) that we bought at a local nursery. The plants are about 3' tall with blooms on the stalks. The blooms appear to be top-heavy as most all the stalks ...
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Paris, MI
A list of bloom times for wildflowers in Michigan
Hello, I am new to bee keeping and live in central Michigan. Can you tell me or do you know where I could find a list of the Michigan wild flower bloom times? This would be very helpful to me.
Than...
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TWO RIVERS, WI
Locating toxic, non-native, invasive Castor Bean seeds
Where do I find castor bean seeds? Thank you.
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Newaygo, MI
Finding plants to thrive under white pines in Newaygo, MI
Would you please explain why plants do not grow or grow well under white pines or other evergreens? Are there any ground covers that would thrive under a white pine?
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Elk Rapids, MI
Ground cover for roadside in Elk Rapids MI
Elk Rapids, MI (Lake Michigan, East Grand Traverse Bay)
Greetings –
We are looking for a native ground cover that will cover an area along a roadside, about 100 feet from the Lake Michigan shorelin...
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Sturgeon Bay, WI
Wilting of Mountain Ash in Wisconsin
What type of disease would cause a Mountain Ash to entirely wilt? The bark on bottom of tree is opening up and is spongy feeling. No sign of any disease until last month and it quickly wilted with b...
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Rapid City, MI
Invasive, non-native Cirsium arvense in Michigan
I have identified that I have growing abundantly "Canada Thistle";the noxious and invasive. I know this to be true because where it grows nothing else grows; not even the native weeds. I want to get...
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Kewadin, MI
Deer resistant low-lying plants for Michigan
I want to create a bed of low lying plants (under 4 ft.)in the front of my cottage. The soil is completely sandy and gets eastern sun in the AM. There are many deer in the area.
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Grant, MI
Smarty Plants on pruning Clematis
I would like to know about pruning clematis. The one I have is getting very large. Should I cut it back, and if so, in the Spring or Fall? I live in Michigan. Thank you.
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Manitowoc, WI
How to prune my Linden tree?
We have a 15 yr old Linden in the backyard. North side of home. It can use some pruning at the lower branches. Which branches do we prune and when?
Also we have some river birches back there. Oth...
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Canadian Lakes, MI
Deer-resistant native plants for Michigan
I am looking for a deer-resistant ground cover for a mid-to-northern Michigan (lower peninsula), which can grow in completely sandy soil.
Thanks for any advice.
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Muskegon, MI
Toxicity of catalpa wood?
Is the sawdust from cutting up a catalpa tree or the smoke from burning the wood toxic?
Thank you,
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Sheboygan, WI
Hedge for steep slope by sidewalk in Wisconsin
I have a fairly steep slope from the sidewalk to my yard. The space is about 48" high, 30" deep and 120' long. I was thinking that a boxwood hedge would fill that space nicely but no one else aroun...
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Sheboygan, WI
Wisconsin Ground Cover for Acid Soil
What type of native wisconsin ground cover plants do best on acidic bare areas under pine trees such as blue spruce?...and where is best source for these plants or seeds?
Thanks so much for your help
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