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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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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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

Questions From Near You

Andalusia, AL
Plant identification of Indian Cane
I live in southern Alabama. We have a plant that is wild but I can not find any info on it. My grandmother called it Indian Cane. The stems are red and you can chew them, they have a sour taste
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Georgiana, AL
Is Norfolk pine poisonous to cats?
Is a northfork pine poisonous to cats?
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Greenville, AL
Diagnosis of problem with Parsley hawthorn
I have a Crataegus marshallii (Parsley hawthorn) that is about 3 years old. It leafed out this spring and flowered lightly. As the summer has progressed, though, the leaves have been dropping premat...
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Enterprise, AL
Is cat palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum) poisonous?
I have a Cataractarum (Cat) Palm and am wondering if it is poisonous. I have a Cockatiel who likes to play in it. Thank you!
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Daleville, AL
Wildflowers for Daleville AL
What wildflowers will grow in Daleville AL, in almost all day sun ? Thank you.
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Troy, AL
Optimum viewing time for Texas wildflowers, bluebonnets
I will make a car trip from Alabama to Anson, Texas, in the next month or so. I would like to time my visit to see the Blue Bonnets and/or wildflowers blooming. Please advise me as to the best time t...
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Ozark, AL
Tree without extensive root system in Ozark, AL
I would like to plant a tree (in full sun next to a brick house wall) that doesn't have an extensive root system. I have concerns about the roots and the water/septic lines, as well as the concrete h...
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Wicksburg/Newton, AL
Low native groundcover for Wicksburg/Newton AL
I am laying a rather wide-set flagstone pathway in our back weeds (planning some native grass and wildflowers in the fall on either side of the path). I am looking for some very low native groundcover...
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Ponce de Leon, FL
Identification of giant lilies
I have giant lilies that I can't identify. The bulbs are about 4" in diameter, the leaves are 4 ft long. The flowers of the pink emerge only in the early summer, the flowers of the red emerge in s...
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Skipperville, AL
Need to plant something in the cracks in my patio in Skipperville, AL.
Mr. Smarty Pants, I have a cement patio full of cracks. I would like to grow some sort of plant or plants in the cracks. I live in lower Alabama, and my patio is in full sunlight. Do you have an...
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Bonifay, FL
Liriope spicata for erosion and dust suppression from Bonifay FL
I want to plant Liriope 'spicata'. I know it can be aggressive and that's what I want. We live on dirt road and need something by road for help in erosion and it's also hard to mow this are...
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Bonifay, FL
Should I purchase wax myrtle plants as liners or pots
I want to buy some wax myrtle over internet.Place has wax myrtle "liners" They look very thin. Will these bushes grow quickly or should I spend more $ for 1 gallon plants. Just need a hedge fairly q...
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Freeport, FL
Privacy screen for wet area in Florida
What are the best type of bushes/trees to plant in a low-lying area which is very wet--has sitting water after rainfall and drains slowly that is fast growing and serve as a good privacy border near f...
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Fort Walton Beach, FL
Regulations for transporting plants to Texas from Florida
We are relocating to TX from FL, I have a collection of potted palm trees and quite a few potted tropical plants (none are invasive)that I would like to bring with us, we will be traveling by car and ...
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Pace, FL
Will Echinacea outgrow Spanish Needle?
I'd like to plant some Echinacea in an area where Spanish Needle has been growing. I've pulled up the old plants, but I know there's seed there, actually everywhere in my yard! Is there any variety ...
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Pace, FL
Hillside Erosion in Pace FL
I have a hillside that slopes down about 10 feet to a spring fed pond. The pond drains into Escambia Bay. We have 2 dams with culverts to control the flow of water. Last year during a torrential ra...
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Pace, FL
Privacy screen for Pace Florida
We live in the Florida panhandle and I wondering what we could use as a natural fence line between our property and the neighbor's. I love the look of oleander, but upon research found it to be toxic...
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Pace, FL
Hurricane Ivan damage from Pace FL
My yard on Escambia Bay in NW Florida was stripped of good plants and topsoil by a 4 foot tidal surge in Hurricane Ivan. I have made some plantings, but am just now getting the entire property cleare...
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Molino , FL
Identity of tree with pumpkin-like fruit in Florida
Hello. I live in a small town called Molino FL. I was walking on the side of our road and found a tree with pumpkin type fruit on the limbs. I have been trying to figure this tree out for about 3 mont...
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Dothan, AL
Wax myrtle in partial shade in Dothan AL
Will the Wax Myrtle do well in the 36303 area code in partial shade?
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Dothan, AL
Apple trees for Dothan, AL
I would like to plant early, mid and late season apple trees in my area Dothan Al.What types can I plant that will help pollinate each other? I have plenty of room and planting some crabapples trees w...
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