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.
Support NPINHelp grow the Native Plant Information Network by giving to the Plant Database Fund or subcribing to Wildflower magazine.
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
Georgiana, AL
Is Norfolk pine poisonous to cats?
Is a northfork pine poisonous to cats?
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
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
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
The Netherlands,
Seeds of Pinus engelmanii for the Netherlands
I am living in the Netherlands Europe, I hope that you can help me. A friend of mine has a beautiful Pinus Engelmannii and I am looking for seeds of this pine. Have you any idea where i can buy them?
...
view the full question and answer
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!
view the full question and answer
Daleville, AL
Wildflowers for Daleville AL
What wildflowers will grow in Daleville AL, in almost all day sun ?
Thank you.
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
Molino, FL
Looking for yellow bottlebrush (Callistemon sp.) and native substitutes
I have been looking for years for a yellow bottle bush. It is identical to the red but is yellow. there are several varieties, but the one i want is just like the red one in appearance. I live in Flor...
view the full question and answer
molino, FL
Identity of a thorny vine in Florida
Area: panhandle of FL Problem: thorny vine with large potato like roots, rapid growing and very invasive. grows in summer time.
thanks
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
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 ...
view the full question and answer
Marion, AL
Plants for slope in central Alabama
Our home is atop a 20-25' eastern facing sandy loam slope in central Alabama. It was previously covered w/ kudzu. After 3 yrs. of eradication of the kudzu we are ready to plant with native grasses/pl...
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
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 ...
view the full question and answer
Dothan, AL
Wax myrtle in partial shade in Dothan AL
Will the Wax Myrtle do well in the 36303 area code in partial shade?
view the full question and answer