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
Golden, MS
SITES (or CITES) accredited source for native orchids
Do you know of a nursery which is SITES accredited which offer North American native orchids? I grow as a hobby indoor ones as well as keep my eyes out protecting the outside native ones we have: Spir...
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Golden, , MS
Interesting native orchids in MS.
I have a stand of 18 Cyp. parviflorum orchids which I tell only few people about. I've been an hobby grower for over 15 yrs. Recently, I noticed I has some Spiranthes growing which thrilled me. Now, ...
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Golden, MS
Information on orchid Spiranthes odorata from Golden MS
I live in N.W. MS and am fortunate enough to receive 'Wildflower'. Even though it's geared to TX I was wondering if you can provide me information on the Spiranthes odorata that sprang up in my yar...
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Tupelo, MS
Grasses for moist, steep hillside in Tupelo MS
I have a very steep bank that I have pampas grass planted in spots. It must be a natural spring in the bank because it stays very wet and runs into the street below. Can you suggest something to pla...
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Tupelo, MS
Will desert willow (Chlopsis linearis) grow in N. E. Mississippi
I am located in N.E. Mississippi. A friend of mine sent me a few desert willow seeds. I have about 5 plants growing now that are about 6 inches tall. I was wanting to know first of all, is it possi...
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Florence, AL
Plant called Jesus in a Manger from Florence AL
Where can I find a plant called "Jesus in a Manger"?
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Amory , MS
Failure to thrive of closet plant
I have a closet plant that is old and was doing fine and then started having droopy leaves. It needed to be in a larger pot so I transplanted into a larger pot with new potting soil. It continues to...
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Mt. Hope, AL
Rose varieties for Alabama
What climate and soil types will Rosa Rogosa, a plant that grows in MA, require?
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Killen, AL
Shrubs and trees over septic tank in Killen AL
Our church has 5year old blue rug juniper, a crape myrtle and two shrubs I can't identify planted over the septic tank which is surrounded with concrete and asphalt. I am afraid these will cause a pr...
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Austin, TX
Problems with non-native privet in Austin
My 2 privet shrubs/bushes facing the east in a shady area seem to be have less leaves and dead flowers, while across a walk way that 1 privet shrub/bush has lots of green leaves with lots of dying flo...
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Savannah, TN
Identification of plant from Tennessee
I was trying to find the identity of a plant my Grandmother grew around her house in West Tennessee. It was a nonflowering plant, about 12-24 in tall, had thornless leaves similar in shape to holly l...
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Wayne County, TN
Plants for green roofs in Wayne County TN
Are any of the plants recommended for green roofs more subject to fire during drought conditions? Our application will be on a rustic wood cabin, thus the importance of safety from fire.
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Enville, TN
Edible plants in shade in Enville TN
I have a flower bed against the back of my house with nothing in it. We moved into this house late last year and I was planning on planting some tomato plants there until I discovered it never gets an...
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Grand Junction, TN
Control of non-native invasive ground ivy in Grand Junction TN
Dear Mr. Smarty Pants,
I live in the Southwest portion of TN about 50 miles east of Memphis. We have an invasive plant, called Ground Ivy, Glechoma hederacea L in our yard and pasture now which is ta...
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Minor Hill, TN
Identification of a vine in Tennessee
I have a beautiful vine with clusters approximately 70 feet
All the way up a tree in a heavily wooded area. It seems to be evergreen or semi- evergreen. Can you help identify?
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Lawrenceburg, TN
Plants around swimming pool
What kind of plants can I plant around my swimming pool and will not be harmed by the chemicals of the pool?
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oxford, MS
Rain Garden plant for N. Mississippi
Rain Garden Plants for North Mississippi/Mid-South Region.
I wish the search parameters included plants which tolerate seasonal flooding and droughts, so that each state might search for its own r...
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Moscow, TN
Problems with morning glory in Tennessee.
I recently moved to Tennessee from Michigan. On my property I have a perennial morning glory. This year the leaves are all bubbly, the stems have white hard stuff on them and there is a brown hard t...
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Cullman, AL
Diamonds and Rubies plant (Lychnis coronaria)
I recently purchased a plant from the Huntsville, AL Botanical Gardens at their annual plant sale. The name on the plant tag is "Rubies and Diamonds". No one at the Botanical Garden knew the scien...
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Giles County, TN
Plant identification of vine in Tennessee
I have this vine that grows in my backyard and on the vine there are green balls about half the size of a hedge apple and inside balls are a bunch of seeds. The deer love to eat these. Do you know wha...
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Starkville, MS
How Do Persimmons Breed - Starkville, MS
Thank you for your earlier response about the genders of native persimmon trees. We have two, a much larger one that has borne fruit for years and years and a smaller one that I'd just assumed was m...
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