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
LeClaire, IA
Controlling poison oak or poison ivy in Iowa
We recently purchased a property that is VERY wooded and has been vacant for two yrs. with little upkeep previously. We have (we were told) l00 yr old poison oak vines hanging
from trees. We hired so...
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Silvis, IL
Drawings of Illinois native wildflowers
I am looking for line drawings of Illinois Native Wildflowers to use for educational material for visitors to our new City Park. We plan to have signs throughout the park describing how Native Americ...
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Rock Island, IL
Possible cinnamon-scented plants in Mississippi delta
I used to live in Mississippi and now live in Illinois. I am trying to find what plant or tree has a strong cinnamon-like scent that fills the air. I noticed this scent driving through the delta in Mi...
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Rock Island, IL
Fall care for Fan Scarlet lobelia in Rock Island IL
What do I do with Scarlet Fan lobelia in the fall; do I cut it back or let it go as is?
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Clinton, IA
Grasses for Erosion control in Iowa
We have a sloping yard in the midwest that gets 2-4 hours of sun during the warm weather. When we have large rainfalls, the water just pours down the slope causing a lot of erosion to the surrounding ...
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Sherrard, IL
Reproduction of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
What is the reproduction of a Purple Coneflower?
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Rock Falls, IL
Drought and pollution resistant flowers for Rock Falls, IL
I am looking for hearty flowers for our city planters that are both resistant to drought and auto emissions. We are located in northern Illinois. Planting is done in May.
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Alexis, IL
Plant identfication
We have red pointed things growing wild in our yard. About the size of an index finger. They just pop up after a rain. Are they poisonous? We have pets.
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Polo, IL
Trouble with Redbud in Illinois
I have a red bud bush, we live in northern Illinois, it is shedding its bark. Is this normal or is the bush dying?
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Dixon, IL
Plants for erosion control along creek that often floods
What would be good ground cover to plant along the bank of a storm creek and the river it runs into? Previous owner killed all the poison oak and garlic mustard all over the yard, but whatever he trie...
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Dixon, IL
Smarty Plants on seed sources
I'm trying to find a source to buy seed or plants of rose gentian (Sabatia angularis). Do you know a source for seed or plants?
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Oregon, IL
Plants for wetlands in Illinois
I have a home that is just above a wetlands in Northern Illinois. It is on a river and the wetlands go from bone dry to under 3 feet of water. The shoreline is beginning to erode where there are no tr...
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Iowa City, IA
What to do about grass dying under pin oaks in Iowa
We have 2 pin oaks about 15 years old in our front yard. The grass has started dying out under and around them. What can we do?
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Iowa City, IA
Why are there no low-mow lawn grasses composed of only native fescues?
Dear SP, Most blends of ecograss I see are a combination of non-native and native fescues (and sometimes buffalo grass, blue grama, etc.). Why are there (apparently) none that are composed entirely of...
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Iowa City, IA
Is Milium effusum 'aureum' native to North America from Iowa City, IA
I have seen the cultivar grass milium effusm aureum described as a native of both Europe and the N. America. Both continents HAVE a subspecies of m. effusum. Which is more accurate; is MEA a cultivar ...
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Iowa City, IA
Alternative for sedges for turf-like lawn in shade
When it comes to a turf-like lawn in shade, is it pretty much sedges or nothing among native options? By the way, I write from up north here in Iowa.
Thanks!
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Dubuque, IA
Are dusty millers perennial in Dubuque, IA?
I have dusty millers in my front yard. Last fall I did nothing with them as I wasn't sure if they will return or not. Do the dusty millers continue to grow year after year and should I cut them dow...
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Dubuque, IA
Plants for steep slope in shade in Iowa
I work for a small non-profit shelter here in Dubuque, Ia. that has a very steep slope behind the building that needs some sort of plant or grass planted to stop erosion. The slope gets little to no s...
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Dubuque, IA
Landscaping recommendations for site in Dubuque, IA
I need a seed recommendation. Here are the variables:
Location: Dubuque, IA (east Central Iowa)
Soil type: Sandy to sandy and gravelly. Part is a riverbank facing east. Steep bank then flat to ...
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Chana, IL
Nightflowering plants native to Northern Illinois
Looking for any/all info on night flowering plants that are native to Northern Illinois.
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North Liberty, IA
Leaf problems on oaks in North Liberty IA
My oak trees (young and old) are showing leaf problems. Is there a disease or insect causing oak tree disease?
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