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
Iron River, WI
Wildflowers blooming in northern Wisconsin in July from Iron River WI
What wildflowers are in bloom late July in northern Wisconsin, in the Bayfield and Douglas counties?
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Superior, WI
Using cattail fluff to stuff pillows
Me and my children filled a pillow case with cattail feathers today and brought it home. My mother says that it is going to get or attract bugs. Are there any dangers in this little project?
Than...
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Duluth, MN
Can berries of non-native Fuchsia plant be eaten from Duluth MN
Are the berries of the Fuschia plant edible?
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Duluth, MN
Starting a sweet potato in water in Duluth MN
I am trying to start a sweet potato plant in water. I noticed 3 days after it's in water, there is white finger
like(hairy) areas at the tip of the bottom of the potato and also on the sides. I have...
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Ironwood, MI
Prunus subhirtella deer resistance in Ironwood MI
Is the double flowering prunus pendula subhirtella deer "food"?
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Aurora, MN
Toxic effect of mulberry fruits and sap
What would be the toxic effect of the unripe fruit of the mulberry tree or the white sap?
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Frederic, WI
Prime wildflower bloom viewing times in Texas
I am planning to drive from Wisconsin to San Antonio in the spring. My schedule is flexible, so I would like to time the trip with the wildflower bloom. I grew up in Texas, but I can't remember when ...
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Chetek, WI
Plants for a Steep Bank in Wisconsin
We live on a lake with many white and red pines. The steep bank needs something not adversely affected by a buildup of pine needles to hold the sandy soil in place. The bank faces west and the pines ...
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Woodruff, WI
Fall blooming native Texas wildflowers
Hello, Mr. Smarty Plants,
I'm a writer working on a historical set in TX in 1821 in the fall. My characters travel from the piney woods in east TX to the South Plain around San Antonio in Sept and e...
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Chisholm,, MN
Pruning of Hamelia patens, Firebush
I have a Hamelia Patens (Fire Bush) it says it will grow to 12 feet high and 5-6 feet across. Can I keep pruning it to about 5 feet without damaging the shrub?
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Grand Marais, MN
Edible forest garden for northern Minnesota
I am planning an edible forest garden for northern Minnesota. Can you suggest a list of plants that are native to this area. We are in zone 3a or 3b. Thank you!
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Sand Creek, WI
Erosion on sandy bank in Wisconsin
I live in Sand Creek Wisconsin. As the name states SAND. I have a problem with rain eroding the sand hill sides. Looking for some type of plant or plants that will help with the erosion problem.
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Chippewa Falls, WI
Planting instructions for Ilex verticillata in Wisconsin
We have a winterberry tree and we would like to grow another one in a different area. Can we transplant part of that or do we need to start from scratch? How would we know what the male plant looks li...
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Chippewa Falls, WI
Plants to replace Polygonum cuspidatum ( Japanese knotweed)
I live in a heavily wooed area of Chippewa Falls, WI. Our property is covered with Giant Japanese Knot Weed. We have been trying to get rid of it for years. We are finally going to try using the dr...
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Chippewa Falls, WI
When to Collect Rudbeckia triloba Seed?
How soon after flowering may I cut Rudbeckia triloba flower heads to save seeds? Do cones need to be attached to the plant in or out of the ground to continue to mature?
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Sugar Camp,Rhinelander, WI
Willows native to Wisconsin
I have a small garden center in the far northern reaches of Wisconsin....and I specialize in native varieties for up here. I also help folks with lake shore restoration and preservation.
There was...
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Rhinelander, WI
Plants for a shady hillside in WI
I would like to know what kind of plants I could plant on a northern exposure hillside to stop erosion. At the bottom of the hill is a lake. Also would putting rocks from the area as natural retaining...
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Hugo , MN
Care for large trumpet vine in Hugo MN
I was recently given a large Trumpet vine that has been growing in the same place for the last 25 years.I have replanted it and given it a large trellis to grow on.I live in central Minnesota. My ques...
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Hudson, WI
Trees and shrubs in Wisconsin
I live in Hudson, WI, just across the border from Minn/St Paul and would like to create a privacy screen between my front yard and my neighbors yard. Right now it's full sun, but I want to plant a c...
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Blaine, MN
How to get rid of plants spreading fluffy seeds
I live in Blaine, MN next to a Lake. The "buffer zones" next to the lake are filled with native grasses, weeds & wildflowers. We are trying to identify a plant that blooms July with lavender flowe...
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North Oaks, MN
Native plants both deer resistant and good for erosion from North Oaks MN
We have several partially sunny areas on hills that are prone to both deer and erosion. Our goal is to reduce runoff in an effort to preserve the watershed that provides tap water to many citizens of ...
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