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
Brenham, TX
Oak tree with browning leaves in Brenham TX
I have a large oak tree in my small back yard. I also have a sprinkler so the tree has been receiving some water. Nevertheless, some of the leaves are turning brown in patches. Would drip watering ...
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Brenham, TX
Optimum mowing time for acreage with spring wildflowers
I have several acres where wildflowers grow in the spring, & would like to know when and how often to mow this field for optimum blooms?
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Brenham, TX
Plants for shady area in Brenham, TX
I have an area which receives shade all day, but gets a lot of sun just before sunset. What sorts of plants would do well?
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Brenham, TX
Native plants for deer
I live on 5 acres near Brenham and want to plant FOR the deer, without using non-natives. I leave unmowed islands of Buffalo grass, little bluestem and many native forbs. I know they are using it for ...
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Brenham, TX
Drought and Fire Resistant Plants for Round Top, Texas
Dear Mr. Smarty Pants
Do you have any advice on plants which are drought tolerant and fire resistant for a central Texas location near Round Top Texas?
Thanks
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Brenham, TX
When to mow after bluebonnets bloom in Brenham, TX
I live in Brenham, TX, and thanks to spreading 80 pounds of bluebonnet seeds last fall, we had a very small but promising showing of bluebonnets this March and April. The bluebonnets still appear to b...
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brenham, TX
More on bluebonnets
Do bluebonnets, being a legume, contribute anything beneficial to the soil?
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Brenham, TX
When to reseed wildflowers in a drought year?
My acreage with extensive wildflowers was mowed in 2010 before annuals had seeded. Only a few returned this year. Considering the predicted lonterm drought should I postpone reseeding this fall?
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Brenham, TX
Optimum mowing times for wildflower garden
I live in Washington County and have 4 acres that contain both an abundance of spring wildflowers and native grasses (silver and little bluestem, Texas grama). The homeowners restrictions require that...
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Brenham, TX
Turk's Cap and Pavonia insect problems
My Turk's cap and Pavonia lasiopetala (rock rose) plants both have quite a few leaves that are skeletonized in appearance. I do not see any insects on the underside of the leaves. What could be cau...
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Brenham, TX
Bluebonnet party for April 17 in Brenham TX
I wish to have a Bluebonnet party. I planted seeds in the spring and fall and the plants have come up like crazy. Given our unusual weather, when can you predict they will peak.?? I was planning t...
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Chappell Hill, TX
Latest time to mow bluebonnets from Chappell Hill TX
The past few years, my bluebonnets have been overwhelmed by tall grass. I could have solved this by mowing later, but I was always afraid of mowing new bluebonnet plants. When is the latest time I can...
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Chappell Hill, TX
Identification of Bidens aristosa (Tickseed sunflower) in Texas
I think the ID of the plant I submitted a description of yesterday is Tickseed Sunflower (Bidens aristosa).
Thanks.
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Chappell Hill, TX
Starting transplants of native Pleopeltis polypodioides
I would like to know how to start Pleopeltis polypodioides (resurrection fern) growing in my oak trees. I have a source for the plants but do not know how to start the transplants on the limbs of the...
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Chappell Hill, TX
Plant identification
I am trying to name a pink fall blooming wildflower. It is growing in a ditch and has several blooms on a stalk about 4' tall.
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Chappell Hill, TX
a source for fruitless olive (non-native) trees
I was given a "mexican olive" several years ago which is doing very well.
This one is non-fruiting and I would like to have another that is non-fruiting but cannot find one. Cordia boissieri see...
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Chappell Hill, TX
Need suggestions for plants for a privacy screen for a pecan orchard in Chappell Hill, TX.
Mr. Smarty Plants,
My family has just begun converting our land in Chappell Hill, TX (Washington County) into a pecan orchard. We had to clear a lot of the overgrowth around the edge of the proper...
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Chappell Hill, TX
Wild Texas olive trees in Chappell Hill TX
Are wild texas olive trees male and female? Mine is evergreen with no olives. I would like to have another that is evergreen and has no fruit but all I find are deciduous and have fruit.
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Burton, TX
Killing a century plant from Burton TX
How do you kill the century plant, they are taking over?
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Burton, TX
Can you produce hay and bluebonnets on the same field?
Hi - We have a field that produces wild bluebonnets every spring. Is it possible to grow and bail hay in this field and not kill off our bluebonnets? Thank you.
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Burton, TX
Vine with wine-colored flowers in Washington County, TX
I'm trying to identify a deep purple wine colored flowering vine in Washington County, Texas. It looks very similar to Texas wisteria, but it is something else. I've seen them growing in vineyards...
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