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
Gause, TX
Is Texas ragwort (Senecio ampullaceus) toxic to livestock?
Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have a question related to Texas Ragwort (Senecio ampullaceus):
I am concerned about toxicity to livestock as well as interested in natural control methods.
I was recentl...
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Rye, TX
Century plants spread through offshots from Rye TX
How do century plants spread? Are the little ones the babies?
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Cameron, TX
Transplanting crabapple tree from root sprouts
I have a Crabapple tree that is sending up sapling shoots.
Can these be dug up and planted?
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Cameron, TX
Problems with post oaks in Milam Co., TX
I have an old ranch in Milam County, Texas on the Brazos River with several large, old Post Oaks. Recently a few of these grand old trees have lost large branches and two have died. One has died, poss...
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Cameron, TX
Removal of Bermuda grass in lawn
Help! I am looking for a way to get rid of coastal bermuda grass in my yard, short of all out toxic chemical warfare. Is there any thing that can be used other than herbicides.
Thanks.
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Caldwell, TX
Vines free from cutter ants from Caldwell TX
What are some climbing vines cutter ants won't eat
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Caldwell, TX
Do any laws prohibit killing roadside wildflowers?
Is there any law or regulation at the state level that prohibits, or at least discourages, mowing or spraying herbicide on the highway roadsides before the wildflowers have set seeds or did we lose th...
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Franklin, TX
Shrub or small tree for hedgerow to block view
For property in the Post Oak Savanah area of Eastern Texas, north of Bryan, Texas, I would like to plant a native hedgerow to block the view of a neighboring property. Ideally this would be a shrub t...
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Bryan, TX
Plants named for Thomas Drummond
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Please send list of plants discovered and named for Thomas Drummond.
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Bryan, TX
Source for mulberry trees from Bryan TX
I am looking for suggestions for nurseries from which I could purchase Red Mulberry or Texas Mulberry Tree.
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Bryan, TX
List of plants with
Hello, Mr. Smarty Plants, I would like a list of all the plants which have been named for Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer. I would like to prepare this information for use at the Washington on the Brazos,...
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Bryan, TX
Apartment Landscaping
I live in an apartment and have a small patch filled with rocks and an ugly plant I don't know the name of. I want to take out the existing plants and put something else in. It has to be hearty,low m...
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Bryan, TX
Texas wildflower guide with every flower listed
Is there a Texas wildflower guide that contains every single flower that grows in the state? I have a few flowers on my land I haven't been able to identify because they aren't in the guide I have. ...
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Bryan, TX
Fan-Tex ash tree roots a problem near house foundation from Bryan TX
DO I need to worry about Fan TX roots being a problem near house foundations?
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Bryan, TX
Death of lantana in Bryan TX
I would like to know what killed several new gold lantana in a single bed that died over the winter. They looked quite healthy last fall. I have several other new gold lantana that survived the wint...
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Bryan, TX
Stream Bank Erosion Control for Bryan/College Station
I live in the Bryan/College Station area and need a ground cover to abate erosion on the bank of an intermittent stream. The bank is shaded. Do you have any suggestions?
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College Station, TX
Using bamboo as a filter for odoras from a wastewater treatmen plant in College Station, TX
My wastewater treatment plant is considering planting bamboo to create a filter for odors between it and the neighborhood. Are there any native plant alternatives that would function as well (if not b...
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College Station, TX
Silver ponyfoot becoming invasive in College Station TX
How can I control or get rid of an established Dichondra groundcover? I bought a few plants of D. argentea from your sale a few years ago, and in that time they've done really well in the area I plan...
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College Station, TX
Source for Lenophyllum texanum (coastal stonecrop)
Hi,
Where can you purchase native coastal stonecrop or texas sedum; preferably out in East Texas? Thank you!
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College Station, TX
Arguments for planting native grasses in College Station TX
I hear big ads about putting zoysia grass on my urban lawn but I would rather plant native grass, like Texas Bluegrass (for shady areas) and Blue Grama and Buffalograss grasses. What arguments can I g...
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College Station, TX
BEST SPACING AND EXPECTED HEIGHT FOR ACEROLA (BARBADOS CHERRY) IN COLLEGE STATION, TX
What is the best spacing for Malpighia glabra plants and how tall will they grow in College Station, TX?
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