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
Harwood, TX
Identity of yellow-flowered plant with stickers
I have yellow flowered plant taking over my lawn. I used weed killers last year and it has spread this year and still spreading. It has small burs (not as hard as a regular sticker bur but will stic...
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Luling, TX
Propagation of Mexican olive in Luling, TX
Mr. Smarty Plants: we live in Luling, just south of Austin and have a 4 year old Mexican Olive tree; question: how do we propagate this 'hard to find' tree? Thank you so much.
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Gonzales, TX
Plant identification
We found a bush on our ranch in southern Gonzales County. It has oval shaped leaves about an inch long. There are no thorns on the branches. Fruit is round and smooth, the size of a small cherry to...
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Gonzales, TX
Source for Brazoria Hawthorne
I want to buy several Brazoria Hawthorn to plant in my yard and need a source, can you help?
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Gonzales, TX
Locating source for Crataegus Brazoria (Brazoria Hawthorn)
I want to purchase a Crataegus Brazoria Sarg. (Brazoria Hawthorn) but cannot find a source for one. Can you help?
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Gonzales, TX
Transplanting non-native sago palms in Gonzales, TX
How to harvest Sago palm pups. I have 2 very old sago palms and they have loads of new starts (pups) coming off of the plant. I want to cut some pups and start some new plants without harming the pare...
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Gonzales, TX
Tool for removing live oak root shoots in Gonzales TX
I've read your answer to live oak root shoots. You said to get rid of them by going 2 to 4 inches below the surface and cutting them. What tool is best for this shoot removal? I'm getting very tir...
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Gonzales, TX
Propagation of Blackfoot Daisy from Gonzales TX
How do I propagate Melampodium leucanthum, blackfoot daisy?
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Lockhart, TX
This question may have more to do with chemistry than botany but I thought I would start here. My sister recently discovered that behind her Chili pequin plants, the brick was being dissolved leaving ...
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Lockhart, TX
Baby mountain laurels are ready to move, in Lockhart Texas
I want to harvest the baby mountain laurel plants which are growing under a large bush. What height would be best for the young plants survival? Please recommend a soil mixture for the pots.
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Lockhart, TX
Blue agave with freeze damage in Lockhart TX
I recently planted a blue agave plant, and 4 days after I planted it the temperature dropped to 20 degrees at night. The plants are still alive but 75% of the outer limbs turned brown. What do I do wi...
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Lockhart, TX
Texas Ash secreting sap in Lockhart, TX
I have what I believe is a Texas Ash in my front yard that is secreting a sap with what looks like some wounds on it with some white stuff and with black and red looking ants as well as it has a lot o...
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Lockhart, TX
Bluebonnet Planting in January in Lockhart
My husband has yet again failed for the second year straight to put out the bluebonnet seeds in our backyard back in October. Is it too late now that it's mid January for me to get them in the groun...
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Lockhart, TX
Can bluebonnet pods be gathered when green in Lockhart, TX
Can bluebonnet seed pods be gathered when green? Will the seed be capable of germinating next season?
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Lockhart, TX
Red berries growing along county road in Caldwell County, Texas
Hello, first I would like to thank you for your time. I thank it's great that you guys and girls answer questions (I'm sure y'all are busy). That being said I will get to the question. On the sides...
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Lockhart, TX
Screen Tree for Lockhart, TX.
What is a good screening tree for a ranch in the Lockhart area that won't get much water.
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Lockhart, TX
Mowing wildflower concerns from Lockhart TX
I went to the Texas Highway Department (Texas Department of Transportation) web site and sent them a concern or complaint about them or independent contractors shredding the roadsides before the blueb...
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Lockhart, TX
Why has my Kidneywood tree not put out leaves this year in Lockhart, TX?
I have a native Kidneywood which I planted in 2003. It has grown enthusiastically since that time. It has always leafed late in the Spring, late April - mid - May. It bloomed several times in 2009. Th...
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Lockhart, TX
Scarifying seeds of evergreen sumacs from Lockhart TX
Dear Smarty Plants,
We would like to grow our own evergreen sumacs. Consulting Nokes book, How to Grow Native Plants on page 310, it says to scarify fresh uncleaned seeds for 30-45 minutes.
On page...
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Lockhart, TX
Native shrubs for privacy hedge in Lockhart, TX
I will be retiring from the US Army to Lockhart, Texas in March. We have a small house with a 6' security fence. I have always been an advocate of Hedges for security, sound dampening and wildlife ...
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Dale, TX
Yard grass that cows like to eat in Dale, TX
I need to know of a good grass seed to plant in the yard that will also be eaten by our cows. Prefer one that doesn't have any type of stickers/cocker burrs.
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