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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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

Questions From Near You

Lantana, TX
Bloom color change in Choctaw Crape Myrtle
In 2006 my wife bought a Choctaw Crape Myrtle from a local nursery. It had a tag from Greenleaf Nursery and had several blooms in the "correct" pink color. The plant was 5-6 ft tall. It has grown...
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Harlingen, TX
Treating suspected drought-stressed live oak
I have a live oak with excessive leaf drop - it was planted approx. 20 year ago surrounded by heavy pavers. very little grass - I did not plant the tree - I have noticed in the last few years the dro...
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Harlingen, TX
Grafting stone fruit
Do you know of anyone grafting the new low chill stone fruit trees to the Mexican plum to minimize cotton rot? Or would it even work?
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Harlingen, TX
Bird-friendly plants for South Texas
Which are the best plants that provide food (perennials, shrubs, trees, and vines) to attract birds to my backyard garden? (I have water and cover and would like to make sure I have the 10 best plants...
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Harlingen, TX
Bluebonnets to bloom in September in Harlingen, TX
How can I get bluebonnets to bloom in the first week of September? I need them for my daughter's wedding! We live in Harlingen. Thank you.
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Harlingen, TX
How can I propagate Giant Ball Moss?
Recommended methods for propagation of Giant Ball Moss? (Bromeliaceae, Tillandsia baileyi rose ex small) Thanks
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Harlingen, TX
Native grasses for erosion control in Harlingen, TX
I like to know what type of fast growing grass, ground cover or trees I can put on a slope for erosion control in Harlingen Texas the slope receives afternoon Sun
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Harlingen, TX
Native plants toxic to horses
I would like to landscape with native plants (I live south of you in Harlingen, TX) but I am concerned some might be dangerous to my horses. Do you have a list of either safe native plants or native ...
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Los Fresnsos, TX
Locations where non-native Mimosa trees grow
Where do mimos trees grow?
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Los Fresnos, TX
Small native plants to line driveway in Los Fresnos, Texas
I have a 70' driveway. What are recommended drought resistant dwarf (no more than 3 feet) plants to line the driveway?
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Los Fresnos, TX
More questions about Asclepias spp.
Hi. Thank-you for replying to my message. What does Emory's Milkweed look like? I have been trying to find out, but no luck. Also What Milkweeds did you find for sale as seeds and plants? Does Texas ...
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Los Fresnos, TX
Looking for Asclepians texana and other milkweed seeds
Hi. I was wondering where I could find seeds of Asclepias Texana, and other rare or uncommon Milkweeds. I am looking for seeds of all the Asclepias species. I have swamp, Clasping, and butterflyweed...
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Brownsville, TX
Reseeding with Gulf cordgrass, Spartina spartinae
Are the seeds of Spartina spartinae sterile? If not, when is the best time to harvest for replanting? We are involved in the restoration of the Bahia Grande section of the Laguna Atascosa National Wi...
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BROWNSVILLE, TX
Who does pecan grafting in Brownsville, TX?
Who does pecan tree grafting in Brownsville TX? I planted a pecan. It is now about 8' tall, and about 3 years old.
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Brownsville, TX
Male or female Jatropha curcas from Brownsville TX
How do know the sex of a young Jatropha C. plant? how many weeks before you can tell a boy/girl plant ?
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Brownsville, TX
Raingarden Plants for Brownsville, TX
I'm a Landscape Architect in South Texas and I'm implementing raingardens and vegetated swales in my projects. What native plants could be used in these gardens/water runways. They would need to res...
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Brownsville, TX
Identification of vine-like plant.
I have a an odd plant that I bought years ago. It's like a vine. It has hard rubbery like leaves they turn inward and they are green. First a cone like shape grows then the leaves grow. I would like ...
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Brownsville, TX
Red sister Cordyline problems in Brownsville TX
I bought a Red Sister Cordyline plant but once the leaves grow they dry from the ends.
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Brownsville, TX
Buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides) for Brownsville, Texas lawn
I inherited a house 2 miles from Boca Beach near Brownsville, Tx. Water has to be trucked in 30 miles from Brownsville so a conventional lawn is out of the question. Now the yard is only weeds. Alw...
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Brownsville, TX
Eco-friendly trees for parks in Brownsville, TX
Which are the best eco friendly trees for parks?
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Progreso, TX
How to produce ivy with large, green leaves
How can I keep an Ivy green? When it was purchased it was green and had BIG leaves. How can I get the leaves to grow big again and get it green?
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