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
Stratford, SD
Can Calycanthus floridus survive in South Dakota?
Calycanthus in South Dakota? I've recently purchased some seeds for a calycanthus plant (floridus I think). I'm going to start them indoors but am wondering if this can survive a South Dakota winter...
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Valley CIty, ND
North Dakota Riverbank Stabilization
Can you suggest plants to prevent and stabilize river bank erosion on Sheyenne River, ND?
Must be tolerant to cold, varying level of salts and sulfates and water level (from drought to flooding)
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Morris, MN
Herbarium locations for Bifora americana
Dr Hampton:
I am trying to find specific locations of populations of Bifora americana (prairie bishop). Apparently, many collections of this species have been made in the Dallas-Ft Worth area as we...
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Mclaughlin, SD
Information on medicinal plant uses by Dakota Indians
I would like to know what the plants were that were used for medicinal purposes by the plains Indians in the Dakotas. Is there a place/site that I can go to to research the data?
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Fargo, ND
Trumpet flower side effects
What happens if you eat a trumpet flower, what are the side effects and dangers?
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Sioux Falls, SD
Privacy hedge for South Dakota
Hi, I'm looking for something to use as a hedge. 8 foot or so tall offering semi privacy all year. I like dogwoods but loss of leaves in the winter makes me skeptical. Boxwood would be interesting...
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Yankton, SD
Tree for South Dakota
Sir, I am looking for suggestions on a backyard tree, nice shade tree 60-80' height to complement a split foyer house and a flowering crab that is currently there. Low maintenance, with no seeds or c...
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Hutchinson, MN
Mystery plant in private garden in Hutchinson MN
I recently toured an amazing private garden. While touring the owner called her potted plant with purple clustered flowers something that sounds like 'pinsta'. Do you have any idea what it might ha...
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Dassel, MN
Containerized honeysuckle for Dassel MN
We are renting our house but I would like to enjoy my own honeysuckle. Can they be planted in a big pot so that I can take it with me when we move.
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Wahpeton, IA
Plants for Erosion Control on Lake Bank in Wahpetan,IA
We have a steep 15 to 20 foot high bank on the glacial formed lake, West Okoboji. We are experiencing erosion and would like a solution to prevent further erosion. We have wild roses, sumac, wild qui...
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Merrill, IA
Plants for steep embankment on the Missouri River in Nebraska
Hi, My embankment along the Northeast Nebraska shoreline
of the Missouri River is eroding the land away. Do you have
any suggestions for seed I could throw over the side of
the bank that would grow...
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Enning, SD
Recommendations for house plants for South Dakota
Thank you for your web site! I live in Enning South Dakota, and I am new to this beautiful part of the United States. I would love to grow house plants but don't know where to start looking or what k...
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Greeley, CO
Groundcovers for area under blue spruce in Colorado
I have a 40 ft blue spruce limbed up 6 ft in my yard on the west in Greeley, CO (50 mi N Denver, zone 4 or 5). It gets some sun underneath in the later afternoon and evening. Can you suggest 4 to 5 ...
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Rockford, MN
Grasshopper-resistant landscape plants?
We have a ton of grasshoppers in our area. I would like to plant bushes and flowers that the grasshoppers will not eat. Can you suggest any??
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Washta, IA
Growth on top of Echinacea purpurea (Eastern purple coneflower)
I grow purple coneflowers in my garden. ONE plant has something growing on the top of each cone. I would like to know what it is but I don't see how I can add a photo to this post.
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Norfolk, NE
Plants that grow in Canada, US and Mexico from Norfolk NE
Are there any plants that grows in Canada, US and Mexico?
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Excelsior, MN
Full Sun, Wind-Tolerant Shrubs and Vines for Steep MN Hillside
My neighbor and I share a very steep, large (in total almost 200 ft. wide) west-facing hillside in Excelsior, MN on Lake Minnetonka. We both have a flat grass area at the bottom so the hillside does n...
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Ramsey, MN
Getting rid of sandburs in horse pasture in Minnesota
How do I get rid of sandburs in my horse pasture?
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Maple Grove , MN
Replacing river birch from Maple Grove MN
How soon after taking out a river birch clump tree and grinding the stump would we be able to plant a new birch clump?
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Elysian, MN
Plants for steep lakeside bank in Minnesota
I am new to MN and would like to plant some pretty plants on my steep lakeside bank. What type plants and flowers should I plant to prevent erosion, but not block the lake view?
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Brooklyn Park, MN
Limiting erosion around pond from Brooklyn Park MN
Minnesota resident, wants to find plant limit erosion from pond?
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