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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Questions From Near You
Woodlands, TX
Looking for a native mulberry tree for Woodlands, TX.
Does a truly "native" mulberry tree exist and where can one get such a tree. So many I've seen are "white" or "chinese" and were imported for a never-to-happen silk industry. I'd like to pur...
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Laredo, TX
Is oak leucanium an invasive species in Texas from Laredo TX
Is Parthenolecanium quercifex considered an invasive species in Texas? Does this insect attach itself to redbuds? I spotted and removed from my small 5ft Texas Redbud last year. It seems that it has ...
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Laredo, TX
Plants for green roof in Laredo
Hello, I am working on a green roof, and I saw your section of "Native Green Roof", and I saw good plants that I would like to use, but I am not sure if they will be suitable because of the roots (m...
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Laredo, TX
Looking for a source for native Texas plums
Please provide a source for native Texas plums--I want to plant some in the Texas Hill Country.
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Laredo, TX
Groundcover for Laredo Texas
I am in Laredo, TX and no longer want to waste water on grass. I would like to pull it all out and plant native, drought resistant ground cover - low growing, between 6-12 inches, sun and partial sha...
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Laredo, TX
Identification of plant with small lilac flowers in Laredo
Need help identifying the following: small lilac flowers in a cluster with seed pods, unpleasant scent which can be up to 3 feet tall ..wild flower or weed? am interested if it attracts hummingbirds...
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Laredo, TX
Pest on leaves of native Texas persimmon in Laredo, TX
I have a transplanted a Texas persimmon tree from the wild.
It has some globes in the leaves. It seems like some pest injected something from underside of leaves. Any suggestion? What is happening t...
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Laredo, TX
Failure to thrive of Hamelia patens in Laredo
I have a question regarding Hamelias patens(firebush)that I have been trying to grow for 2 years. I live in Laredo, Texas and this area should be an excellent climate for this plant. I planted 12 of t...
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Laredo, TX
Identity of vining plants in yard in Texas
I have vining plants in my back-yard, here when I bought the house, that, from what I have been able to find on-line, look like poison sumac, however, I know they are not. Leaf shape, color, and appe...
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San Diego, TX
Young oak damaged by falling tree from San Diego TX
My neighbor's Palo Blanco tree was struck by lightning and fell over our fence and on to a young oak tree in our yard. We waited a few days to see if the neighbor would offer help, but he never did,...
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Roma, TX
Yellowing of St. Augustine grass in south Texas
We live in deep south Texas, Roma, Texas to be precise and we have a problem with our San Augustine grass. In the spring its quite nice and green after a few weeks and one rain it is turning yellow.
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Alice, TX
Freeze damage to non-native Alocasia portei in Alice, TX
Alocasia portei family (I think). I have a palm type plant with finger-like broad leaves that grows its "palm like leaves" at the end of a curving trunk. These leave I trim back as new ones grow in...
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Rio Grande City, TX
Trees safe near walls from Rio Grande City
What trees can be planted near the house that the roots won't break my walls?
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Bishop, TX
Why are our Bluebonnets turning brown?
Our Texas Bluebonnets are turning brown and appear to be dying. We've had them going for 5 or 6 years and have never seen this. I found a few small worms on one plant but can't seem to find them a...
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Charlotte, TX
Trees for clay soil from Charlotte TX
We have an area in our yard that even Esperanzas won't grow. It is near another that does great. Six Esperanzas are planted in a north/south row about with 10' between plants, the southern most plan...
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Eagle Pass, TX
Non-native Chinese pistache in Eagle Pass, TX
Hi Mr Smarty Plants!!
I just bought a young chinese pistache tree, is no bigger than 7 feet. I've never had one of these trees before, I'm about to plant it and I would also like to fertilize it...
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Eagle Pass, TX
Which cactus grow in the Eagle Pass, Texas area?
I would like to know which types of cacti grow in my area since I can't seem to find any websites that may give me a way to identify them. The type I seek is the round type of cacti not nopal types. ...
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Robstown, TX
User comment on native grass mixes from Robstown TX
As a followup to my question on seed spreaders, native grass and prairie seed mixes seem a good fit for my location in far western Nueces County which is more semi-arrid than 30 miles away in Corpus w...
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Robstown, TX
Use of hand-held seed spreader from Robstown TX
I am planting native turf grass and prairie grasses as part of a backyard restoration on my 1.6 acre home site. My problem is good seed dispersal for the chaffey grass seeds. Have you have any luck...
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Jourdanton, TX
Recently planted Monterey Oaks doing poorly in Jourdanton, TX.
We planted 2 nice size Monterrey oak trees in April .they were doing good with new growth on them. But now I have been noticing the leaves are turning brown around the edges. We water about once a wee...
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Mission, TX
Failure to thrive of non-native Purple Orchid Tree
We planted purple orchid tree Texas,zone 9 two weeks ago and all leaves turned brown.My husband used root stimulator with enough water as the instructions said.We took all brown leaves off and now it...
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