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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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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

Mozambique, Other
Controlling Thermopsis rhombifolia (buffalo bean) in Mozambique
Dear Mr. Smarty, Please,can you assist. We have a plot on a dam in Mozambique. It has been invaded with Thermopsis rhombifolia (we call it buffalo bean), it is very hardy and if you fall in it or j...
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Cape Town , S. Africa
Planting a non-native Solandra nitida in Cape Town, South Africa
How long does it take a Cup of Gold (Solandra Nitida) to flower when planted from a cutting. The site is against a North facing wall. It gets afternoon sun. Plant looks healthy and is approximately ...
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Taipadas - Canha - Portugal, Other
Growing Variegated Century Plants in Portugal
Hello Mr. Smarty Plants, I am contacting you from Portugal, because of century plant(Agave americana). I had one of that plants and I collected the seeds, which I planted, but I am quite disappointed ...
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Cairo, Egypt
Non-native Centaurium spicatum, family gentianceae
I need to know every single detail about centaurium spicatum family gentianceae.
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Italy, TX
Transplanting native bluebells in Texas
Hello Smarty, Italy TX here again! Your advice on crape myrtles has inspired me to try harder, but now I have a question about a TRUE native wildflower,the Texas Bluebell, growing in my pasture. I ca...
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Bordeaux,, France
Entities adopting threatened species as symbol
Please could you tell me about any nations, cities, towns or villages which have adopted a threatened species as their flagship or totem, and are attempting to save it? I am drawing up a list of such...
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RAANANA-ISRAEL, Other
Smarty Plants on Pinguicula
Does any plant of the genus Pinguicula (butterworts) grow wild in israel--maybe in Mount Hermon or Upper Galile?. israeli carnivorous plant society couldn't give me a clear answer about this issue. ...
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Milan-Italy, Other
Alkalinity-tolerant grasses
Dear Sirs - Are you aware of any grass species that could survive in strongly alkaline soils (ph from 10 up to 12) Thanks a lot.
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Lépaud, France
More information on Malvavaceae from French botanical garden
hello thanks for the reply in your garden all of yours Malvaceae interested us but priority for this species could you help us ? regards Fabrice Absous Allowissadula holosericea Bastardia ...
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Lépaud, France
Request for seeds or cuttings for Malvaceae from French Botanical Garden
hello We create a botanical garden devoted to the Malvaceae, can you help us by sending us seeds or cuttings? friendly the director jean-marie Jolicard botanical garden beaulieu 23170 Lépaud F...
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Irbid, Other
Growing conditions for non-native Thlaspi caerulescens
I want to know what is the best condition for growing Thlaspi caerulescens and what is its life span. Thanks
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Kozya Stena, Bulgaria , Other
Smarty Plants on Rohel’s saxifrage
Hi, can you help? Do you know what is a plant named: Rohel’s saxifrage? "Bulgaria - Cenral Balkan National Park - Kozya Stena (Chamois Wall) Reserve was established on December 22, 1987. With an a...
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Paris, France
Care of Rio Grande Wild Petunia
I have bought the Rio Grande Wild Petunia, Ruellia davisiorum. How should I look after it?
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Vienna, Austria, Other
Propagating Carya illinoinensis in Vienna, Austria
I'm interested in growing and propagating the pecan, Carya illinoiensis for my area (Austria). Northern pecans are the better choice. Are trees grown from seed (no northern pecan origin) also as har...
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Vienna, Austria, Other
Sapindus drummondii or Rhus aromatica for Austria
Hy! I'm from Austria/Europe, and interested in some North American native plants specially. It would be great if you can help me with my two questions: Sapindus drummondii I read from different...
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Vienna, Austria
Is western soapberry (Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii) dioecious?
Hi! I found different information on the flowering habits of the western soapberry, Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii. Is it dioecious or polygamo-dioecious or none of them? I have some little seed...
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Frankfurt, Germany
Problems with rhododendrons in Germany
I am writing with questions about rhododendrons. I purchased four small rhododendron/azalea hybrids in April. Because I had to prepare the garden before planting them, I left them in the pots they cam...
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Bonn, Germany
Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) frost tolerance, making cuttings
Dear Madam or Sir, It would be very kind, if you could answer my questions about the “Thuja Plicata atrovirens” alias “Western Red Cedar”. I need the information because a good friend of mine ...
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Tunbridge Wells kent, England
Failure to thrive of passion flower in Tunbridge Wells England
I planted my passion plant 3 years ago and I have really looked after it. I think this winter has killed it, it looks so dead. I hope it can be saved; there isn't one part of it that is looking healt...
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London, England
Source for common names of plants in the United States
Hello Mr. Plants! I am writing to you on behalf of Carol Sharp who is one of the leading plant and flower photographers here in the UK. We will shortly be making her collections of work availab...
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London, Other
Identification of red/yellow/black flower in California
Plant found, April Mount Diablo CA 6 symmetrical petals red with a pattern of a yellow flower with black edge in the centre, I can not identify, please help.
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