Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members 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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Smarty Plants Question Topics
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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| Non-native, and/or invasive bermudagrass, St. Augustine and Pistache from Houston September 24, 2012 Our St. Augustine lawn died suddenly this summer from either chinch bugs or grub worms (or both?), and a multitude of weeds and native Bermuda have taken over the area. Now that the weather has cooled... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Weeds in Buffalograss from Edmond OK September 20, 2012 We have a patch of buffalograss surrounded by patio/flower garden/vegetable garden. We like B-grass, but are getting a lot of weeds despite preemergents, and some bermuda had appeared. Are there h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native, invasive rescue grass in meadow garden in Smithville TX September 20, 2012 Despite numerous efforts, a solid field of cool weather rescue grass keeps desired wildflower and grass seeds from successfully growing on my "vacant" lot in town. I plan to I put out a 6 ml plasti... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of plant in Kentucky with fuzzy grayish-green leaves September 03, 2012 I would like to know about a plant that I do not know what it is. I had this plant just come up in my flowerbed, that looked like a tobacco plant but the leaves looked like a lambs ear plant. It was ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant plants from New Braunfels TX August 31, 2012 I have a 1/2 yard covered by a tree, shady. Bermuda grass previous owner planted has all turned brown this summer. I don't have lots of money to work with but would love to landscape that side of fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Difficulty with Clay Soil from Palm Bay, FL August 22, 2012 I had a very nice little native shady area behind my house for over 40 years, but now it has been cleared except for a 100 foot tall live oak in the center of this raised mound (50' x 80'). I've be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native, invasive bermudagrass from Memphis TN August 17, 2012 I live in central Memphis and have well-drained clay soil. I have converted much of the front yard from turf grass to beds of native plants, which survive our hot humid without supplemental watering e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Controlling seeding of non- native, invasive Paulownia from Fayetteville TN August 17, 2012 My husband planted a Paulownia tree against my advice about eight years ago. This summer it has huge seed pods. How do I keep the seeds from invading the wooded area of our property? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Request for native grasses from Hillsboro TX August 04, 2012 P.S. I forgot to mention one very important fact: my neighbor specifically asked for "native grass" recommendations. He thought he was getting a native grass recommendation. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive trumpet vine from Fredericksburg TX August 03, 2012 I have a large trumpet vine growing on a dead tree stump. My problem is that new baby trumpet vines are coming up all over my yard. I mow them, but is there anything I can use to prevent new trumpet v... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why are invasive, non-natives being sold from Hillsboro TX August 03, 2012 Why are nurseries allowed to grow and sell seed from invasive non-native plants like: johnson grass, bermuda grass, and king ranch bluestem? Many times when I contact a nursery or seed distributor as... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Butterflies attracted by Pink Evening Primrose from Burnet TX July 30, 2012 I see information on Pink Evening Primrose that says it attracts 'many butterflies' Please tell me which butterflies and name them? I've looked everywhere and am just exhausted and frustrated with... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Gooseneck native from Cleveland Heights OH July 20, 2012 I live in Cleveland Heights, OH, and have an abundance of gooseneck in my yard. Is it a native plant? Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for Central California from Concord CA July 19, 2012 I live in a part of California where the summers can be very hot and dry but quite cool and wet during the rainy seasons in the wintertime. The soil around my home is very dry, rocky and infertile. I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native, invasive peanut butter tree from Canby, OR July 17, 2012 I too have a peanut butter tree with the pink and white blooms, its about 5 years old and is beautiful, but 2 weeks ago it started wilting and losing all its leaves, I am afraid it is dying. Can I sav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Differences between Lantana urticoides and Lantana camara July 13, 2012 I have found an orange variety of lantana growning in several location in Jefferson County. Is there any way I can tell for sure if it is L. camara or the native L. urticoides? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine from Las Vegas NV July 11, 2012 I'm interested in identifying the vine shown by the leaf in this photo: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zR3R4JSPYcCI4ESczNXWM4h8z33Cq5cyZNqSSYf9hx0?feat=directlink My mother-in-law got one o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hybrid Campsis radicans 'Madame Rosy' from Medina OH July 07, 2012 I have a Madame Rosy Campsis that is not blooming. We purchased and planted it last year, mid-summer and it did well for the remainder of the season but this year...nothing but green leaves........wh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dwarf oyster plant dying in Sunrise FL July 06, 2012 WHAT WOULD BE KILLING MY DWARF OYSTER PLANTS View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for under non-native fruitless mullberry trees from Ft. Worth TX June 28, 2012 I live in Tarrant county, where summer droughts are the norm. I have a 150x50 foot swathe of mature "fruitless mulberry" trees, which create a very shady atmosphere. The soil is clay dominated, ro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Distinguishing non-native Wisteria from Austin June 25, 2012 How do I distinguish a native wisteria from a non-native wisteria? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Splitting bark on non-native mimosa from Buda TX June 24, 2012 What would cause my Mimosa tree to have splitting bark. I've only lived in this house for 8 months and am learning about this tree. The other tree seems fine. It looks as though it split and then ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of yellow flowers in Wisconsin June 19, 2012 We have plants near Madison, Wisconsin that some call lanceleaf coreoposis however I believe they are some type of invasive species. They have yellow flowers, seem to spread by seed. and don't grown ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native invasive Siebold viburnum from Isleboro ME June 17, 2012 I was given several small Siebold Viburnum for planting on my Maine property. Even though it is often for sale in nurseries, I'm aware it is listed as invasive in several eastern states. Shouldn't I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine Choices Scarce in Beaverton Oregon June 08, 2012 Hi, I am looking for a hearty vine that we could use to cling to and cover a cement wall that is about 8 feet tall and 30 feet long. It is on the south side of our house but never gets direct sunli... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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