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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| Identification of plant with orange sap that glows at night June 06, 2012 I was just pulling up a plant and noticed that its sap was a kind of orange then I noticed it glowing orange at night. What kind of plant is this and is it dangerous? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Poverty plant overgrown in Austin June 06, 2012 We have a poverty plant that is too big for its space in our yard. We like it and want to keep it. Can it be transplanted easily? What about pruning it. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Invasive Indian paintbrushes in Grawn MI June 04, 2012 I have lots of Indian paintbrushes crowding my lawn and taking over the grass..what kills it without killing the grass? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dandelions in bluebonnets in Bastrop TX May 31, 2012 I have a 20'x60' front yard area where I planted bluebonnets. It has become horrifically inundated with dandelions. How do I eradicate the dandelions while preserving the bluebonnets ? Thanks ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Keeping non-native invasive bermudagrass out of yard in Austin May 30, 2012 My neighbor just sodded a huge lawn with Bermuda Celebration. I don't want it coming into my St. Augustine. From what I've read on your site and others, I need a deep barrier. Has anyone tried pu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Digging wild buttercup from roadside in Mechanicsville MD May 28, 2012 Mr. Smarty Plants, is it illegal to dig out wild buttercup in Maryland? I see them along the dirt road or just in the ditch. Since buttercup considered weed, I'm wondering what the law say about this... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing native vines in pots from Houston May 28, 2012 I am writing in regards to your often mentioned issue of plants not doing as well in pots and in the ground. After last years drought, i moved all the plants I had that were in danger of dying of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native Purple Hyacinth from Sylvania OH May 21, 2012 I am wondering if I plant a Purple Hyacinth Bean vine seed under a tree and allow it to grow up the tree trunk, will it kill the tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grass for Seattle Arboretum May 20, 2012 I am writing to you on behalf of the Arboretum at South Seattle Community College Arboretum. I am interested in Panicum virgatum Switch Grass as a plant for a very heavy clay garden in our Arboretum a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Adding Wildflowers to Corpus Christi May 20, 2012 I have a dry sandy yard, full sun in Corpus Christi with lot's of stickers mostly, want to transform to wildflowers. When should I plant, how should I prepare soil, should I dig out stickers? Which w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of plant resembling garlic mustard, but with purple flowers May 18, 2012 While searching for the invasive garlic mustard I am finding a very similar looking plant (triangular, alternate, toothed leaves; four petals, same habitat of shaded roadside and interior woods) excep... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating ragweed in Sacramento CA May 16, 2012 Rag weed. How to be rid of it! My wife and lots of others that live in this part of Sacramento suffer greatly. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive plants in native plant area from Austin May 15, 2012 Why do invasive plants grow in native plant territory? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive American Germander from San Antonio May 14, 2012 I brought home some American Germander (Teucruim canadense) - page 259 In Wildflowers of Texas by Geyata Ajilvsgi - from a railroad right-of-way. Since it is a member of the mint family it has becom... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need care instructions for Cardiosperma halicacabum in Little Rock, AR> May 11, 2012 I'd like to find out how to cultivate & care for a balloon vine/heart seed vine/love in a puff vine which I found growing wild in my yard (in Little Rock, Arkansas). There seems to be very little in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Skunk cabbage from Amsterdam NY May 02, 2012 Will skunk cabbage grow under a mobile home and cause odor? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How Can I Tell an Invasive Thistle from a Native May 01, 2012 Mr Smarty Plants, I have some thistles coming up in my yard. I'd like to keep them if they are native, but not if they are invasive or non-native. How can I tell? My yard is a wild area in West Lak... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eradicating trumpet vine runners in Austin April 29, 2012 How do I eradicate trumpet vine runners from my lawn? Will it kill my pecan tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Getting rid of invasive Florida betony from Myrtle Beach SC April 28, 2012 How can I get rid of Florida Betony from my lawn and flower beds/ garden area. Garden area was thoroughly dug up and hand picked of all tubules last year at least a foot deep. They are much worse now.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacement for grass under non-native weeping willow from Yorba Linda CA April 24, 2012 What would be a good replacement for the grass currently growing under a weeping willow? Something requiring low maintenance, the problem is with mowing over and around the roots. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native, invasive Paulownia for San Marcos TX April 24, 2012 Can a Paulownia tree grow in San Marcos? If so were can I get one? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Help with control of small, invasive groundcover April 16, 2012 I have a very invasive ground cover creeping into my yard. I've tried to identify it and it's similar to creeping charlie or garlic mustard. Leaves are triangular with jagged edges, small purple f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Clover Among the Bluebonnets in Round Mountain, Texas April 13, 2012 I have a beautiful yard of bluebonnets, but mixed in with them are a tall clover that is hiding the flower's beauty and a shorter plant with clover-like leaves that produces burrs. Pulling is not an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Removing invasive Dichelostemma firecracker plant from Austin April 12, 2012 We have dichelostemma firecracker plant & cannot kill it. We need help in getting rid of this plant. Spent another 3 hours digging up corms this afternoon. It is invading our backyard & want it kil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ridding property of Dichelostemma Firecracker Plant from Cleburne TX April 11, 2012 How do we get rid of Dichelostemma-Firecracker plant? It has invaded our yard & we hate it! How do we kill it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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