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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| Groundcover Planting in Shiro TX July 09, 2015 I have been collecting seeds from White Avens and Texas Sedge to use as ground covers. What is the optimal time to plant these seeds? We have been experiencing heavy rains in our area lately, so I am ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Alopia drummondii from Seed July 09, 2015 Can you give me information about, or a resource for, growing Alophia drummondii (propeller plant) from seed? I have the seed but don't know when & the best method for planting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Pyrus ioensis var. Texana July 09, 2015 Any idea where I can find Pyrus (now Malus) ioensis var. texana for sale around the Austin area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Does Virginia creeper cause a rash? July 09, 2015 Does Virginia creeper cause a rash to everyone or those who are only allergic as in an allergy like a peanut allergy? Is it something that should be avoided like poison ivy? And does the sap stick to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Draought-tolerant screening shrub for Shasta County, California July 08, 2015 It has been suggested to me that I plant phodocarpus 'maki' along my fence for needed privacy due to it's dimensions. I need something that does not grow too wide. I would not be pruning them as I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Magnolia in West Virginia ? July 07, 2015 Hello, is the Dwarf sweet magnolia a native shrub to WV? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Yucca Blossoming in Minneapolis MN July 07, 2015 I have 4 yr old yucca that sent out a five foot spike with flowers! I live in Minneapolis; is this unusual ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Red, puffy growths on Concord grape vine July 07, 2015 I have a growth on my grapevine that is red and puffy almost looks like it is full of water. It is a Concord grapevine. I have images I can send to you! It is on the stems. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dead, brown Habiturf lawn July 07, 2015 I planted Habiturf seeds last fall and had a good lawn all winter. Now the grass is brown and dead. Did it drown with all the rain we have had? If so, what should I do now? If not, what should I do... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pollinator friendly lawn for Longmont CO July 06, 2015 I have a sunny, treeless, South-facing yard, with a slight South-facing slope in Boulder County, CO. It has one patch of buffalo grass, but is more then half some other type of grass. I would like t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wedding Flowers for Alabama July 03, 2015 I am considering planting wildflowers for my wedding in early/middle May of 2016. Could I plant seed this fall and have bloom by late April in time for my May wedding? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Rocky Stream Bank Plants for Dallas, TX July 02, 2015 Need live stake shrubbery or tree ideas for a rocky stream bank prone to high water. Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native orchids in Bowie and Harris Counties July 02, 2015 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I was wondering what types of orchids are native to Bowie County and Harris County. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need to have an Agave plant removed in Austin, TX. July 01, 2015 I was wondering where or who could I have come to my business and buy my century agave plant. As it is growing crazy and we would like it removed. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Safe to plant Wisteria frutescens near a foundation? July 01, 2015 I am interested in planting a Wisteria frutescens 'Nivea'. It will be next to a house foundation wall. Could you tell me what type of root system it has? Would it be a root that would dama... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seep Muhly in limited sunlight. July 01, 2015 Can Seep Muhly withstand just 3 or 4 hours of direct sunlight in an urban setting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Horsemint for Connecticut July 01, 2015 Will horsemint grow in Connecticut? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Best grass for the shade in Austin, TX. July 01, 2015 What is the best grass seed for shade in Austin? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Protecting storm-damaged pecan and black walnut trees in TX June 29, 2015 Several trees on our property in northeast Texas were uprooted by a tornado. A pecan tree with a circumference greater than 93 inches was carried to the ground. Although it is completely horizontal,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Keeping bugs out of a Texas home June 29, 2015 I'm slowly growing my gardens into natural habitats for birds, bees, butterflies and other little critters but would like to keep them outside of my house. Being in central Texas it is difficult to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Discouraging Poison Ivy June 27, 2015 Is there a fern that discourages poison ivy from growing? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Turk's Cap and Pavonia insect problems June 27, 2015 My Turk's cap and Pavonia lasiopetala (rock rose) plants both have quite a few leaves that are skeletonized in appearance. I do not see any insects on the underside of the leaves. What could be cau... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Male and Female Rhus virens Differences? June 27, 2015 I would like to plant a Rhus virens in my yard to attract birds. I want to make sure I get a female plant so there will be berries. How can I tell a male from a female plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pollinators for Washington State June 26, 2015 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I am removing invasive knotweed in the Pacific Northwest and I would like to provide native plant alternatives that would flower and provide pollen in the late summer/fall f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Milky Substance on Salvia greggii June 26, 2015 The Salvia greggii that I have in the front yard has a milky substance on it ... and the plants are not doing well. Is this some kind of fungi or disease? What can I do to "cure" it? Thank you! Lia... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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