Native Plants
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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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| Sequence of Seeding Wildflowers and Grasses in Texas July 24, 2016 In the How To article on meadow gardening, it recommends that a good chunk of your garden (50%-80%) should be native grasses. The kind mentioned in that article are typically warm season grasses. In... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seeding Bluebonnets in Missouri July 07, 2016 I live in St. Louis, MO and obtained a packet of Bluebonnet seeds as well as a seedling. I read up on inoculating and scarifying the seeds, but I'm unsure as to the soil I should use. I was planning ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Caring for a wildflower meadow in Austin, TX. March 22, 2016 We have a meadow full of wildflowers in the country, bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, etc. What can we do to promote continued growth and is there a certain time of year we should mow? Should we fe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When to plant bluebonnets in Spicewood, TX March 19, 2016 When is the best time to plant Bluebonnets and do you place seeds under the soil or just spread on top? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are Bluebonnet seeds still viable after storage for a year? March 02, 2016 I bought a pouch of Bluebonnets a year ago and now found them and have to wait to Fall to plant. Too old? Start over in purchase? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is it illegal to collect wildflower plants from county roads in TX? February 05, 2016 Is it illegal to collect wildflower plants like bluebonnets from county roads in Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When will the bluebonnets appear this year? February 04, 2016 When will the bluebonnets appear this year? We have many friends and family who want to visit when they are in bloom. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bluebonnets for Upstate New York December 03, 2015 Will Texas Bluebonnet seeds germinate and flourish in Upstate NY? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Improving Bluebonnet seed contact with soil November 06, 2015 I have a five acre field in Blanco County, much of which is covered by bluebonnets. There are several species of native grasses as well. Would it be beneficial to disk or otherwise disturb the soil ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers of April wedding in Liberty Hill TX September 02, 2015 We are planning a wedding for April 9 in Liberty Hill, TX (78642) and live on several acres. We would like to plant wildflowers on the land to use for bouquets and centerpieces. Could you please recom... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for April wedding near Austin TX August 31, 2015 Home wedding April 2016. Live North of Austin.on 200 acres ranch and would like to plant wildflowers. What to plant? When to plant? Flowers that will sustain in vase or bouquet? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Native Texas Plants for SC June 22, 2015 I just visited your beautiful facility for the first time and loved it! I'm planning to move to Charleston, SC and would love to replicate some of the wildflower and walkway areas I saw. Would the fo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can you grow wildflowers on a Zoysia greenroof? June 09, 2015 I have a 700 square foot zoysia grass roof with irrigation on a pool cabana that I would like to sprinkle with wildflower seeds (bluebonnets, indian paintbrush etc) Is this possible? What is the best ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why is fall the best time to plant Bluebonnet seeds? May 29, 2015 Bluebonnet plants drop their seeds in late May or early June. Why is it recommended to broadcast Bluebonnet seeds in October which is 5 months after the plant drops its seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure of TX bluebonnets to thrive May 28, 2015 We have had extraordinary luck with bluebonnets growing in our driveway of decomposed granite--until last year and this year. The bluebonnets seem to be drying up and wilting away. The ones in other a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Indian Paintbrush outnumbering our Bluebonnets this year. May 26, 2015 We noticed we have more Indian paintbrush than bluebonnets in our front yard this year. Our issue is we also have more spear grass than normal. Is there a way to control this grass without killing th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What to do about bastard cabbage in the Austin area? May 08, 2015 I am noticing bastard cabbage taking over roadsides and medians at an alarming rate where a mixture of native flowers used to bloom. Is it allowable to organize efforts to pull the invasive plants ou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can bluebonnet pods be gathered when green in Lockhart, TX May 02, 2015 Can bluebonnet seed pods be gathered when green? Will the seed be capable of germinating next season? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What about the Bluebonnets at Muleshoe Bend Recreational Area in Spicewood, TX ? April 27, 2015 We had heard about vast field of bluebonnets out at Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area - an LCRA park in Spicewood. We went out today and there are indeed vast fields . . . all where Lake Travis would be ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Plants for Year Round Interest February 16, 2015 I'm involved in a paradigm shift from traditional bedding plants (petunias, zinnias, begonias, etc.) to native plants. I realize that native plants have natural life cycles where they look pretty bad... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When do wildflowers bloom in the Texas Hill Country February 12, 2015 Approximately when do the wild flowers bloom in Hill country? I would love to see them. I know it depends on winter weather conditions. I have a short vacation mid March, was considering a trip th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Best date for spring bluebonnet blooms for 2015 January 31, 2015 What is the estimated date range for the best bluebonnet viewing in the Hill Country this year (2015). I have guests from the north planning a visit and we'd like to pick a weekend with great possibi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Using Dormant Oils in the Winter January 20, 2015 What are your thoughts on the use of dormant oils as part of a winter maintenance program? I live in Austin, Texas. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bluebonnets Emerging in December December 21, 2014 Bluebonnets Emerging in December. We've seen bluebonnets emerging all over our property in the last two weeks. I don't ever remember seeing them come up this early. What will be the impact on t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of seedlings December 20, 2014 So..last spring I spread out a bag of random Texas wildflower seed I bought at Home Depot. Bautiful things happened. Since that time I've collected seeds while out camping etc and just been chunking ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fall Wildflowers for Helotes, TX October 20, 2014 Dear Smarty, Could you please suggest a few colorful wildflowers for a sunny area. I live north of San Antonio, TX and would like to plant some flowers in October but I want something that has been ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fall Flower Planting in Abilene, TX October 14, 2014 Are there any flowers that can be planted in the fall in Abilene Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bluebonnets in Hampton VA? July 12, 2014 I gave my mom Blue Bonnet seeds for her yard in Hampton VA. She is on a mission to have no lawn and loves flowers. The seeds say to plant in Texas August-November. But, when should she plant them i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Viability of Lupinus havardii seeds from Elmendorf TX April 25, 2014 I have been able to grow several Lupinus havardii (Big Bend Bluebonnet) and they are now making seed. Is there anyway to determine if a seed is good or bad for this plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| From Austin, some Texas bluebonnet seeds that will grow in San Diego, CA April 05, 2014 Is there a variety of Texas blue bonnet that will grow in San Diego, CA? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Best place for picking wildflowers in Austin February 14, 2014 Where is the best place to find wildflowers for picking near or in Austin around the end of March? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Latest time to mow bluebonnets from Chappell Hill TX February 13, 2014 The past few years, my bluebonnets have been overwhelmed by tall grass. I could have solved this by mowing later, but I was always afraid of mowing new bluebonnet plants. When is the latest time I can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting bluebonnets to garden from Columbus TX January 30, 2014 Is it possible to transplant bluebonnets from pasture to garden and if so when is the best time to do this? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bluebonnet Planting in January in Lockhart January 23, 2014 My husband has yet again failed for the second year straight to put out the bluebonnet seeds in our backyard back in October. Is it too late now that it's mid January for me to get them in the groun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Earliest spring wildflowers from O'Fallon Mo. December 10, 2013 Which spring wildflower blooms first around the St. Louis area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Variety of colors in bluebonnet seeds from Houston November 18, 2013 Bluebonnet seeds I have collected are a variety of colors, from the sandy/tan color to a grayish color and black color. Are all variations viable? Are they equally viable? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting bluebonnets in late Fall from Georgetown TX November 08, 2013 Transplanting bluebonnets in October? Neighbor wants to share abundance of rosettes and good size plants- any suggestions or warnings? Will freeze/frost protection be needed if we get December freeze... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Texas wildflowers indoors for a March wedding from Austin October 01, 2013 I have learned so much from this site! Thank you! I am getting Married this March and I am hoping to use Texas wildflowers for the centerpieces. I hope to grow them in containers indoors and have the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower garden for Driftwood, TX August 20, 2013 I would like to plant wildflowers in a fairly large field on a slope. The slope is a little rocky and is located in Driftwood, TX. I have been thinking about a mixture of Bluebonnets and Indian Blank... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Greenhouse bluebonnets for July wedding from Denver CO August 19, 2013 Would it possible for my daughter's florist to get bluebonnets for her late July wedding? Are they propagated in greenhouses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Neighborhood association wanting wildflowers mowed from Grand Prairie TX July 14, 2013 For at least 15 years, I have been fostering growth of wildflowers in 60% of my 90x400' yard which include 150' utility trunkline easement in which I can plant no trees. This year, we had volunteer ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will maroon and Texas Bluebonnets prosper in Richland MO? July 02, 2013 I live in Richland, MO and have obtained both Maroon and Texas Bluebonnet seeds from Fredricksburg, TX. Will they prosper in this area and when is the best time to plant? I have read how and what type... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recreating a wildflower meadow, central Texas July 02, 2013 We have an acre on our property that has bluebonnets. Unfortunately, it also has other plants that we don't want -Johnson grass, nettles, burrs. We plan to do a controlled burn in the fall and re-... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What insect eats Alamo Fire blue bonnets from League City TX June 10, 2013 What insect eats Alamo Fire blue bonnets? Something seems to be eating new seedpods. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can bluebonnets be made into jelly from Ennis TX May 07, 2013 Are Texas bluebonnet flowers okay for human consumption? I have seen recipes for wild violet jelly,so was wondering about making bluebonnet jelly from the bluebonnet blossoms if they are not poisonous... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Spreading bluebonnets in pasture from Ledbetter TX April 29, 2013 I've found a small patch of bluebonnets in my back pasture in Ledbetter, tx. What is the best method of encouraging their spread across the pasture? I've heard that one can pull up the plants and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planted bluebonnets won't prosper in Bluff Dale, TX. April 24, 2013 I have planted bluebonnet seed several years (this last year we planted inoculated seed) always the same results -germination, growth to 4-6 leaf stage, then very pale stunted growth, bronzing. soil t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mutation in bluebonnets from Elgin TX April 16, 2013 What causes bluebonnets to mutate..grow as if three or four are combined into one flower on one very flat, wide stem. I have these in my yard; they are beautiful! I have taken several pictures. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Few bluebonnets on MoPac in Austin March 30, 2013 The grass fields along Mopac from Lake Lady Bird to Southwest Parkway usually have a grand display of bluebonnets. This year I do not see any color at all. Can you help me understand what is happening... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Source for dotted blue-eyed grass from Saluda SC February 23, 2013 I lived in Texas for several years and now live on acreage in South Carolina. I have heard that bluebonnets don't grow well in South Carolina. However, there is a place by the road near our house t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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