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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| Blue Mist Ageratum Shrub? June 16, 2015 Is there a shrub version of Blue Mistflower Ageratum? I believe we saw some at the Butterfly Center in MacAllen. Would it survive in Georgetown, TX? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Care for California lilacs from Portland OR January 16, 2014 Hi There, We live in the Portland Oregon area, so temps are moderate and winters are wet. We have several California Lilacs that are about 7ft in height and have created the perfect screen. Love th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Oak root resistant hedge for Southern California December 28, 2013 I live in Southern California and my cypress hedge has oak root fungus. What kind of hedge can I plant that will grow fast and be resistant to the fungus? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Windbreak [Dustbreak] for Shelton, WA May 31, 2013 I live on a well traveled, dusty, gravel road in the Pacific North West and would like to plant a barrier to help control the dust. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of plant with small lilac flowers in Laredo May 14, 2013 Need help identifying the following: small lilac flowers in a cluster with seed pods, unpleasant scent which can be up to 3 feet tall ..wild flower or weed? am interested if it attracts hummingbirds... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Evergreen Hedge Suggestions for CT April 30, 2013 I think I am asking for a lot, but here we go… Is there a deer tolerant evergreen that can grow in the shade and create a hedge of 5 feet tall here in CT? I am not opposed to ivy covering a fence if t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants to cover 1000 square foot wall in Virginia March 29, 2013 In Norfolk, VA, I want to cover a large (1000 sq ft) cement wall with a variety of maintenance free plant life. Any recommendations? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen screening plant for California May 08, 2012 I am looking for an evergreen plant that can be used as a screen. Maybe something wispy. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native lilacs for Salt Lake City, UT April 15, 2012 Is the weather in Salt Lake City UT good enough to plant a lilac bush root? If not, how long should I wait? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eugenia Substitutes for Southern California May 14, 2011 Is there a eugenia bush (preferable one that can grow tall) without berries. We like this plant but the berries create a problem. We live in Los Angeles, CA. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Could lilacs grow in Georgia? April 27, 2010 Hi Mr Smarty Pants, First off, I want to commend you on your promotion of native plants. I am passionately anti-invasive plants (in fact, it was the subject of my master's thesis). That being said... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mystery plant in New Jersey December 29, 2009 We are trying to find the name of a shrub, growing in Southern New Jersey. with red berries that grow in a group much like lilac or oak leaf hydrangea. It is "feathery", not dense. A neighbor dug u... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hardy shrub for Canton, MI May 06, 2009 I have an 8' x 8' area between my front walk and driveway. I am interested in filling up the space (especially in height) with a shrub or tree. This area gets a lot of wind in the cold MI winter,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can Calycanthus floridus survive in South Dakota? March 06, 2009 Calycanthus in South Dakota? I've recently purchased some seeds for a calycanthus plant (floridus I think). I'm going to start them indoors but am wondering if this can survive a South Dakota winter... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lilac bush roots dangerous to house foundations August 06, 2008 Are lilac bushes dangerous to the foundation of a house? There is a lovely white-blooming lilac that grows against the house outside my bedroom window. My ex-husband said that the roots would destro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pink flower in South Carolina, perhaps poisonous July 09, 2008 I saw a beautiful plant while touring Charleston, SC. I do not remember the name - the tour guide talked about a long time ago women giving it to their husband's in tea (maybe?) to kill them. Of co... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering plants for shade in Ohio June 15, 2008 I am trying to find flowering plants I can grow in my perennial shade garden. So far I am having a difficult time except for hostas, nettle and myrtle. I need help to get my miniature lilac to blo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identifying September 01, 2007 i have a tree that i cannot identify. the leaf looks like a "pot plant"(yes, cannabis!!), but the leaf does not have serrated edges. it has a long bloom of numerous small white flowers that form a s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Effect of unusual wet weather on desert willows July 23, 2007 I live in North Central Texas and have 3 beautiful Desert willow trees that are usually in full bloom. I've kept them pruned to form a nice full tree shape but now they are losing leaves and looking ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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