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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| Native Texas Trees from Seed for Fence Line July 07, 2016 My parents have an unirrigated fence line on their property that they want to grow evergreen screening plants along. Given the difficulty of establishing nursery grown plants in such an unirrigated a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants Needed for a Shaded, Rocky Slope in Alabama July 06, 2016 I live in Alabama where the soil is clay and rocky. I've tried planting on a rocky slope I have but, it's also shaded. Not even Juniper will survive on this slope. I've spent thousands of dollars tryi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| White and Violet Flower in Missouri March 17, 2016 When I was small I came into contact with a plant that gave me cold sweats, chills and hallucinations. All I remember was it bore a single flower with a little white and a lot of violet. It had a dark... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vining plant with red berries in California January 28, 2016 We found a vining plant next to and growing in our stream with gorgeous purple leaves in the fall after frost and a few sporadic clusters of smooth small red berries with little thorns on the vine. We... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shrub Recommendation for Chain Link Fence in DE January 26, 2016 What shrub would you recommend for covering a chain link fence and providing a screen between mine & my neighbors yard? They have kids, so it would have to be non-toxic. I'd like flowers/berries for ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Climbing Roses for the Pacific Northwest January 23, 2016 I'm trying to find out which types of climbing roses may exist in the Pacific Northwest. I live in western Washington, and I have a small yard with several large hedges bordering it. I'm growing hai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Thorn bushes for a fence in Puerto Rico November 17, 2015 I'm looking for thorn bushes that grow in Puerto Rico. Want to use as fence to keep wild life in. Thanks, at least 5 ft tall so dogs can't get out. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree with light-colored bark, thorns and long white clumps of flowers August 18, 2015 I bought a tree at the LBJWC plant sale a couple years ago but lost the name of the tree. I'm finally ready to plant it in the ground and would like to learn more about what its needs are. Can you ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fast Growing Shrub for Oceanside New York Site April 17, 2015 Can you recommend a tall, fast-growing shrub for a sandy location (near an ocean beach in New York) in full sun? I’m looking for a privacy shield. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of thorny bush February 26, 2015 We found a small thorny like bush in our hay field near the fence line yesterday. It has thorns and each thorn has new nodes along the thorn. it is a frosted like white at this time. It is early febru... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning Citrus Suckers October 06, 2014 Mr. Smarty Plants, you are the only person that has "not" insisted that the little balls on Satsuma and lemon trees were clumps of bugs. They are surely what you described in the answer to my previo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shrub with thorns, black fruit and citrus fragrance in Michigan September 19, 2014 I'm not sure that my plant is a native, but I'm hoping to find some answer. There is a small patch of roadside shrubs on my property which I've been unable to identify. They have simple opposite ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fuzzy Citrus Fruit on Satsuma and Lemon Trees September 13, 2014 A man asked you about fuzzy little small fruit-like balls that looked like tiny lemons. I have huge numbers of these on both my mature Satsuma and lemon tree this year. I get 100's of really great f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of tree with outrageous thorns August 10, 2014 Can you identify this tree? It has these outrageous thorns on its trunk. They are in clusters and are anywhere from 1" long to 4" long or so. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fast-spreading desert-type tree with thorns in yard July 21, 2014 There is a fast spreading tree in my backyard - many multiple almost symmetric flat green oval leaves on either side of the stem (sort of like a moringa tree but this is not that). Grows straight up, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Controlling a shrub/tree with lots of thorns and flowers similar to beebrush, but lots of thorns July 08, 2014 I live in Horseshoe Bay, Llano County with 1.5 acres of natural habitat. There is a plant that I have always called Cat's Claw but in researching Cat's Claw, I may have misidentified it. It has a fl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problem garden strip in Austin May 22, 2014 Currently I live in the west half of a duplex. There is a small strip of dirt about two feet wide between the wall and the sidewalk in the backyard. It faces west, meaning it only gets sunlight duri... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Control of non-native invasive Japanese Barberry from Enfield NH April 22, 2014 I recently bought a home that is bordered by woods and a sizable area of invasive Japanese Barberry growing on a steep hill in and around a stone wall making it that much harder to dig up. I've alway... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant ID from Cocoa FL April 18, 2014 I am trying to identify a plant that looks like a rose bush. It has rose-like thorns. The leaves are green, slender, acute at the tip, slightly unequal at the base and the leaf stem grows closer to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edibility of Washington Hawthorn berries from Williamsport PA February 22, 2014 Please tell me if Washington Hawthorn berries and leaves are edible and if so, how to prepare them. Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine with seed cluster that looks like a 3D star October 28, 2013 I found a weird vine on the creek bank with seed clusters that look like a 3D star they also have hair like thorns on them. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Thorny plants for a security perimeter in Austin TX October 16, 2013 Hello, I am trying to establish a security perimeter around my property that incorporates thorny or otherwise deterrent shrubs and vines. Can you recommend some attractive native plants that would su... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Savannah holly from Livingston TX October 05, 2013 Our Savannah Holly standards, planted in spring 2012, are now 10' tall, with 2-3" caliper trunks at the base. Some are in decline or have died. We thought the ribbons holding them to the nursery's ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification of thorny shrub in Tennessee October 03, 2013 I have a mid to dark green thorny type bush growing on my land in Cosby, Tennessee. I am originaly from NJ and I have never seen it before. The stalk is varigated and the thorns are plentiful and very... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| New thorn/bush tree in Central Texas September 23, 2013 In Central Texas, over the last 5 years we have seen a new variety of thorn bush appear. It has very long thorns much like mesquite tree but thorns are every inch or so along the branches. The tree is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of shrub growing wild in Austin Texas area September 23, 2013 Hi! I need help identifying a bush growing wild in my area. I have pictures of leaves fruit and bark. I cant find a good place to post these in order to ID plant. I'm in Austin TX area. Thank... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of plant with thorns in Maryland August 27, 2013 I live in Maryland and was walking in the woods one day when I accidentally stumbled in to a thorn bush. I don't remember what color the thorns where or very much about the plant in general but I do ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Does non-native Crown of Thorns cause cancer? August 24, 2013 Does the plant, Corona De Cristo (Crown of thorns) cause cancer? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shriveling agave from Miami Florida August 23, 2013 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Most upset - My beautiful agave (wish I could have submitted an image) has stared to misbehave. The once first liquid filled leaves, are starting to look more like the skin ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will ceanothus grow in West Texas from Midland TX August 17, 2013 re: Ceanothus - you have two ceanothus in your data base. Will any of those grow in West Texas? (southern exposure, full sun)? Will any of the California native ceanothus grow in West Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mystery berries on vine in Montgomery County, TX August 09, 2013 While out in the woods today on Caney Creek near Grangerland, Texas, I found what I thought to be some grapes on a vine hanging down from a tree. I brought the vine down, but when I got it home to pr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification of plant with leaves like poison ivy July 30, 2013 I would like to identify a plant whose leaves look like poison ivy, but the stem is white and has thorns. It is not thready. It was prevalent in overgrown garden beds of a house in Litchfield, CT. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Revegetation with Rosa Woodsii in Heber UT July 26, 2013 I am using Woods Roses for a revegetation project (to stop trail short cutting) in a public picnic area. Growing them from seed was too slow so I am experimenting with transplanting and it is working ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine) known to cause skin irritation July 23, 2013 Is Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata L.) known to cause a rash? We are trying to identify the source of a rash-after-gardening, and have not seen any of the big three (poison ivy, poison oak, poison suma... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of tree with fragrant yellow flowers and thorns June 06, 2013 I'm not sure if this is a native plant. It's a tree, around 15" tall. The leaves are in bunches with 3-4 very sharp small spines at each bunch. Flowers are small, yellow, hang down from the leaf... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of plant with crimson tubular flowers June 06, 2013 I saw this lovely flower in a field in Cleveland Tx. It was growing in a patch with maybe 4 or 5 other of the same yet only in that area. The flower is crimson red, long and tubular that grow on a woo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Getting a senna to fill out from Irvine CA May 30, 2013 I have a Senna of some kind, started from a seed by a friend. I got it as a small,six in high) seedling. After two years it is now blooming beautifully, but is a single thin stem 4 feet tall with ve... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of thorny vine in Michigan May 21, 2013 We have a species growing around our rural SW Michigan property that I'm trying to identify: I either see stalks up to 3 ft tall, or much longer vines if they find anchor. The most notable characte... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for indoor container gardening from Lax Vegas NV May 10, 2013 What is an good flower to grow in a pot? I live in a apt., and like roses,tulips etc. if that helps any. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for non-native Crown of Thorns from Bulverde TX May 04, 2013 Can you please tell me where I can buy a Crown of Thorns plant in or near Bulverde, Tx. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Want to identify thorny vines growing in Charlotte Hall, MD April 25, 2013 I have vines with thorns growing in my wood, vining around the trees and killing them. It grows and vines go up trees of any height all the way to the top. It has green pointy leaves. If it doesn't... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Memorial Tree Safe for Horses in Oregon March 28, 2013 Hi! I just lost my 33 year old beloved mare, Glory! She was my childhood horse and we have had her basically her whole life. We are looking for a special tree out in the pasture for her! She is bu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen vine for screen March 20, 2013 We have pretty much "dead" red-tipped photinia bushes and old pine trees that have seen better days, on a steep hillside. We need to remove and replace with a more natural setting, with some terraci... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Landscaping a Fence with Native Plants for Central Texas March 08, 2013 I'm looking to landscape my fence that I've lined with woven bamboo. The area gets the hot afternoon sun in summer and is pretty shady in winter. The plants need to be drought and heat tolerant. I'... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Robinia pseudoaccia a good replacement tree for Shumard oaks in Austin TX? February 27, 2013 Recently two of our Shumard trees in the front of our house died. Both trees were small/medium in size having only been growing for 13-17 years. I've been reading about Black Locust trees which accor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of plant with red beans Catalina Mts., Arizona February 05, 2013 While hiking at the base of the Catalina Mts. near Tucson in Jan., I came across a plant, the pods of which were open, displaying a bright red bean. I took some of the beans to plant in my yard. I was... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Thorny shrub for deterring break-ins in southeast Texas February 05, 2013 Looking for a very, very, thorny three or four foot tall shrub for in front of windows to deter break-ins. Considering Rosa Rugosa rose but it is not native. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine with hair-like prickles January 04, 2013 Trying to find out what kind of vine I ran into yesterday while climbing a deer stand. While pushing limbs and vines down from around me, I noticed hair-like thorns stuck in my sleeves and hands. This... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Mystery tree with yellow fruit in MN November 12, 2012 There is a tree at my workplace, about 8' tall, with small, pea-sized yellow berries right now (Oct. 2012). The berries are attractive to Cedar Waxwings, and the tree has small leaves that are simple... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of a plant in Florida with red fruit like a small tomato September 03, 2012 It looks like a small tomato but it isn't. It has a bunch of flakey seeds on the inside, which are a light brown in color. The outside is red, and I think it starts out growing green and also white.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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