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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| Manzanita Not Growing Well July 11, 2016 Dear Mr Smarty Plants, I have a four native Dr. Hurd manzanitas growing in my yard, which I planted three years ago. Three seem quite happy with lots of foliage. The fourth has foliage only on this ye... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees for Privacy Screening in Central Texas July 11, 2016 I live in Cedar Park, Texas and have a neighbor who likes to have parties. I need a evergreen tree/hedge that will provide privacy and sound barrier. We have some wax myrtles but they don't work. We ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrub for Shady Austin, Texas Backyard July 11, 2016 I am looking for a colorful shrub or bush for my drab backyard in Austin. It won't get much sun and I want something native that detracts bugs if possible. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought Resistant Privacy Screen for North Side of Austin Texas House July 10, 2016 We live in the densely populated Mueller development, where there's barely 3 feet from our home to the 6 foot high privacy fence between us and the house next door. Since the houses are 2 stories, we ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When Should I Prune Texas Sage? July 07, 2016 How and when do you prune Texas sage to encourage thicker foliage? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrubs for Privacy Fence in Hawaii July 06, 2016 I live in Hawaii and need to create some privacy along a wall of my house. The septic drain field is 5' away and I am looking for 6'-8' shrubs that have shallow roots. Would something like cordyline f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Savannah Holly True to Seed? July 03, 2016 I read your information on Savannah holly. Does this mean that none of the berries will produce a Savannah holly (Ilex x attenuata) but will either be Ilex cassine or Ilex opaca seeds? Thanks so much... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bird Attracting Shrub for NH July 03, 2016 I am trying to attract birds to my newly built home's front yard. I have no foliage out front near our picture window. I live in Londonderry, NH. What bush or shrub can I plant that will attract bird... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problem with Adding 5 inches of Mulch and Soil Under Juniper July 03, 2016 My landscaper added about 3" of mulch and 2" of dirt under my ashe junipers to create a planting bed. Several have turned gold/yellowish this winter including a female tree. They are still flexible an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade Shrubs for a NJ Slope June 27, 2016 I live in central NJ and have a 15' shaded slope behind my home with a creek on the bottom. The slope erodes a little every year and I want to plant native plants on the slope to stop the erosion. Wha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sophora seeds to give away April 13, 2016 When we moved to TX years ago we bought a mountain laurel so we could have the beautiful purple flowers and were disappointed when the flowers every year were white (with a few purple ones here and th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Red bugs have appeared on my Texas mountain laurel April 10, 2016 What should I do about the red bugs on my mountain laurel? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need to identify Cherry laurel varietyin Bee Caves, TX March 29, 2016 I recently had cherry laurels installed in my yard for privacy. Unfortunately, the landscaper does not know what type of cherry laurel they are. The tag from the tree says Che-Com which to me might in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| mixed species privacy hedge in Central Texas March 24, 2016 I need to plant a privacy hedge along a fence line. I am in east Austin, blackland prairie soil. The soil is rich, usually at least moist but not soggy, and I find lots of worms when I dig. The fen... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When to Prune Desert Willow in Texas? March 18, 2016 I just learned I should have pruned back my desert willows. It's early March in North Texas. Is it too late to prune now? They are not leafing out yet. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of evergreen bush with red berries March 17, 2016 I am a beekeeper and today I took some pictures of a bush about 8 ft. tall in my neighbors yard. My bees are all over the tiny white flowers. It appears to be an evergreen bush because it has foliag... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lopidea on Texas Mountain Laurel March 10, 2016 How do I get rid of lopidea on mountain laurel? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Location of Elbow Bush and Gregg's Saddlebush at the Wildflower Center March 10, 2016 I have twice looked for Forestiera pubescens (Elbow Plant) and Mortonia greggi (Gregg's Saddlebush) in your gardens and have been unable to find. I have looked on the trails as well. Would you be a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Texas mountain laurel in a pot March 07, 2016 I have a really good friend who Mom pass away just recently and they were the best of friends. She loved her mother dearly and did tons of stuff together. Recently I posted a picture of a Mountain L... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Should flower stems of Texas mountain laurel be removed after they bloom? March 02, 2016 Should I trim off the old flower stems from this years bloom on a Texas Mountain Laurel? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning Wax Myrtle trees & bushes February 28, 2016 When is the best time of year to prune Wax Myrtle trees & bushes. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Two Holly Cultivars for a Texas Front Landscape? February 22, 2016 We are starting a new with our landscape. All existing 30-year-old plants are going to be removed. We would like a focal point at the front door area and are considering 'Savannah' or 'Nellie R. St... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to Control Poison Ivy February 22, 2016 We have lots of Poison Ivy on a site we are clearing it is adjacent to a pond and children are around this area all the time. We are creating hiking paths. I have a lot of experience but I do not wan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Spacing for Dogwoods and Cotoneasters February 21, 2016 How close should Dogwoods and Cotoneasters be to bricks? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning overgrown Texas sage February 15, 2016 Texas sage bushes have been left to grow like mini trees. Can we have trimmed back to get a 'full' bush? Bottom 2 feet of plant look so dead. Will it sprout again as a bush if trimmed back and do... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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