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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| Promoting Monarch Habitats in Texas July 11, 2016 My parents have a 6 acre pasture in East, TX with native milkweed in it. What are the best times of year to bush hog to promote more milkweeds & do you know of any grants to help manage land for monar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for Partial Sun in East Texas July 11, 2016 I need the name of wildflowers that will tolerate partial sun and perscribe burns in East Texas (Huntsville area) pine plantations. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When to See Wisconsin Wildflowers Blooming? July 07, 2016 When is the best time for Southern Wisconsin wildflower blooming? 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 | ||
| Shade and Drought Tolerant Plants for Idaho Shade March 18, 2016 I am looking for plants native to Idaho and/or the surrounding region (zone 6 or 7) that would do well in full shade conditions (adjacent to the north side of our house) and meet several criteria: Max... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Name of the yellow wildflowers that gave Amarillo, TX its name March 01, 2016 What is the name of the yellow wildflowers that gave Amarillo, Texas, its name? 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 | ||
| Low growing annuals for OK shaded slope. January 26, 2016 I have a heavily shaded slope on the north, west, and south side of my home. Can you suggest some low growing annuals (flowering, or not) that would allow me to beautify my property. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Caterpillars on Milkweed in MA January 23, 2016 I have found every year a black/red caterpillars on my milkweed. They eat everything! I have never been able to find out what they are or how to get rid of them. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Herbal properties of Dicentra formosa January 23, 2016 I would like to get some information on the Dicentra formosa plant such as the benefits of the plant. Is it poisonous? Can it be infused in an oil? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Perennials for Sandy Shade in California December 17, 2015 Are there any native perennials that would do well in sandy shade? I have a difficult corner in my garden that does not get much sun. The soil is sandy though I have added some amount of compost to en... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrubs for Birds and Bees in North Texas December 17, 2015 I have a small backyard and would love to grow native plants for North Texas. I don't think I can grow trees, but for sure can do 1-2 crape myrtle-size shrubs. I have some rose of Sharon's going on ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion Control Shrubs and Groundcovers for Steep NY Wooded Slope November 28, 2015 I need to cover a couple of very steep slopes in upstate New York that are partially wooded and near a brook. The slopes are about 130 feet back from the brook. Someone estimated that there is a coupl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What is blooming in NJ in Late November? November 27, 2015 I am a beekeeper in Edison, NJ. My bees are still bringing pollen even this late in the season (Thanksgiving). What plants or trees are still blooming? The color of the pollen is a pale yellow. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Indoor and Outdoor, Fast Growing Plants for California October 22, 2015 I’m looking for the best plants for me. I have small kids so they would have to be safe. I would like them to be able to grow inside or outside. I would love for them to grow fast and reproduce fast. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plants that do not attract any kind of wildlife. October 19, 2015 Hi I live in Bexar County, Texas and I was wondering what would be some good NATIVE plants that could be planted in yards that do not attract any kind of wildlife (so no berries, nuts, fruits, thick c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sunflowers for Terrell, Texas September 29, 2015 What sunflowers grow best in Terrell, Tx? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seedball Germination in Dallas September 19, 2015 I read your answer to the question posed about wildflower seed balls not germinating along a bike trail in Dallas. My garden club is also wanting to purchase seeds to create and scatter seed balls. ... 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 |  | |
| Blue mistflowers fail to bloom in Austin, TX September 02, 2015 We live in Austin, Texas and we have several blue mistflower plants that are not flowering. In a previous year we had lovely flowers but last year and this year we have no flowers in spite of the fact... 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 flowering plants for Frisco, Texas August 12, 2015 Hi There, I recently moved from Ohio, Cleveland to TX, Frisco. Could you please suggest me native flowering plants in my back yard and front yard. I like different flowers. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflower planting times for Little Rock, AR July 22, 2015 When is the best time to plant wildflowers in Little Rock,Ar 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 |  | |
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