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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Young Mexican White Oak Losing Leaves in Texas July 13, 2016 I have a 5 yr old Mexican white oak, 20 ft tall losing its leaves mostly at the top. They turn brown & fall off. It does not lose its leaves in the winter, right?. About 3 ft from the top down is bare... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Possible Herbicide Contamination of Soil July 07, 2016 My mother will be 80 this year and lives in Houston, Texas. She has a raised bed garden near her neighbors fence. It has been there for many years. She feels that he uses Roundup for his weeds near a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Status of Texas Olive tree in Katy, TX March 30, 2016 I have a Texas Olive tree and it has very few leaves. Is this normal? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Repairing Damage to Oak Tree Bark February 02, 2016 I have destructive horses who have torn a lot of the bark off of my oak trees. I've moved the horses from that area, but is there something I can put on the places where the bark is missing so the tr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Pin Oak Dropping Leaves Early December 17, 2015 I have a large pin oak that's losing it's leaves at this time. Is this too early? I have been watering the tree during the hot, dry weather and overall the tree looks healthy and has a good crop of ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Causes of death to Papershell pinion pine (Pinus remota)? December 03, 2015 Good afternoon. I did my best to review the site and have not found a comparable question - apologies if I have missed something. I own property equidistant between Leakey and Campwood off of HWY 33... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Should Mexican milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) not be used to attract Monarch butterflies? November 20, 2015 Should I remove Asclepias curassavica (Mexican milkweed) in my garden for threat of OE parasitic protozoan threat to Monarch butterflies? Is this threat as widespread as Chronicle implies? I had great... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
What is the black stuff growing on my thoroughwort? October 27, 2015 What is the black stuff on my thoroughwort plant's leaves that is killing the plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Precautions regarding pruning live oaks in the Austin area. October 27, 2015 Is it still recommended that we clean pruning shears and spray wounds when pruning live oaks in the Austin area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is my Crimson queen maple dying? October 20, 2015 Is my Crimson queen maple dying if it's leaves are turning brown? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need help for diseased Cherry Laurel tree in Houston October 19, 2015 A couple of weeks ago the leaves on my decade old cherry laurel began to turn brown. Now they are entirely brown. I have not changed the way in which I cared for it, but about three days ago I noticed... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Ficus pumila on Stucco Walls October 06, 2015 Can the creeping fig vine damage the stucco covered walls? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Palm Leaves Turning Brown October 03, 2015 My palm plant leaves are turning brown starting at the tip and moving down the leaf. I've changed my watering amounts, and moved it from the direct light to partial light and back. It's not by any ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Rejuvenating old Lindheimer muhly clumps October 02, 2015 I've got two clumps of Lindheimer's muhly in full sun in the western (limestone) part of Austin. I'm thinking they've been there for the past 8 or so years. In the past two or three years, the g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Florist Gloxinia Care October 01, 2015 Got a florist gloxinia and it was doing great for months. Went on vacation and returned; it was wilted. Think son watered it too much. Allowed it to dry. It has some new leaves forming on the very leg... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Willow Tree with Bark and Leaves Falling Off in Missouri October 01, 2015 My willow tree is suddenly lost leaves on 1/2 of the tree. The tree has 2 major trunks and the leaves that have fallen (all off within about 3 weeks) are on one trunk but the bark is impacted on both ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need help with Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum September 02, 2015 We have about five Dwarf Wheeler Pittosporum plants. All of them are mature and were doing well. I was on vacation for a week or so and when I came back I saw of each of them is plant 90% dead. The d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dieback of river fern and maidenhair fern in the Texas summer August 28, 2015 My river fern and maiden hair fern are dying back. I know it is hot, but they are in shade and watered regularly. The river fern is dying back from the tips. Any fungus or bugs I should be looking ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Can a Quaking aspen grow in central Texas? August 11, 2015 I live in Austin and like the idea of a Quaking Aspen tree. I live on a creek and the tree(s) would get good sun and water. Am I crazy? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
American Beech with Brown Leaves August 06, 2015 I have a North American beech tree in Oregon. Its leaves started out with big brown spots on the leaves and is pretty much turning all the leaves on the tree brown. What could be causing this and wha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Beautyberry Dying Back August 06, 2015 I've got an American Beautyberry which I planted in the spring. It's now about 2-3 feet tall and has 3 trunks (or limbs). It's in an area which gets about 5 hours of direct sun per day and I've be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
American beautyberry losing leaves in San Antonio August 03, 2015 I planted 3 American beautyberry last fall, and 2 of them are doing great. All the leaves on the 3rd one suddenly started dropping about 2 weeks ago and it looks dead. I can't find anything to tell... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Powdery Mildew on Monterrey Oak July 30, 2015 Monterrey oak developing gray-white patches on some but not all leaves leading to wilting. could this be powdery mildew? Tree not stressed. Thanks. Best treatment? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Red, puffy growths on Concord grape vine July 07, 2015 I have a growth on my grapevine that is red and puffy almost looks like it is full of water. It is a Concord grapevine. I have images I can send to you! It is on the stems. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Protecting storm-damaged pecan and black walnut trees in TX June 29, 2015 Several trees on our property in northeast Texas were uprooted by a tornado. A pecan tree with a circumference greater than 93 inches was carried to the ground. Although it is completely horizontal,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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