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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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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Propagating a white cultivar of Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora September 09, 2016 I am trying to propagate a white cultivar of the Texas Mountain Laurel. I plan to use bee sticks and pollinate the plant. Are the plants self fruiting or do I need to find another white mountain laure... 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 | ||
Ground cover plants for a shady North Carolina yard March 20, 2016 Ground cover erosion control for heavily shaded area in Cary, North Carolina. Current landscapers use strong blowers for leaf control. This blows away any seeds, loose soil and mulch. Tree roots ar... 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 | ||
Growing Florist Roses January 23, 2016 Often I find that florist roses sprout for me, but I fail to get them to grow into a bush. Do you have the answer? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Will blue eyed grass grow under black walnut trees? January 18, 2016 Will blue eyed grass grow under black walnut trees? I know the Siberian Iris is tolerant but the scientific names are not the same yet everything I read indicates that blue eyed grass is not in the g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Growing Chile Pequin Indoors December 09, 2015 About a year ago I visited your page and as a result I planted 8 seeds in spring 2015 from a large Chile Pequin plant that came up wild in my Cedar Park home near Austin. The last harvest was late su... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dividing Hesperaloe December 09, 2015 How and when can I successfully separate a clump of Hesperaloe Parviflora into smaller bunches? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Bluebonnets for Upstate New York December 03, 2015 Will Texas Bluebonnet seeds germinate and flourish in Upstate NY? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Choosing the right Coreopsis species for Tennessee November 28, 2015 I live in Bristol Tennessee and have replaced most of my lawn with native plants. I have been trying to learn more about the Coreopsis genus. In TN, we have C. auriculata, grandiflora, lanceolata, m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Propagating Bauhinia lunarioides November 28, 2015 For a Master Gardener Intern project I am attempting to propagate the native orchid tree/Anacacho, Bauhinia lunarioides via root, cuttings, and seed. I have scarified the seeds - how long should it ta... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Propagation of Pacific dogwood November 21, 2015 When do I plant Pacific dogwood seeds? How deep and far apart should they be planted? The elevation will be around 5k. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Propagation of Texas grapes November 11, 2015 What is the best way to propagate wild Texas grapes? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Improving Bluebonnet seed contact with soil November 06, 2015 I have a five acre field in Blanco County, much of which is covered by bluebonnets. There are several species of native grasses as well. Would it be beneficial to disk or otherwise disturb the soil ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dividing Agapanthus October 03, 2015 When and how do I separate Agapanthus? Should I do it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Growing Green milkweed vine from seed July 29, 2015 I was given some seed for the pearl milkweed vine which I intend to plant, but I can find no information on whether to stratify or scarify them or just plant them. I know some milkweeds require strati... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
July 27, 2015 Hi, thanks for all your help in the past! I have a generous spot in my spacious back yard that is begging to be filled. The top soil is 4" sandy loam, below which is black clay.With frog strangler r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Stopping erosion on bank of a Florida retention pond July 21, 2015 I live on a retention pond, which has had all vegetation killed by the lake doctor. As a result the bank has eroded so there is a drop off directly to the water rather than a sloping bank. What plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Propagation of Blackfoot daisy seed July 21, 2015 I have a three yr old Blackfoot daisy. How do you root Blackfoot daisy seeds? When is the best month to grow these seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Growing Alopia drummondii from Seed July 09, 2015 Can you give me information about, or a resource for, growing Alophia drummondii (propeller plant) from seed? I have the seed but don't know when & the best method for planting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Can Crataegus viridian be grown in Houston, TX? June 21, 2015 I am looking to plant Crataegus viridis (species or cultivar "Winter King") at a location in full sun in Houston. Many places I've found online say that it is hearty through Zone 9, but others have... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Twist-leaf Yucca flowering in Burnet County, TX. June 16, 2015 I recently moved to Burnet County and our property is full of twist leaf yuccas which are now blooming, but not all are blooming. Why do some twist leaf yuccas bloom and others don't? Are they m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Transplanting wildflowers slated for destruction in Buda, TX. June 16, 2015 TXDOT has recently informed our church that they will be taking a sizeable amount of natural area fronting a ranch road for lane expansion. We are devastated to lose an are we have planted and nurtur... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
How to propagate Scarlet leatherflower (Clematis texensis) May 25, 2015 How do you collect seeds for the scarlet leatherflower? I saw your answer on how to grow from seeds but I'm not sure how to collect the seeds. Also is it possible to grow the scarlet leatherflower... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
How to protect Columbine plants from Texas sun May 12, 2015 I planted some Red columbine seeds in October of last year and they are now doing well, roughly 6-inches tall. I believed I was planting them in mostly shade at the time; that area now seems to get 6+... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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