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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Evergreen perennials for a pond bank in Texas June 18, 2015 We want evergreen perennial plants for the banks of our small pond. The banks are eroding and we need to help keep them strong. We have ducks in the pond and lots of turtles. We would love something ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Poolside plants for East Texas June 18, 2015 What are the best plants, shrubs, ornamental trees, etc. for poolside planting in East Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Aquatic Plants for a Small Pond in Missouri June 11, 2015 We have a small backyard pond (4' x 5' x 2' deep) with a shelf for marginal plants, and a pump that feeds a nice little creek and waterfall into the pond. We don't really want fish, but we'd lik... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Deterring geese from a wildflower garden February 28, 2015 I've moved into a home with a large pond beyond the grass yard. I intend to plant a sunflower house with lots of other plants as part of the structure, such as flowering vines, clover, mint and thyme... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants to replace Phragmites australis (Common reed) in Cedar Ridge Preserve February 25, 2015 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in the DFW area and volunteer at a preserve (Cedar Ridge). We are constantly battling the common reed, Phragmites australis, around the pond. I am wondering what shou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Eliminating Najas flexilis from a pond December 22, 2014 What method would be effective in eliminating Najas Flexilis from a pond? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Specifying sizes of plants for pond edge plantings in Austin area December 19, 2014 I am working on a list of pond edge plantings for the Austin area that will be in the fluctuation zone and I have my list of my plants but I need to know how to spec the sizes and to make sure my list... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Erosion control for edge of artificial lake in California August 14, 2013 How about erosion control at the edge of an artificial lake in Southern California? Juncus and ..? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for freestanding water in Oklahoma July 28, 2013 I have an overflowing gutter and the ground below becomes a muddy hole. I'd like to put a basin or pot in/or above the ground with a rain chain. Are there any plants--shrubs or otherwise that flouris... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
How to keep plants alive in a pot beside a patio waterfall. May 13, 2013 Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a waterfall on my patio and I can't keep my plants alive in the flower pot next to waterfall. Is that beacuse of algae produced by waterfall? If so, can you please recomme... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for Saltmarsh cordgrass from Houston April 16, 2013 I work for a consulting firm and we are looking to do more of our wetland creation/restoration. Do you know where one can purchased Spartina alterniflora? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Deer Resistant Pond Plants March 14, 2013 I am looking for deer resistant aquatic plants to use around a natural swimming pond in San Marcos, TX. The plants will be used to filter the water in a separate section of the pond. There will be a p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tropical Texas landscape from Houston March 04, 2013 Do you know of any public (or at least photographed) place in Texas that has been landscaped entirely with native "tropical-looking" (i.e. evergreen but NOT conifer and NOT succulent/arid) species? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tree with stilt roots for Louisiana bog garden February 07, 2013 Does Louisiana have any native trees with stilt roots? I would like one to go with my cypress and tupelo bog garden. I have several native plants such as spider lilies and blue flag irises, but I'm... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for water park January 03, 2013 Hi, I usually have no problem locating the right species for a given situation, but I may need some advice for this. I am looking for plants -- from annual & perennial flowers to shrubs and small t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Note on pond over oak roots from Round Rock TX December 23, 2012 Thanks very much to Barbara for answering my question about the live oaks - covering parts of their root systems with a pond. Your answer inspired discussion, and we changed our pond plan and moved th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Cover oak roots with a pond from Round Rock TX December 22, 2012 Hello! I have looked for this answer. We have 2 huge old beautiful live oaks. One is very close to the patio and house, and the other is about 20 feet of the house. Thus, part of their root systems ar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Propagation information from Queens NY October 04, 2012 Hello. I would appreciate information on when to plant the following plants. I found on the USDA website that all these plants could withstand the cold. ALthough they can withstand harsh weather, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Landscaping with water garden from Pendleton SC August 15, 2012 Searching for native plants in SC. Your results miss some plants listed on your site. I noticed this reading the Mr. Smarty Plants response to "Edible Plants for North GA" We aren't far apart. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Planting times for aquatic plants from Winston Salem NC July 12, 2012 I need to know the correct time of year to plant the following pond plants Swamp Rose Mallow, Southern Blue Iris, Soft Rush, American Bur-reed, American lotus, Woolgrass and Duck Potato Is it better... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for swan food July 03, 2012 Dear Mr Smarty Pants, I have a farm in VA with a large pond or lake fenced in. I am rescuing a pair of swan and want to grow plants around the fence and pond that they can eat. Could you suggest an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant ID at the Wildflower Center from Austin June 18, 2012 I was at the Wildflower Center today and loved the green plants with delicate white flowers that were in both clay pots in front of the auditorium. Please let me know the name of the plants. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for a pond edge in IN June 08, 2012 Hello, I live in Southern Indiana. I care very much about reinforcing native plants for my region & not planting anything invasive. I had a pond built last year & need some suggestions for native ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Perennial plants for full sun around pond April 28, 2012 I am looking for full sun perennial plants for the exterior of a water pond. Planting suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for pond, for incline and area with poor soil April 23, 2012 I have three plant recommendation questions for Austin, TX. 1. I have a large pond that I would like to put native aquatic plants in. What are some hardy aquatic natives I could put in? The pond ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Hungry turtles trample pond in Houston Texas October 17, 2011 I have a very large back yard pond (actually, a former swimming pool) that's home to a bullfrog, four Red-eared slider turtles, and scads of gambusia (little mosquito eating fish). I'd like to add n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant for a salt water pool in Australia September 27, 2011 What plant is a perfect plant for small areas around a salt water pool? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wildflowers for a pond in MO September 10, 2011 I have a spring fed pond in Missouri and would like to plant perennial wildflowers in the area around it. Are there any that would do better or others that are not recommended? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with non-native bi-color iris from Spring Branch TX August 18, 2011 Bi colored iris. I have four plants planted around our water feature last fall. Up until recently they all looked very healthy, yet not blooming. Several weeks ago I noticed that two of the plants ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Looking for grasses for slope around retention pond in Florida August 02, 2011 I live in St. Petersburg, FL on a large retention pond. Most of my neighbors on the pond have seawalls. I do not nor do my neighbors to my left and right. I am interested in colorful grasses to put... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Restoring a slope in the Mississippi sandhill region August 01, 2011 We are building on 5 acres (leaving 60% as is, natural). Only building a small (900-1200 sq ft house) & clearing 1 acre of the valley for a pond. There is a steep slope (where we had to put field dra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Erosion prevention on shady Pennsylvania stream July 28, 2011 I'm looking for a few species to plant along a stream channel to help reduce erosion during heavy rains. The soil is moist and in full shade. Ferns and thorny bushes are the only current vegetation... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Water absorbing plant from Surbiton, England May 21, 2011 Ground soggy with rain, is there a plant that will absorb water? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for NY wetland yard April 30, 2011 We have standing water in our yard for the entire spring and sometimes summer if it's a rainy one. We dug a ditch and found that our yard has a natural spring, which explains a lot. I need to know ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need an attractive plant to help stabilize a wet area in East Stroudsburg PA. April 20, 2011 We have a small run off from one pond to another. At the bottom of the slope, the area is always wet--and not from the run off. Is there a low growing plant that would provide a root system to help st... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant to stabilize a stream bank in PA April 02, 2011 Native plants to stabilize steep stream bank in semi shade to full shade. Southeastern PA. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for a pond bank in NE Pennsylvania January 13, 2011 I had a 3/4 acre pond built this fall in Northeastern Pennsylvania (Susquehanna county; zone 4). The pond banks are packed, hard rocky clay. What plants can I plant in the 3 foot bank between pond ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
More than you want to know about planting a pond in Austin Texas December 10, 2010 Winterizing Water Garden QA from Nov 27 Austin American-Statesman: Would the garden (60-gal aluminum) with those plants (papyrus, horsetail, water lily) be placed in the sun, shade, part shade or ? I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Winter tank pond care in Austin Texas November 09, 2010 Suggestions for winterizing a water garden in Austin Texas. Water contained in a 60 gallon aluminum horse tank. Garden contains papyrus, horsetail and water lily. There are no fish in the pond and no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for wet soil in turtle enclosure in Virginia September 03, 2010 We recently installed a turtle pond in our backyard in Arlington, VA. We built an enclosure around the pond to protect the turtle from raccoons and herons, and left some open area for the turtle to g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need water absorbing plants in Syracuse, NY August 18, 2010 I'm Looking for water absorbing plants and shrubs -not so much trees. My rain barrels and downspouts are still creating too much run off. I want to line a walkway and keep rainwater run-off from drai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Can Juncus effusus winter outside in Mountville PA? June 28, 2010 If we have the juncus effusus spiralis outside in a small pond and you say to let it outside in the winter does that mean we should let it in the pond? thanks for your time View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Flowering vine for trellis behind fountain in Anaheim Hills CA June 05, 2010 We are looking for a flowering vine to plant on a trellis surrounding a water fountain. The fountain splashes leaving the soil constantly wet. We have tried numerous vines, but they all die due to t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for edge of a field pond in Missouri June 03, 2010 I have a 25ft x 50ft field pond in Versailles, MO. What do you suggest for the water's edge plantings so that we might fish over them. Weed eating is eating ME up! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for area around a fountain in full sun near Dallas May 19, 2010 I'm seeking advice on what I can plant around the base of a fountain, in full sun, that can tolerate the fountain water splash/spray. I'm seeking something that can be maintained to a maximum h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Remake of church grotto in Highlands, TX April 24, 2010 I'm looking to reform our Church Grado. I would like some beautiful (fitting) flowers that are native to Texas. Low upkeep preferred. Possible some nice water flowers to put into waterways. Plan to a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Best time to plant wetland plants in NY April 19, 2010 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants - I'm working on a fresh water, shoreline wetland creation project in New York State. I've created two zones of native wetland plantings, an emergent shallow marsh zone ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need help replacing a non-functioning pond in Houston, TX. March 30, 2010 I have a non-functioning, shell-shaped, concrete pond in a shaded part of my backyard that has been a great place to grow mosquitoes since I got this place. I have decided that it is time for a chang... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for floodplain in Fairfield, New Jersey March 21, 2010 I have an easy question for you... I hope... We just moved into the floodplains of NJ in Fairfield and are interested in some plants. We would like to know what plants are best suited to grow in flood... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wetland Plants for Michigan March 20, 2010 I have an area on my wooded property with a wetland marsh area that often puddles with water along the perimeter in the spring. It is very shaded and wet but I wanted to camouflage the perimeter of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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