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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| 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 |  | |
| Information about person who handles invasive species at the Wildflower Center October 01, 2015 Would you please provide me a name, phone, and email address, of the person in your office who handles invasive species? Thanks, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Souce for Glass Mulch in Austin September 02, 2015 Is there a special reason that broken glass is used in the courtyard flower beds? It's beautiful, wondering where to purchase some. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Color of crystal gems uses on bowling ball yard art August 06, 2014 I would like to know the color of crystal gems used on the bowling ball yard art View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Stick with tried and true plants for a green roof in New York May 12, 2013 If I use Virginia creepers in a ground covered application for a green roof, how much soil should I provide depth wise? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for silver ponyfoot from Temple TX March 19, 2013 Where can I purchase dichondra argentea -- I live in Bell Co. but am willing to come to Austin if need be. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wheelchair access to the Wildflower Center from Converse TX March 09, 2013 Hi. I hope you can help. I've written two emails to the Contact Dept but to no avail in receiving a response. I wanted to know if wheelchairs can access the flower fields and the trails? I get the fe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower blooming in Austin in mid-March from Laceys Spring AL February 27, 2013 Hi I will be at and around the center the weekend of March 9 & 10 to exhibit in the Art and Artisan's Festival and plan to stay a few extra days to "wildflower" either before or after. What is you... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of pink flower photographed at the Wildflower Center January 08, 2013 Last August I took a photo at the Wildflower Center and now I'm trying to identify it. The flower has many pink petals that either stick straight out or downward and the center has pink frills edging... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is installing irrigation with Habiturf a good idea in Round Rock Texas? December 05, 2011 Mr. Smarty Plants, I am in the process of planning a new lawn in my front yard. We have decided to plant the Habiturf seed mix (thank you, by the way). Originally, we planned on installing a spri... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Color year round, welcome to Austin Texas. December 04, 2011 I am new to Austin and want to plant colorful flowers for fall and winter that get a "wow" reaction. I have not seen much at the local nurseries. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated! 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 |  | |
| Source for Crushed Limestone Used at the Wildflower Center July 01, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty plants, Do you know where I can find the pulverized limestone that you have at the entrance around the front of the building? It's right around where you have Clematis texensi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will Copper Canyon Daisy be at the Plant Sale from Georgetown TX March 21, 2011 Can you find out if Copper Canyon Daisy will be sold at the plant sale? I'm having trouble finding it in any of your databases. The scientific name is Asteraceae Tagetes lemmonii. It's a shrubby ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Signs at the Wildflower Center January 24, 2011 Hello. Where can we buy the black, metallic plant identification tags used at the Wildflower Center? Thanks in advance. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why is Hamelia patens, a species listed as invasive, in the Wildflower Center database? September 29, 2010 Hamelia patens (Firebush) is listed as an invasive plant at Invasive.Org, the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, which partners with the US Forest Service, Univ of GA and others. LBJ ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowers at the Wildflower Center September 09, 2010 What common wildflowers are in the Wildflower Center? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Name of speaker at Wildflower Center on maintenance of oaks trees in Austin July 28, 2010 Sometime in the recent past my wife heard a speaker at the Wildflower Center talking about the pruning and maintenance of oak trees in Austin. We are now in need of tree maintenance services and are ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Name five non-flowering species at the Wildflower Center. April 30, 2010 Can you tell me the names of five non-flowering plant species (true mosses, conifers, ferns) currently growing at your center? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Color of Englemann's daisy (Engelmannia peristenia) April 11, 2010 I'm in Austin and just bought some Engelmann's Daisies at the plant sale on Fri. The picture had them with white petals, and your plant database has them with yellow petals. I specifically wanted wh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When does Ziziphus obtusifolia leaf and flower in Austin? March 22, 2010 Hello Mr. S.P., Do you know when the Texas buckthorn, Ziziphus obtusifolia (I believe), flowers (and leafs out) in Austin? Is there one at the Wildflower Center? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Update on Wildflower Center's Turffalo plot February 11, 2010 Hi, I was wondering if you can provide an update about the Turffalo grass installed at the Wildflower Center? The last update was June 26, 2009. We are investigating options for a lawn in South Aus... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Does the Wildflower Center sell Endangered Plant Species? January 25, 2010 Do you guy's sell endangered plants in Austin? Such as the Basin Bellflower, or the Texabama Croton? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grass at Wildflower Center with purple glow October 31, 2009 What is the clumping grass along the WFC meadow trail that has a seedhead resembling bermudagrass and a glow similar to purple three-awn when backlit by the sun. I saw it yesterday (Oct. 2) and wonde... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Does the Wildflower Center plant sale include plants or only seeds? September 24, 2009 Does the list of plants for your Fall Plant Sale imply that they are availble to be transplanted or only as seed? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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