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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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 | ||
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