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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Plant identification April 20, 2010 I am trying to identify a flowering plant (usually potted) that is commonly seen around homes in Phoenix, AZ. It has a long (1 to 1.5 ft) bare woody stem topped by an umbel of perhaps 15-20 small red... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification April 16, 2010 No pictures only memory. It looks like a dried flower and grows with other wildflowers along roadside. It is mostly purple or blue purple and sometimes called statis. Stems favor dandelions, only t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification March 28, 2010 Found thorny bush in woods near my home that I need to identify. It is a tall shrub (approx. 10 feet) that has very large thorns on its green branches. I don't see any flowers yet. It doesn't appear... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant barrier along fence in South Central Texas March 10, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: I want to put in an attractive, diverse but tough plant barrier to help stop my dogs from running the fence with neighboring dogs. The 5-foot, open-wire fence is far from the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for dry containers in Dallas March 01, 2010 I have four, rectangular, low to the ground, clay pots on either side of my garage. They face the west and I usually forget to water them. Cactus worked but I planted the kind with thorns! Any ideas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small shrub with thorns for Austin February 08, 2010 I'm looking for a shade-tolerant 2-3' shrub with thorns, native to Texas (ideally central Texas) - an alternative to Barberry? Does such a plant exist? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning Bittersweet Vine December 29, 2009 I am interested in learning how to prune my American bittersweet. The vine has enjoyed it's second summer in my backyard. I would like learn how to prune it, not only for size, but to help keep the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Thorny plant for fenceline security December 23, 2009 What kind of thorny plant or vine would you suggest to place along a fence for security purposes View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Potted crown of thorns cactus cold tolerance in Marble Falls, TX December 02, 2009 I have a large potted crown-of-thorns cactus. Can it remain outside this winter in the Texas Hill Country? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hardiness of Euphorbia milii from Marble Falls, TX December 02, 2009 What is the hardiness of euphorbia mili, crown-of-thorns? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Smilax species toxic? October 23, 2009 I have a plant that the agriculture department told me was similax. I have a severe allergic reaction to it, after digging up the roots (potato) and burning them. I had a feeling my lungs inside were ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-blooming climbing rose in Conroe, TX October 09, 2009 I have a climbing rose and it has never bloomed and has no thorns, it was a cutting from another rose bush. I have given it water and fertilize and have mulch around it also. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant responsible for thorns in dogs' fur October 02, 2009 Do you know of a plant or bush that has very small, very thin triangle shaped thorn? My dogs have been coming in with these in their fur and I want to get rid of the plant/bush they are coming from. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing invasives plants in Adairsville GA September 29, 2009 We just moved into a new house and kudzu, greenbriar and poison ivy are trying to take over. I pulled what I could out of the trees, cut everything off at the base of the vine. I even tried digging ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacements for non-native purple fountain grass in Austin September 26, 2009 Hi-- Just found out that the purple fountain grass I bought (fortunately on sale) is a) not native and b)not perennial. Dang it! If I can find the pots I'm taking it back. I have a part-shade wel... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Thornless honeylocust trees for Taylor TX September 21, 2009 I live in Taylor, Williamson County, in central Texas and I am interested in selecting trees for my backyard. I can't really explain (it may be my Midwestern roots), but I would like to plant three t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling vegetation around retention pond in Williamsburg, VA September 21, 2009 We planted Juncus effusus around a retention pond and various native shrubs last year. We are having a problem controlling bramble,lespedeza and broadleaf natives from taking over and native trees(wil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mystery plant August 31, 2009 mystery plant, multiple non-woody stems from a single base, thorns like a rose bush,leaves like poison ivy in sets of three with the top dark green underside pale green. thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to prune Opuntia ellisiana in Decatur, GA. August 20, 2009 Hi Mr SP--How do I go about pruning an Opuntia ellisiana? I have saws, newspaper, heavy leather gloves, goggles, etc. But my question is more about what section of the plant to cut. The base has de... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting Sideroxylon lanuginosum in Austin August 12, 2009 I have a tall (30-40 ft) Sideroxylon lanuginosum in my backyard. Last fall hundreds of saplings popped up in my yard following runners from the tall tree. I would like to keep a few of these sapling... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Treating stings from stinging nettles in Indiana August 08, 2009 How can I remove hairlike thorns (as from nettle-type weed)? My hands react within 24 hours with swelling and pain, esp in morning. In past when I have then been able to locate the offending thorn, th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine like blackberry with 3 leaves & thorns in Florida July 08, 2009 What vine looks like a blackberry vine but has three leaves and thorns? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating suckers from roots of Moraine locust in Hilliard, OH July 07, 2009 We removed a large Moraine Locust tree and also the stump. Now little trees from the roots are coming up. How do we get rid of these so something else can be planted? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Palm tip wound in Sacramento CA June 25, 2009 My husband was stuck in his calf with a palm leaf, he is now complaining of stiffness where it went in, is there any kind of poison in it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low privacy hedge in Houston June 17, 2009 I am looking for a fast growing, dense (for privacy) shrub/s or plants, that will get at least 3-4+ feet high for a mostly shady area. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |