Native Plants
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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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| Native boundary hedgerow plants for North Texas May 31, 2015 I have 27 acres of native prairie in the western edge of the cross timbers just a few miles south of the Red River between Nocona and Saint Jo, TX. I'm looking for some Texas native plant choices fo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Flowering shrubs and vines for San Angelo, Texas May 28, 2015 Hello What would be the best flowering shrubs and vines to plant here in dry San Angelo? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Looking for plants for phytoremediation in Columbus, TX May 27, 2015 Hello! I am looking for native Texan phytodegrading/rhizodegrading plants (basically I want phytoremediating plants that could be left in place and not have to be removed/disposed of after they had ta... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Texas mountain laurel honey toxic? May 25, 2015 I have been told that honey produced from the flowers of my Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) would not be safe to consume. Is this correct? The only information I have been able to find is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Buttonbush in California May 24, 2015 For the Buttonbush, how do you keep it consistently moist? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Does Buttonbush Spread? May 20, 2015 I live in Los Angeles County. Does Buttonbush spread via its roots/rhizomes? I've got a picture I could send in a reply. Gotta know if it's, what I see, a part of the buttonbush. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of white flowering bush with lovely scent May 17, 2015 Please identify the sweet smelling white flowering bush/tree blooming now,May, in western Massachusetts. The flowers are tiny 4(?) petals in small clusters. The scent is wonderful. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dogwoods Late in Blooming May 14, 2015 We are seeing no evidence of flowers on two dogwoods this year. One usually is in bloom now, the other later on in the spring. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Texas sage losing inner leaves May 14, 2015 I have a Texas Sage bush that on the outside is beautiful with green leaves. The inside branches (the middle) of the bush are bare of any leaves. Why? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mountain Laurel suffering from Spring freeze May 12, 2015 I have a 4 1/2 ft Texas Mountain Laurel shrub in current location for several years. A hard freeze this spring killed every leaf on the tree, but the stems remained green. My other smaller Mt. Laure... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need to know about little brown spots on Texas Mountain Laurel May 11, 2015 I have little brown spots on my Texas Mountain Laurel leaves. I can email you a picture if needed. What could it be and how can I help my little laurels work thru these spots? The texas mountain ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Chickasaw Plum suckering potential in Washington DC area May 11, 2015 I have planted some chickasaw plums around the border of my property. My property is surrounded by a wooded area, which then opens into a golfcourse. Is there a chance that my chickasaw plums would... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can a Texas Mountain Laurel grow in Northeast Oklahoma? May 09, 2015 I was born and raised in Texas but am now living in Northeast Oklahoma. I miss the smell of Texas mountain laurels in the spring. Is there any way of getting one to grow here? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Will Mexican Buckeye Survive in SC? May 09, 2015 I have grown a Mexican Buckeye indoors from seed in Greenville, SC. Will it survive the colder climates here if transplanted out of doors? Thanks for your advice! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
May 01, 2015 Greetings! I am hoping to gain privacy on a 30' swath with existing 6' privacy fence, I need about 14' of height to hide unsightly apartments. Location is full sun without a nearby spigot, I can ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Finding a manzanita species suitable for Fort Worth, TX April 28, 2015 Which manzanita shrub would thrive best in the Fort Worth, Tx. area? I was thinking of planting it in a large pot. Thank You! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Arctostaphylos Hanging Basket for Texas April 24, 2015 I would like to plant an Arctostaphylos uva-ursi in a hanging basket with a coco liner. Will this work, or will the roots grow too long? it's the 'Massachusetts' cultivar. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Passiflora and Leucophyllum together in Texas April 23, 2015 I've got a Passiflora incarnata that has self-propagated around a cenizo sage. My question is, will the passionflower vine choke out or otherwise damage the cenizo? Do I need to cut back the vine? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for a children's playground April 20, 2015 We have extensive native gardens on our 2 acre property, but my children want a garden of their own with plants they can hide under and that are good for imaginative play. Are there any native plants... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer Resistant Roses and Fruit Trees in NC April 20, 2015 Hello, I am planning a house on Lake Gaston in North Carolina (to be built) and will need to establish a new garden on the cleared lot. I would like to focus on native plants, but I love a cutting ga... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Teucrium resistant to Verticillium Wilt? April 20, 2015 Is Teucrium frutescans, or Bush Germander resistant to Verticillium Wilt? I cannot find it on a list anywhere. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen groundcovers for NE NC April 20, 2015 Can you please provide a list of evergreen native groundcovers for Northeastern NC? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen Trees for Low Maintenance Screen April 18, 2015 We live in Pacifica, CA and are looking to plant a row of low maintenance trees in our back yard along our fence, that grow to be a maximum of 15' high, that stay green year round. What do you recomm... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cold Hardy Hibiscus for Central Texas April 18, 2015 What variety of Hibiscus is cold hardy for Central Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fast Growing Shrub for Oceanside New York Site April 17, 2015 Can you recommend a tall, fast-growing shrub for a sandy location (near an ocean beach in New York) in full sun? I’m looking for a privacy shield. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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