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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| What is the name of the Texas Wildflower that smells like grape koolaid? March 28, 2014 Can you tell me the name of the Texas wildflower that smells like grape koolaid? I live in north west Texas and every spring, the low growing purple flowers line spots along the roadside. It's a joy ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Butterfly Garden, non-poisonous to Dogs, in Taylor MI March 27, 2014 I have a small fenced yard with a patio that my dogs have free access to. I would like to create a butterfly garden and add other plants that are non toxic to my dachshunds. Any suggestions. I am f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Starting wild plant seeds indoors from Dallas TX February 23, 2014 Is it possible to start some Phlox drummondii or other native wild flower from seed indoors, and then transplant to my garden? If so, can you suggest some? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What do wildflower seeds look like from Westlake Village CA February 23, 2014 I collect seeds from my wild flower garden but can't always tell what part of the dried flower is the actual seed that will reproduce. Is there a resource that shows the seed part of flowers? Than... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low Ground Cover for Steep, Shaded PA Site February 17, 2014 I am located in Downingtown, PA, right on the border between Zone 6 and 7. Please provide a recommendation of a native ground cover for the following conditions: steep slope (greater than 45%), full s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Best place for picking wildflowers in Austin February 14, 2014 Where is the best place to find wildflowers for picking near or in Austin around the end of March? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Latest time to mow bluebonnets from Chappell Hill TX February 13, 2014 The past few years, my bluebonnets have been overwhelmed by tall grass. I could have solved this by mowing later, but I was always afraid of mowing new bluebonnet plants. When is the latest time I can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Getting milkweed seeds into seed mixes from Milwaukee WI February 07, 2014 My husband and I are concerned about the Monarch butterfly migration and have started an effort to get milkweed planted along some bike trails here in Wisconsin. This made me think of Ladybird Johnso... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting bluebonnets to garden from Columbus TX January 30, 2014 Is it possible to transplant bluebonnets from pasture to garden and if so when is the best time to do this? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sunlight needs for native wildflower seedlings from Double Oaks TX January 27, 2014 Last December I created a flower bed for my parents' backyard and sowed native wildflower seeds (obtained from Native American Seed). The bed is in full sun most of the day, and the seeds are alread... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fourth-grade research on Texas Wildflowers from Dallas, TX January 06, 2014 Mr. Smarty Plants, Hello, I am a fourth grade teacher and my students are about to begin a project on Texas Wildflowers. Some of the information they will require is the scientific name of the plant... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Backyard for Lakewood OH December 24, 2013 I would like to do away with the lawn in my backyard in favor of native plants that would require minimal maintenance, including flowering plants that would encourage pollinators. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Revegetation of school site with meadow plants from Austin December 23, 2013 We are revegetating a hill country school site (typical calciferous soil stripped of vegetation & minimal topsoil) with a native seed mix equal to Native American Seed "Meadow Mix". We have an abund... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Earliest spring wildflowers from O'Fallon Mo. December 10, 2013 Which spring wildflower blooms first around the St. Louis area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When to plant wildflowers in California December 10, 2013 When is the best time to plant wildflowers in California? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower seeds that do well in black clay soil from Plano TX November 21, 2013 What native wildflower seeds do best in black clay soil? We live in Plano along creek w/ 8,000 sq. ft. in full sun. No manmade water source. Suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Variety of colors in bluebonnet seeds from Houston November 18, 2013 Bluebonnet seeds I have collected are a variety of colors, from the sandy/tan color to a grayish color and black color. Are all variations viable? Are they equally viable? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cutting Back Perennials in the Fall? November 13, 2013 We have large beds of flowering native perennials that we planted around our house as part of a landscape conservation plan (various Joe-Pyes, goldenrods, turtlehead, blazing star, brown-eyed Susans).... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting bluebonnets in late Fall from Georgetown TX November 08, 2013 Transplanting bluebonnets in October? Neighbor wants to share abundance of rosettes and good size plants- any suggestions or warnings? Will freeze/frost protection be needed if we get December freeze... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pink wildflowers on DFW runways in April-June October 10, 2013 I fly thru DFW quite often and have noticed in April-June timeframe the runways are dotted with a light pink colored wildflower. Have asked the DFW Customer Service folks for the name, ones I've ask... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hymenocallis caroliniana and Hymenocallis liriosme Differences October 09, 2013 A couple of years ago a neighbor gave me three huge bulbs of a type unknown to her. They fit the description of a spider lily. In attempts to identify it I found Hymenocallis liriosme and Hymenocallis... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Overwintering Yucca Seedlings in Illinois October 02, 2013 I have many yucca seedlings I started this year. My question is what do I need to do with them to overwinter here in Northern Illinois and when do I plant them in the ground for best chances of survi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Texas wildflowers indoors for a March wedding from Austin October 01, 2013 I have learned so much from this site! Thank you! I am getting Married this March and I am hoping to use Texas wildflowers for the centerpieces. I hope to grow them in containers indoors and have the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Starting Venus Flytrap From Seed September 05, 2013 I am a high school student doing a project on the Venus flytrap and would like you to help me by answering the following questions: What are the Venus flytrap predators and prey? How to raise a Venus ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Changing blooming patterns on sunflowers from Kimball NE September 05, 2013 The common sunflower seems to be very prolific some years, not so much others. Is this weather related or cyclical? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting wildflowers from Wichita Falls, TX August 24, 2013 Hi, Thanks so much for the answers you give! You've been very helpful to me in the past. I have two quick questions: 1) I have been harvesting seeds from my wildflowers. I wonder when the best time... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Plants for a water collection pit in Bronson, FL August 22, 2013 I live near Gainesville, FL in a low rural area with many cypress swamps around & bought this 5 acres 2 years ago. About 15 years ago a pit was dug on my 5 acres to give the rainwater somewhere to go... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflower garden for Driftwood, TX August 20, 2013 I would like to plant wildflowers in a fairly large field on a slope. The slope is a little rocky and is located in Driftwood, TX. I have been thinking about a mixture of Bluebonnets and Indian Blank... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Greenhouse bluebonnets for July wedding from Denver CO August 19, 2013 Would it possible for my daughter's florist to get bluebonnets for her late July wedding? Are they propagated in greenhouses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Help for Collapsing Tradescantia August 14, 2013 My tradescantia has completely collapsed at the crown. The stems are yellowish. This happened once before when I had it planted in full sun and I just had to discard it. This time I have one plante... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for a Septic Field in NC August 14, 2013 What kinds of low water plants can I plant over a new septic field in North Carolina? The area is part sun so I am concerned about having trouble getting grass started. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Making Tea from Croton monanthogynus August 13, 2013 Do you have any other information on the value of croton monanthogynus as a tea? Nutritive value? Possible adverse reactions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wild flowers in North Texas for October wedding from Biscayne FL July 25, 2013 I am getting married in north Texas in October. I want to use wild flowers in addition to daisies. Which ones are in bloom in early oct? I've heard using flowers in season are more reasonably priced.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Developing fields with native plants from New Egypt NJ July 24, 2013 I have several acres of fields that I want to develop with native grasses and flowers. I would like to know the best time to mow the fields so that bushes and volunteer trees don't take over and that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought Tolerant Shrubs and Perennials in San Jose, CA July 18, 2013 Hello I am a SLT home owner in San Jose, Ca. and want to plant drought tolerant shrubs and perennials. We don't have irrigation but plan to put a timer on a nozzle and run some lines. At least I am t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Curling, Red Leaves on Gaura July 18, 2013 My gaura had most of its lower leaves turn red and then fall off. It is July now, I bought and planted it in May where it seemed to do really well growing several more inches tall and blooming nicely.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Streambank Plants for SE Pennsylvania July 18, 2013 I help manage a nature preserve in southeastern Pennsylvania. Along the stream the banks have been beaten down by a large number of visitors for their educational activities such as stream studies. Th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Neighborhood association wanting wildflowers mowed from Grand Prairie TX July 14, 2013 For at least 15 years, I have been fostering growth of wildflowers in 60% of my 90x400' yard which include 150' utility trunkline easement in which I can plant no trees. This year, we had volunteer ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will maroon and Texas Bluebonnets prosper in Richland MO? July 02, 2013 I live in Richland, MO and have obtained both Maroon and Texas Bluebonnet seeds from Fredricksburg, TX. Will they prosper in this area and when is the best time to plant? I have read how and what type... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recreating a wildflower meadow, central Texas July 02, 2013 We have an acre on our property that has bluebonnets. Unfortunately, it also has other plants that we don't want -Johnson grass, nettles, burrs. We plan to do a controlled burn in the fall and re-... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wet adapted plants for Virginia Beach VA June 28, 2013 I live in Virginia Beach, VA on Lynnhaven waterway (leads into Chesapeake bay, but at my point is more brackish). I've recently removed/contained bamboo with concrete and metal barriers and now want... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why Did Gaillardia and Aquilegia Changed Color? June 26, 2013 Both a Gaillardia pulchella and two red columbines bloomed normally last summer, but this summer the Gaillardia's petals are all yellow and one columbine is white and the other is yellow. What caused... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Flowering plant for gravesite in Weatherford TX June 23, 2013 I want to plant flowering plant of some kind at parent's grave site in Weatherford, TX. The family cemetery is on a limestone hill with no irrigation or ability to water other than nature. Would on... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Red selection of Coreopsis Tinctoria from Austin June 10, 2013 Red tall plains coreopsis is being sold @ Eden Bros. THey note it is a native, can grow to zone 10, but they say it is "not heat or drought toleranr". Cannot find verification or rebuttal anywhere. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What insect eats Alamo Fire blue bonnets from League City TX June 10, 2013 What insect eats Alamo Fire blue bonnets? Something seems to be eating new seedpods. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for a Shady Woodland in MA June 09, 2013 Hello, I am looking for natives to plant in full shade or part shade. My house is in the mountain woodland area of Mt. Washington, MA. I am looking for grasses, flowers and shrubs. Also I am looking f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Summer-blooming Wildflowers for Wichita Falls, TX June 08, 2013 Can you give me a list of some summer-blooming (June, July, August, maybe September) wildflowers that I can plant in my flower beds in Wichita Falls, TX and tell me when the best time is to sow the se... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Proliferation of Small Palafoxia in Dallas Co. TX June 07, 2013 A few years ago I noticed a new wildflower I hadn't seen before in the southwest Dallas County area. I found the name to be Small Palafoxia. It was growing along the edges of HWy 67 in Duncanville ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Showy Low Growing Perennial for Michigan June 03, 2013 I have been looking for a native perennial that would do well in full sun and moist to dry soil. It would have to be at most 2.5' tall and have showy pink, purple, or red flowers. Is there such a pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for the Shade of a Pine Tree in Pittsburg June 03, 2013 I live in Pittsburgh, PA. My neighbor has a huge pine tree. Last year everything I planted on that side near the tree died. That part of the yard only gets morning sun, as the tree overshadows it. Wha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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