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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| topic | question | |
| Does molasses make glutinous corn palatable from The Philippines November 06, 2011 What would be the effect of molasses in the growth of glutinous corn?? Does molasses make the plant palatable? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blueberries & Raspberries for Walla Walla WA October 17, 2011 Which blueberry and raspbery plants grow best and suvive winter in Walla Walla Washington View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need source for garlic to plant in garden in Fort Worth, TX. September 30, 2011 Where can I get or purchase a native Texas garlic to plant in my garden? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are the seeds of Amberique bean edible in Beaumont, TX September 28, 2011 I found one of these growing in my yard. Strophostyles helvola (L.) Elliott Amberique-bean, Trailing fuzzybean. Are the bean pods edible? I read somewhere that they are. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What variety of Opuntia is best for eating in Boerne, TX. September 26, 2011 Which variety of Opuntia, is best for eating the pads and which are the ones best eaten for fruit? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Patience pays off with chile pequin in Austin September 24, 2011 Hello. Re my June 08, 2011 message -- Guess what! The chile pequin is finally flowering and setting fruit in its container on my apartment patio. You said patience, you were right, and hooray once aga... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of tree with strawberry-like fruit in North Carolina September 24, 2011 While visiting Boone, North Carolina we walked the Greenway in town. There were a few trees with a round red fruit similar to a strawberry. They were about the size of a penny and a dull red color dot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Could hickory leaves be used as seasoning from Waynesboro VA September 17, 2011 I have a hickory tree. If I pull a leaf off and rip it then smell, there is a strong wonderful scent of hickory much like when I rip a mint leaf there is a strong smell of mint. So my question is, can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| List of plants native to the Abilene, Texas area September 15, 2011 Am looking for direction to a complete list of plants native to the Abilene, Taylor County, Texas area (trees, shrubs, grasses, cacti and other plants that grew here before cultivation, eradication or... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification in Georgia September 14, 2011 I saw the same question that I was going to ask about the plant that folds its leaves at dusk, with sparse branches, rapid growth, small yellow flowers and long (whisker-like, but do not appear to be ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are there edible nettles native to the Austin, TX area? September 13, 2011 Are there any nettles native to this area? I would like to cook with them (if there is a good substitute, please advise). Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identifying a plant similar to sarsaparilla September 04, 2011 I am trying to identify a plant that looks very similar to sasparilla, but has a ring of blue berries at the end of a long stalk, and the plant itself is spreading, not an isolated herb like sasparill... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| A garlic plant with only one clove in Ft. Worth, TX? August 08, 2011 Is there a garlic that does not have cloves? I have been using what appears to be garlic from my garden and it is garlicy, hot and delicious. I have spent many hours online but cannot find this garlic... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Jelly made from local plums from Amarillo TX July 29, 2011 On Wednesday, August 5, 2009 you answered a question on native plants in the Austin area in which you wrote:"Two kinds of local plums have also been used to make jellies: Mexican Plum (Prunus mexican... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Nectar from Lonicera sempervirens edible from Fairfax VA June 01, 2011 Is the nectar from Lonicera sempervirens edible? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Thalia dealbata toxic to dogs? May 16, 2011 A pond in a park frequented by dogs contains Thalia dealbata and I have seen numerous dogs eating the roots with relish, which we discourage, of course. They seem to really enjoy it though. Aft... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of a plant with bumpy red fruit April 26, 2011 I have a bush with red berry like pods on it. They are about 3/4 of an inch bumpy round with a big seed inside. The leaves are smooth and oval shape. Please let me know if it is poisonous or not, and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for fruit and nut trees to plant in San Augustine, TX April 05, 2011 I am setting up residence in San Augustine, Texas on approximately 9 acres of land. We wanted to plant a few of each type of fruit and nut trees that would prosper in the area (for wildlife and for o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Information about Cedar Sage from Austin March 11, 2011 I am new to the Austin area and was wondering about cedar sage (salvia roemeriana). Is this plant considered aromatic, non-aromatic of chia? And, other than the edible flower are other parts of the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Jersalem artichoke as a medicinal herb February 05, 2011 I am having trouble with high cholesterol and coming up on being borderline diabetic and I am overweight. I know that Jerusalum Artichoke helps lower blood sugar. Am into herbs and J.A. is hard to l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Culture of Polytaenia nuttallii, Prairie Parsley January 21, 2011 Polytaenia nuttallii is listed at the Wildflower Center as a biennial. PLANTS database lists it as a perennial. Please clear this up if you can. If I plant this at home with tomato plants will it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dead or Dormant Chile Pequins in Corpus Christi November 12, 2010 We have 4 chile pequin and 5 chiltepin plants growing our yard. All were thriving beautifully until we took a 12-day vacation in late July. There was little rain during that time but overall this y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Petals of flowers on cake from London August 28, 2010 Hi could you please confirm whether it is safe to position an amaryllis on top of a fresh cream cake (it will not be eaten, nor will the stem touch the cream, it will be positioned in a non toxic vial... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Petals of flowers on cake from London August 28, 2010 Hi could you confirm that Gemini, Lisianthus and Lilies are non toxic if positioned onto a fresh cream cake (stem will be paced into a vial but the petals will come into contact with the cream). Thank... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible/medicinal plants in Suffolk County, NY August 19, 2010 Which types of edible/medicinal plants are available in Suffolk County (Long Island NY)? Is there a place I can find a list with information about what they look like, where they can be found and what... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are wild sweet peas edible? August 05, 2010 Are wild sweet peas edible? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can beautyberries be used to make jelly from Hodges SC August 02, 2010 Since the beautyberry bush berries were used for tea to help with colic, can the berries be used for making jelly? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Garden crop to plant in July in Austin July 16, 2010 I've just been given access to a plot at Sunshine Gardens and must plant something within 30 days. What would be a good planting crop for the middle of July that would be successful for harvesting i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grafting to a cherry laurel for edible fruit in Austin July 01, 2010 I was the one who asked earlier about grafting to a Cherry Laurel. I will happily graft a local plum on it, say a Mexican Plum or American Plum or one of the naturalized peaches (a friend has an India... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is 'Hot Lips' salvia edible from Richmond TX June 23, 2010 Mr Smarty Plants, I recently planted "Hot Lips" a form of Salvia Sage in my yard in Richmond Texas (just southwest of Houston). The leaves and flowers smell so great I would like to know if either ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to prevent erosion on slope in Texas June 19, 2010 We have an erosion problem developing on the low side of a gently sloping hill. We are in clay soil at the base of the hill with oaks and pines. We have a right of way that is without trees forty fee... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for shade, poor soil in Park Ridge NJ June 17, 2010 Hello! I live in far northeast New Jersey, by the New York state border. I am looking for plants for areas of my lawn that nothing currently grows in - due to shade and poor soil quality - very rocky,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Texas Thistle edible from Austin May 26, 2010 Is Texas Thistle an edible plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information on cherry trees from Santa Fe May 23, 2010 1.does the purple leaf sand cherry have edible fruits? size, flavor, cross pollinator necessary, fruiting time? cultivars? zone, soil, light, water? 2. fall foliage color of 'Meteor" cherry tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How was salal (Gaultheria shallon) used by the troops in WWII? May 20, 2010 We live in Vancouver BC. My mother says that during WW2 all the kids in her school were sent out to pick salal. They picked sacks of salal which were then sent to the troops. We are trying to find ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fruit trees for Buckeye AZ May 16, 2010 I am moving to Buckeye Az from Utah and would like to know what type of fruit trees I can grow. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are palm tree leaves poisonous? May 03, 2010 Hello, I am doing a "Menu" on Hawaii and I was wondering if palm tree leaves are edible. I have to make menu items and i was thinking palm tree leaves could be included.. If you know please answer!... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blueberry and huckleberry plants for Washington state April 20, 2010 Could you give me the names of which blueberry plants and huckleberry bushes that grow the best in Walla Walla, Washington and where and how to plant and space and care for them?? Thanks so much. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What blueberry cultivar is best for Austin, TX. April 15, 2010 How do I know what blueberry bush to purchase for the best tasting variety that will grow in the Austin, TX area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fruit or nut trees for land in North Carolina March 30, 2010 Mr. Smarty Plants I have 70 acres of land in Claremont, NC and am looking for low maintenance trees, plants, vegetables, etc., anything I can grow so that this land doesn't sit unused. I am especial... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will a chile pequin survive winters in Garden City, Kansas March 24, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, I am trying to determine if a chile pequin (Capsicum annuum) can survive Kansas winters. My sister lives in Killeen, TX, and has a couple of these bushes in her yard. She broug... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for floodplain in Fairfield, New Jersey March 21, 2010 I have an easy question for you... I hope... We just moved into the floodplains of NJ in Fairfield and are interested in some plants. We would like to know what plants are best suited to grow in flood... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible Native Plants for a Small Austin Garden March 15, 2010 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants (or Mrs. or Miss, whomever is answering this go'round)! First off, thank you so much for all the help you have given me in the past. Secondly, the company my husband works ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fruit trees for West Virginia March 13, 2010 What kinds of fruit trees would grow best in West Virginia? I assume apple trees would, but what kind of apple tree and are there any others that would grow well? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Getting blueberries to grow in Atascosa County, Texas January 20, 2010 I'm trying to get blueberries started in my garden. I mulch constantly and have tons of success with almost every thing. But last year my blueberries were new plants and after harvesting a few berrie... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible Plants for North Georgia January 10, 2010 We are planning a forest food garden in the hollers of the N GA Mountains. Which edible fruit, nut, berry, herb and creepers would be best for this reddish, clay-like soil? The food garden is in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| complete list of Central Texas edible plants January 07, 2010 Hello! I have been searching for a complete list of Texas Hill Country Native Edibles (for humans) without much luck. Do you know of a good source? Thanks so much for your hard work! Steph View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Period to maturity of gooseberries in Bismarck AR December 29, 2009 How long does it take to produce gooseberries after planting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need information about Pignut (Hoffmannseggia glauca). November 30, 2009 I wanted to know a little about Pignut (also called Indian Rush-pea and Hog Potato); botanical name Hoffmannseggia glauca. Is it edible, and at what point does the plant produce a tuber (looks like a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Orange/yellow fungus on a dead oak October 04, 2009 I have a large dead oak tree which has an orange/yellow fungus growing at the base and also high on a spot where a branch had broken off. I've read a couple of things from the internet about this fun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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