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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Non-native vines poisonous from Bakersfield CA May 17, 2013 Are pink bower vines and stars and stripes mandevilla toxic to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Affect of poisonous plant roots in soils for vegetables from Rusk TX May 11, 2013 I have a huge old flowerbed in front of my house that I want to plant veggies in, but I'm afraid to. It has a catalpa tree there, which I sell the worms from, but the entire tree (bark, leaves, flowe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Are Eve's Necklace seeds poisonous to dogs from Plano TX May 09, 2013 Are the seed pods on eve's necklace poisionous to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Effects of Hedysarum mackenzii from Pflugerville TX May 08, 2013 What are the effects of Hedysarum mackenzii? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Black chokeberry edible from Huntsville ON May 04, 2013 Can the fruit of the black chokeberry be eaten?? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is any part of Mountain Laurel poisonous to goats from Belton TX May 02, 2013 We are considering planting Mountain Laurel in a field where we keep goats. Will any part of the Mountain Laurel be poisonous if eaten by the goats? If it would be poisonous, could you suggest some o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant ID from Villa Hills KY April 21, 2013 Hello I have this plant but I don't know what it is. I want to know if it's edible or what it is. I think it's catnip. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Foxglove safety from England April 21, 2013 Hi, regarding safety of foxgloves grown near edible plants - foxgloves are good companion plants for vegetables, in case of root vegetables they improve their storage life and quality. Foxgloves prote... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Lupinus perennis Poisonous to Dogs? April 14, 2013 I have heard that some lupine varieties are quite poisonous to dogs, others are not. Do you know if it's safe for my dogs if I plant and encourage Lupinus perennis in my NH meadow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dog Friendly Privacy Hedge for Long Island April 14, 2013 Can you please advise me of some plants for a privacy hedge that are non-toxic to dogs and that would thrive on Long Island, NY? I am looking for a hedge to grow to about 6-8 ft. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Toxicity of non-native red-tip photinia to fish from Friendswood TX April 10, 2013 Mr. Smarty Plants, I have seen several questions on Red Tip Photinia (RTP) concerning toxicity to horses, dogs and children. We recently lost over 100 gold fish and 6 large KOI in our man made back ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identity of plant that looks like green onions April 06, 2013 I have what looks like green onions growing in my lawn. They have small white flowers. Are they edible? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Memorial Tree Safe for Horses in Oregon March 28, 2013 Hi! I just lost my 33 year old beloved mare, Glory! She was my childhood horse and we have had her basically her whole life. We are looking for a special tree out in the pasture for her! She is bu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Safety of hyrbrid and non-native trees for dogs and horses from Lawton OK March 25, 2013 Are Arrowwood Viburnum tree, Sargent Crabapple tree & the Washington Hawthorn tree safe for dogs & horses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is Cerinthe major toxic to cats in Gresham, OR March 14, 2013 Hi, I was wondering about whether a specific plant was poisonous or not specifically to cats.. I've done a lot of searching and can't find anything on whether or not this plant is considered toxi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Landscaping trees and shrubs non-toxic to dogs from Monticello FL March 08, 2013 We're landscaping and need advice on large and small evergreen trees and shrubs that are native to or will flourish in North Florida. We plan to put in a treeline (large and semi-large trees) as wel... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Bugbane Leaf Blotch January 24, 2013 My bugbanes (Cimicifuga/Actaea) seem to suffer from black blotches on the leaves in the summer. This happens even when they have adequate moisture. I also see it on the ones growing wild. Is this a fu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for water park January 03, 2013 Hi, I usually have no problem locating the right species for a given situation, but I may need some advice for this. I am looking for plants -- from annual & perennial flowers to shrubs and small t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wild plums for jelly from Conroe TX December 18, 2012 Do wild plum trees grow in my area? I want to get some next summer to make plum jelly. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Lonicera sempervirens not harmful to dogs from Naperville IL December 16, 2012 Is the trumpet honeysuckle (lonicera sempervirens) harmful to dogs if eaten? I have been told in the past that the common trumpet vine is harmful, but this appears to be different. Thank you!! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Beautyberries not poisonous to cats and dogs from Haddonfield NJ December 11, 2012 Are beauty berry plants poisonous to cats/dogs? Would like to use branches w/berries and leaves as indoor decorations. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Cypress poisonous to livestock from Arlington, TN December 06, 2012 Are green giant cypress poisonous to livestock? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wound from non-native date palm thorn Naples FL November 12, 2012 Was trimming my pygmy date palm when a frond fell and a thorn pierced my rubber gloves and stuck me in the web of skin between my thumb and forefinger. Did not see a broken thorn but area where struc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant with dark black/purple berries in a cluster November 06, 2012 Today at our local dog park we noticed a bush/vine that's been growing up the fence is producing berries. It didn't flower at all. The berries look to have started out green and now are changing t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is horseherb toxic to chickens in Austin, TX? November 05, 2012 My yard is almost completely horseherb (straggler daisy, calyptocarpus vialis) and I am hoping you can tell me if this is safe for chickens to eat? As common as it is here, there is nothing I could fi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Living fence line from Thomasville GA November 04, 2012 I would like to create a natural fence line on my property in South Georgia. They need to be pretty dense and horse, cow, goat friendly, growing to a height of about 4ft, preferably quickly! Do you ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Puppy-friendly privacy screen in Montana November 02, 2012 I need some puppy-friendly short(< 30') privacy from the gigantic windows of my next door neighbor. But- there are power lines above the area that I needed to plant! I had planned on an aspen grove, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Grasses for horses in Austin October 27, 2012 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants We just bought 4.5 acres in Travis County off HWY 290. We have 3 horses we keep on it but there is very little grass in the pastures. What is the best type of grass to seed ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Suitability of Carolina Cherry Laurel for Bulverde TX October 24, 2012 The local Home Depot is selling Carolina Cherry Laurel Trees. They look beautiful. Is this a good tree for Bulverde TX..20 miles north of San Antonio? Can it survive? Will it be a high maintenance... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for seeds of New Mexico locust from Abilene TX October 23, 2012 Is there a place to buy Robinia neomexicana native to Texas or order seed from Texas grown plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Are non-native Chinese pistache poisonous to alpacas from Galt CA October 07, 2012 Are Chinese Pistachio trees poisonous to alpacas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants toxic to horses in Travis County, Texas September 20, 2012 What plants/weeds are toxic for horses in Travis County? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Are mountain laurel beans safe to use as rattles with small children? September 19, 2012 Is it safe to use the mountain laurel mescalbean pods as shakers or rattles, as long as the pods are not open and the seeds left unexposed? If a small child (very small, who has no way to open the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is red tip Photinia toxic to dogs? September 18, 2012 Is the red tip bush toxic to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is it quantity that makes silver nightshade poisonous to people? September 18, 2012 I have a recipe for Asadero cheese that uses silverleaf nightshade and have eaten this cheese many times. Is it too much quantity that makes it poisonous to people? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is it possible to eat one nightshade berry and live? September 16, 2012 Can I eat one nightshade berry and live? I am 18. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Want a vine, non-toxic to dogs, for Reno, NV. September 11, 2012 I want a non toxic (to dogs) vine for Reno, NV View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Trimming non-native sago from Fresno CA September 10, 2012 I have a sago plant, fronds are hanging over into street, can the fronds themselves be trimmed back without removing the whole frond? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is Bushy Knotweed carcinogenic from West Grove PA September 06, 2012 Is the invasive Bushy Knotweed / PORA3 / Polygonum ramosissimum toxic to the extent that the spores are carcinogenic? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
White flowering mountain laurel from Driftwood TX August 23, 2012 I love white flowering mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) and want to grow one from seeds. I've had a lot of success germinating and growing purple mountain laurel from seeds (or beans), so I DO ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Detoxifying soil from York England August 15, 2012 How do you neutralize toxic soil, it may have been contaminated by Foxglove Digitalis Purpurea? Thankyou View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is Lemon Cypress toxic? August 15, 2012 Is the Lemon Cypress toxic? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Are Carolina Cherry Laurel seeds poisonous from Asheville NC August 14, 2012 I have a Carolina cherry laurel in my back yard that is dropping berries into my vegetable garden beds. May be a silly question, but will the berries poison the plants (and me) when I eat them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Removing Mountain Laurel Seed Pods from Austin August 14, 2012 Is it best to remove seed pods from Mt. Laurel or leave them on the tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is it safe to eat vegetables grown in the same bed as foxgloves? August 12, 2012 I have foxglove in my flower beds and have planted tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and cantaloupe in the flower bed and now I am concerned about the shared root system. Also, my tomatoes are touching the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Poison ivy? vine in NJ July 30, 2012 I have a vine growing among some vegetation in my backyard. It has a leaf with 3 "points" with ridges along its edges. The smaller leaves are reddish which is why I thought poison ivy but definite... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Toxicity of Fan Tex Ash tree to horses July 22, 2012 Is the Fan Tex Ash tree toxic to horses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
What purple mushrooms grow in Texas from McKinney TX July 14, 2012 What purple mushrooms grow in North Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dwarf oyster plant dying in Sunrise FL July 06, 2012 WHAT WOULD BE KILLING MY DWARF OYSTER PLANTS View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Fast-growing, Horse-safe Pasture Tree for Okeechobee, FL July 05, 2012 I'm looking for a fast growing tree to plant in pasture that's safe for horses. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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