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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| Information for constructing a butterfly observation building December 19, 2008 I am looking for information on the construction of an indoor butterfly observation building and am having no luck. Thought I would take a chance and ask you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas native variety of butterfly weed November 19, 2008 Which variety of Butterfly Weed is the native Texas variety? I want to know which one supplies the proper defense against birds to the Monarch butterfly through it's nectar? I have heard that the n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bright yellow butterfly in Austin October 10, 2008 What is the name of the small bright yellow butterfly that is dancing all over Austin at this time of year? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information on Betonyleaf thoroughwort September 04, 2008 I purchased Conoclinium betonicifolium (Betonyleaf thoroughwort) at the spring 2008 LBJ WC plant sale. I've not been able to find much information on the plant in the typical places, including the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deadheading flowers on hybrid Black Knight butterfly bush July 17, 2008 I have two Black Knight Butterfly bushes in my landscape. Should I deadhead the flowers on this bush? Also, should I prune this back, if so, when, how much? I live near Kansas City, Missouri. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dieback of Indigo Spires and whirling butterfly June 02, 2008 I have an Indigo Spires plant that is turning yellow and dying back. I have fed it but nothing seems to perk it up. I also have whirling butterfly plants that are losing leaves and dying back. What... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Butterfly garden in Austin May 28, 2008 I am located in North Central Austin, and just bought a house with a large back yard. One half is shade-part sun, and the other half is full sun. The shade from three large (55-60) foot trees. I am... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Butterfly plants for Austin May 21, 2008 Hummingbirds come to our Mexican honeysuckle early in the spring, and then come late in the summer when the Turk's caps bloom. We have rocky soil, and a fairly shady garden. What could we plant that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for East Texas school gardens May 19, 2008 I am a teacher in San Augustine, Texas (which is in the Eastern Pineywoods region). I have started an outdoor classroom/schoolyard habitat at our school. We are in the process of planning our plant ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Host plant for Northern Pearly Eye butterfly March 25, 2008 Can we add to the host plant information for Elymus hystrix (Bottlebrush grass)? The grass is host plant for the Northern Pearly Eye butterfly (Enodia anthedon). It would be great to share this info... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for a school butterfly garden February 11, 2008 My son's school is having a beautification work day and one of the projects is a butterfly garden. Parents are being asked to donate plants, and we would like to suggest appropriate plants for this ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for butterfly garden in Waco, TX February 03, 2008 Few weeks ago I sent you a letter but never got an answer back. I would like to have your suggestions of native plants for a butterfly garden (30'x 30') here in Waco. The plants must be (1)drought ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fall seeding of Butterfly Weed in Virginia July 20, 2007 Just ordered seeds from you - Butterfly Weed - and I plan to hopefully scatter the seeds early Oct. in an area along a tree line here in No. VA where the sun bakes the soil as it is exposed to hot wes... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Perennial plants for butterfly garden June 18, 2007 Hello, I live in Plano, TX and I am trying to create a backyard garden which will attract butterflies. I prefer bulbs and perennials so that I will not have to replant again and again like annuals. A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Winter trim-back of plants in butterfly garden January 05, 2007 I had a wonderful butterfly garden this past spring, summer, and fall. This was its first year of planting. Should I trim the plants that have died back due to frost? I'm worried about destroying ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native host plants for Painted Lady Butterfly June 01, 2006 I am looking for host plants for the Painted Lady Butterfly that I can plant in my school's (I am a teacher) native plant/butterfly garden. As part of the curriculum, each spring the 1st grade raises... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native tropical Butterfly vine (Mascagnia macroptera) in Houston February 02, 2006 HOWDY . . . Miss Smarty Plants !!! I am trying to identify one of the most intriguing, unusual & beautiful vines that I have ever seen. I encountered this vine at the home of an 87 year old widow ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Locating milkweed to feed larvae of Monarch butterfly November 17, 2005 A monarch butterfly on her way south, stopped and laid her eggs on a tropical milkweed. The larvae have hatched and now I want to insure their survival, but I only had 1 plant which they have strippe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Butterfly/hummingbird garden in Texas September 09, 2005 I am coordinating a butterfly/hummingbird garden on 100 acres that our religious organization has. We want to use native Texas plants as much as possible. Are these two types of gardens compatible an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Optimum pruning time for butterfly garden April 18, 2005 I am planting a butterfly garden that I would like to be pretty as well as beneficial for butterflies. If I am going to have both host plants and nectar plants in the garden and the butterflies will b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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