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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Commercial sources of Virginia creeper August 19, 2011 I am looking for Virginia Creeper 'Engelmannii' liners, I have looked through most of your national suppliers directory, only a couple carry vines. Thank you, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Finding woolly butterfly bush from Johnson City TX July 28, 2011 Where can I find woolly butterfly bush? They are difficult to locate in the nurseries View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacement for Spanish Dagger from Georgetown TX June 22, 2011 I have a Spanish Dagger plant in my garden which appears to be dying. Where can I purchase a replacement for this plant? The Spanish Dagger I have is close to 10 feet tall. What is the best way t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Infrequently blooming yucca in Harrison AR June 10, 2011 My Yuccas have only bloomed once in 8 years. Looking at the Internet I think mine is Elephantis variety - I did buy them at a nursery; they are in full sun. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Bamboo muhly from Houston June 06, 2011 Hello. Do you know a source in Texas for Bamboo Muhly? Thanks in advance for your help. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where to find Yarrow for sale in the area of Ft. Worth TX? May 05, 2011 I'm very fond of the native plant called "Yarrow." Where might I find this in the Fort Worth area, and what are the tips for growing it. Seems like I saw it in one of the gardens at the LBJ Wildf... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recommendations for house plants for South Dakota May 03, 2011 Thank you for your web site! I live in Enning South Dakota, and I am new to this beautiful part of the United States. I would love to grow house plants but don't know where to start looking or what k... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where to buy a non-native globe willow from Beatrice NE April 20, 2011 Where can one buy a globe willow tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Finding a native plant garden designer from Austin April 10, 2011 I was at the center today and told to contact you on the website for suggestions on who to call to hire a garden designer to come to my house,lay out a garden and select plants, etc. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Location of Taxus baccata March 30, 2011 Where in the USA may I purchase taxus baccata? I can't find them anywhere on the internet or at local nurseries. I need about 125! So, saplings would be preferred even though they are slow growing... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will Copper Canyon Daisy be at the Plant Sale from Georgetown TX March 21, 2011 Can you find out if Copper Canyon Daisy will be sold at the plant sale? I'm having trouble finding it in any of your databases. The scientific name is Asteraceae Tagetes lemmonii. It's a shrubby ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source of seeds for non-native euphorbia peplus from Boynton Beach FL March 10, 2011 Where can I buy Euphorbia peplus? (milkweed) seeds, sap used in treating skin cancer? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bulk seed purchases for naturalizing area in Rochelle VA March 10, 2011 I am planning on naturalizing an area, ~ 7 acres, with wildflowers. I am spending quite a bit preparing the acreage and find I am falling short on funds for the bulk purchase of wildflower seeds. Ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where to purchase a Clematis pitcherii (purple leather flower) in North Texas March 01, 2011 Do you know where in north Texas I can purchase a Clematis pitcheri, or Purple leather flower? I've looked for several years and have had no luck. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need resource to learn about plants to grow in Panama City, FL. February 28, 2011 Please provide me with a resource to go to and learn what I can plant and will thrive in Panama City Beach area (sand). I enjoy color and flowering plants as well as a variety of greenery. I am movin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast-growing, evergreen, non-invasive root tree for El Dorado CA February 20, 2011 We need to plant a FAST-growing, non-deciduous TREE with a non-invasive root system. Where can we buy one? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Aesculus parvifolia from Rochester MI February 11, 2011 Aesculus parvifolia. I purchased one plant in spring 2010---it's about 3 ft tall. How might I propagate from this one plant, or should I buy another? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources for non-native seeds from Amarillo TX January 28, 2011 Hello It is possible to get this kind of seeds from you?.. Thanks! : Hiptage Benghalensis (Hiptage, Helicopter Flower) Crescentia Cujete (Calabash Tree, Krabasi, Kalebas, Huingo) Macaranga Grandi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Finding Buffalograss Sod in the Houston Area January 23, 2011 Do you have a source for Buffalo Grass plugs or sod in the Magnolia/ Houston area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a Drummond Red Maple in Lawton, OK. January 18, 2011 I would like to buy a female Drummond red maple from a local retailer but it's Jan.12 and those he has in stock are leafless with just the beginnings of buds showing. They are about 20 feet tall and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fragrant native vine for Logan UT January 08, 2011 So as a general question for the Utah climate, (Logan to be precise) is there any kind of climbing vines that would take the place of a jasmine even if deciduous in nature? I read the article about th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seeds for Commelina erecta from San Antonio December 29, 2010 Where can I buy Commelina erecta seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rhizobium Source for Bluebonnets December 20, 2010 Trying to find a source for rhizobium for bluebonnets. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for seed for Clematis drummondii in Granbury, TX. November 29, 2010 I am trying to landscape with native Texas plants. I want a Clematis drummondii and have no idea where to get one. I read it grows readily from seeds, but I cannot locate any. Can you help. Also, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sources for native trees in New Braunfels TX November 28, 2010 I live just north of New Braunfels in the Hill Country. I would like to plant the following trees this December: Anacacho Orchid Tree, American Smoke Tree, Golden Leadball Tree, and perhaps a Laceba... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Anacacho Orchid Seeds November 22, 2010 Is there any place in TX that I can ask to send me Anacacho Orchid seeds that I can germinate? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing non-native and exotic plants in New Oxford PA October 24, 2010 Is there a palm tree that would grow in New Oxford PA? Also do you know where I could find a place to buy Exotic and Unusual Plant Seeds from around the World. I would like one that has a good reputa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Finding climate zone before puchasing plants in Springdale AR October 24, 2010 I should be allowed to select my climate zone, my state has at least 3 zones. Then this would be a terrific help in identifying which plants I should buy. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Want a source for Mexican redbud in Houston, TX October 04, 2010 I live in west Houston and would like to purchase and plant a Mexican redbud in my yard. I have Googled to find one and also searched the Growit site without success. Where can I find one in Texas? I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a source for native Texas plums October 03, 2010 Please provide a source for native Texas plums--I want to plant some in the Texas Hill Country. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Nurseries that Sell Perennial Native Plants in Fort Worth,TX September 29, 2010 Where can I locate a nursery or nurseries with the best selection of perennial native plants in Fort Worth? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Want to purchase mustang grape (Vitis mustangensis) September 21, 2010 Do you know of a nursery where I can purchase mustang grapes? I have searched the web to no avail. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower Seed Collection Along Public Road in Blue Ridge, North Carolina September 21, 2010 I live in North Carolina and would like to plant native wildflowers on a steep bank in my yard. I live on a rural dirt road and most of the plants I want grow wild on the side of the road. Can I leg... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for sod in Salado TX September 16, 2010 Can you tell me where I can buy grass sod in Georgetown-Salado area? When I called Grass and More I got a non-working number recording. Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need a source for mesquite trees in Albuquerque, NM. September 14, 2010 Where can I find mesquite plants to use in landscaping my yard in Albuquerque? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where can I find a pignut hickory tree to plant in Scenery Hill, PA? August 30, 2010 Where can I buy Pignut Hickory tree, 10', B&B? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difficulty identifying/finding a plant August 21, 2010 I have been advised that the Calandria (sic) is a good plant to cover a cement wall surrounding our home in La Quinta, CA. I cannot find such a plant on line. Can you assist? I want to entirely cov... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for safe glass mulch in Austin, TX. August 13, 2010 Do you know where one can buy locally in Austin the recycled glass mulch that is sold in clean condition, color separated? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Want to take cuttings from Yaupon in Tomball, TX. August 06, 2010 From Tomball, Texas - we have a very shaded back yard and would like some lower growing shrubbery as a screen for the neighbors. Wild yaupon holly is growing well on the fringes and I would like to f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for source of Carex planostachys July 24, 2010 Where can I purchase Carex planostachys (cedar sedge) in the Austin/ Bastrop area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eating green wild plums July 23, 2010 As a child in south Austin I always relished eating green plums beginning in mid-May. My aunt had wild plum trees - more like bushes really - that fruited starting in late April. (Sadly, they died whe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source of native Desert Lily for The Netherlands July 23, 2010 I am searching a bulb of Hesperocallis undulata. Do you know where I can get/buy this bulb I hope you can help me. Thank you very much warmest regards The Netherlands View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Orbexilum from Hempstead TX July 22, 2010 I am looking for a source of plants or seed for a Texas native plant: Mountain Pea, orbexilum sp. (nova). Thank you, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting red Columbine and Cedar sage from seed in Canyon Lake, Tx. July 06, 2010 I live near Canyon Lake, Texas in the Hill Country. I would like to plant red columbine and cedar sage in the shady areas beneath live oaks and ashe junipers within the limestone soil that is there n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Number of seeds per pound for Curvepod fumewort from Bridger MT June 17, 2010 Do you know or where can I find the number of seeds per pound for Corydalis curvisiliqua-scrambled eggs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Texas Star plant from Bastrop LA June 10, 2010 Please tell me where I can get a Texas Star plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant called Jesus in a Manger from Florence AL June 10, 2010 Where can I find a plant called "Jesus in a Manger"? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where to find azaleas in St. Louis June 02, 2010 Where can I find reasonably priced Azalea shrubs in St. Louis in the red, orange color that are inexpensive? Precise enough? LOL View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where can I find poppies that bloom all summer in Centennial CO? May 28, 2010 Where can I find poppies that bloom all summer? Are they called California poppies? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources for information on federally protected plants May 20, 2010 There are plans to build an apartment complex on a beautiful parcel of land on Union Rd. in West Seneca, New York. Formerly this land was the home of Houghton College. I am wondering if ther... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |