Native Plants
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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 | |
| Plant List for Charleston South Carolina April 08, 2013 I would like a list a plants that would do well in Charleston SC. 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 |  | |
| Shade Tolerant Grasses and Groundcovers for Waco TX March 15, 2013 What is the best shade-tolerant grass? What is the best shade-tolerant ground cover? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Landscaping a Fence with Native Plants for Central Texas March 08, 2013 I'm looking to landscape my fence that I've lined with woven bamboo. The area gets the hot afternoon sun in summer and is pretty shady in winter. The plants need to be drought and heat tolerant. I'... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hot Sunny Planter Suggestions for Florida March 05, 2013 We have a large, raised, concrete planter (about 15' L x 2' W) separating us from our condo neighbor in Clearwater, FL. We would like suggestions for shrubs that tolerate full sun and hot conditions... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Foundation Landscape Tree Suggestion for New Jersey March 05, 2013 I need to replace a shrub (boxwood) in a landscaped area directly in front of my house. I would like a tree that grows about 10-15' maximum. However, I have a drainpipe that runs from the house to th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Plants for Colorado March 05, 2013 Please advise me where I can find a list of native plants for the Castle Rock, Colorado area. This is for a home garden landscaping initiative. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-blooming Dwarf Shrub and Agave Flowers February 18, 2013 I have two questions. I need a symmetrical dwarf shrub for full sun in Austin area that is non-flowering. Can you recommend some? And do agaves always flower when they are about 10 years and then die? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcovers for hillside in Northern California November 19, 2012 I have read numerous posts on here, but I have not found my exact situation. I live in Northern California. I am looking for some type of ground cover to grow on a hillside. Directly above the hillsid... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ants and garden plants for Austin November 03, 2012 I am needy of companion plants that compliment and work well with the Lantana, Mexican Heather , and in the new beds that I am preparing where I was thinking in part to have passion flower (though is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Perennials for flowerbed in Texas Panhandle October 19, 2012 I have a flowerbed in a partially shaded area and want some perennials. I live in the Texas Panhandle, soil is sandy, loamy. Hardiness zone is 6-B. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Groundcovers for Kingsland TX October 11, 2012 I am looking for a list of native ground covers and grasses(not lawn grass). View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for underneath oak tree October 10, 2012 I have a North facing wall of my house that gets half sunlight half shade depending on the season. I would like to layout some native South Texas plants and complete fill in area to prevent the live o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation information from Queens NY October 04, 2012 Hello. I would appreciate information on when to plant the following plants. I found on the USDA website that all these plants could withstand the cold. ALthough they can withstand harsh weather, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Removing St. Augustine for natives in Grapevine TX September 29, 2012 We have St Augustine in our yard and we hate it. It guzzles water, we have to cut it often, and it's thick and hard to work with. Anyway, we want to replace it with a combination of some kind of g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for hill with erosion in San Carlos, CA September 22, 2012 What wildflowers would you suggest for our hills that have erosion, low ground cover in San Carlos, California? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Most numerous trees in the Piedmont NC from Chapel Hill NC September 20, 2012 What's a list of the most populous trees in piedmont North Carolina? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant to trail down concrete block retaining wall in Maryland September 15, 2012 Hello, Your website is an excellent resource. Thank you very much! My girlfriend recently bought a house that has a concrete block retaining wall in the front yard. We want to improve the app... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for streambank area in Oregon September 14, 2012 I am ready to replant a streambank area with native plants..what do you recommend for the Willamette Valley in Oregon? Thanks much! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oaks at Wildflower Center from Wimberley TX September 05, 2012 I know you have numerous Quercus fusiformis examples at the ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. My question is, do you also have Quercus virginiana growing there? Also, is Oak Wilt a disease that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine recommendations for Central Texas homes September 02, 2012 I have hardy plank siding and am looking for a Central Texas native vine that will grow over it. I am trying to keep it from growing under the planks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for flowerbed beside pool in Sacramento, CA August 27, 2012 70 foot long 2 ft flower bed running along north side of pool. Gets morning and afternoon sun with late shade on west end and hot sun on east end as sun sets. Need something to help with shooting se... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Landscaping with water garden from Pendleton SC August 15, 2012 Searching for native plants in SC. Your results miss some plants listed on your site. I noticed this reading the Mr. Smarty Plants response to "Edible Plants for North GA" We aren't far apart. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low maintenance, shade tolerant groundcover for Pacific Northwest August 09, 2012 What's a good low maintenance, shade tolerant ground cover for the Pacific Northwest? It needs to have good erosion control, too. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover for Orange County, California August 05, 2012 What ground cover do you suggest for an Orange Co., CA, backyard with a steep slope in 3-4 hours of sun? Needs to grow fast to beat the weeds. Something pretty would be nice! Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Habitat Lists from Toronto ON August 01, 2012 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants. I see that you provide Native Habitat information on the plant detail sheets. Would I be able to find a full list of habitat types anywhere on this website? Thanks, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small Yard Tree for Washington DC July 20, 2012 What do you suggest for a tree or shrub in my front yard? The yard is small; 9 ft x 12 ft. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees & Shrubs for a NY Slope July 03, 2012 Our community has a large steep slope (100'high by at least 600' wide) that is sunny & dry. The builders planted "wild flower seeds" on the slope that is now just weeds. We would like to know what... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Small native trees/shrubs for Corpus Christi, TX July 02, 2012 Which small native trees or tall shrubs would do well in full sun in Corpus Christi for privacy along a fence line? Blooms are a bonus and evergreen is preferred.Searches on the website aren't produc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plantings for sides of retention pond in Willits CA July 02, 2012 I am looking for recommendations for ground cover for the outside of embankments which impound wastewater. This is to improve the aesthetics and deter weeds. The slopes are 1V:2H, so if we can avoid... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lilies with with wide lush foliage in Georgia July 01, 2012 I love lilies of all kinds, but I particularly like lilies with wide lush foliage. An example would be Agapanthus foliage. What other lilies present that same attribute? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Safe grazing for donkeys and goats from Osteen FL June 30, 2012 I am having a very difficult time trying to find shrubs, hedges, plants, flowers, or trees etc. that are safe for donkeys and goats. We live in Zone 9 and have a small farm. I've had to pull every ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Blue Natives for San Antonio June 28, 2012 What are the best flowers or trees to buy since we are always in stage 2 and sometimes in stage 3 water conservation? I love flowers that are blue, preferably year around. THANK YOU View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Salt tolerant plants for shade in wet Florida site June 24, 2012 We live in north Florida and have an area that nothing will grow there, it is about 12 ft. long and very wet due to neighbors sprinklers. It is shaded and gets brackish water. Only 400 yards from oc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought-tolerant plants for deep shade in Florida June 23, 2012 I am looking for indigenous, drought tolerant, leafy dense plants (kind of hosta like) that will grow in deep shade (under a tree that gets little sun) in Jacksonville, Florida. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need deer resistant plants for a shady north facing garden in Raliegh, NC. June 22, 2012 I am in need of Deer Resistant Native Shade plants for a North Facing Garden. It is 3 feet wide by 20 feet long. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you, Eaten Alive View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Would like a "try instead of" list for non-native plants in Austin, TX. June 19, 2012 It would be so helpful if, when asked about a non-native plant, you would do a "try instead of" list. I have about 45 plants to reseach from my landscaping firm, and it's wearing me out to try to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for Shady Clay soil in Illinois June 18, 2012 Could you recommoned native plants for clay soil and shade near Chicago? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Flower sucession for Washington DC June 18, 2012 Interplanting to cover up spring ephemerals. When bulbs/spring ephemerals (camassia, bluebells, etc.) are dying back, their wilting leaves don't look so great. What can I plant to minimize the me... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for property in Connecticut adjacent to a salt marsh June 10, 2012 Hi - I live on property adjacent to a salt marsh. The salt marsh leads out to Long Island Sound. I would like to plant non-invasive native plants of Guilford, Connecticut. I do not know what plants ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen shrub for northwest-facing wall June 09, 2012 Can you suggest a tall (8-10') evergreen shrub for a site against a northwest-facing wall which gets no sun in the winter but full sun in the summer? Texas sage got too leggy and viburnum will be to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Small to medium drought-tolerant trees for Southern California June 01, 2012 I am looking for drought tolerant trees to line one side of our 70 foot driveway. We live in Southern California. Currently, we have queen palms, but I would like something more native or drought to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen for privacy screen in San Antonio April 30, 2012 I am looking to plant native fast-growing evergreens that will provide privacy (growing taller than our fence). We live in San Antonio and the Red Tip Photinia seems to be everywhere! I heard that t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tree for South Dakota April 24, 2012 Sir, I am looking for suggestions on a backyard tree, nice shade tree 60-80' height to complement a split foyer house and a flowering crab that is currently there. Low maintenance, with no seeds or c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for pond, for incline and area with poor soil April 23, 2012 I have three plant recommendation questions for Austin, TX. 1. I have a large pond that I would like to put native aquatic plants in. What are some hardy aquatic natives I could put in? The pond ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Phytoremediation Plant List for St. Louis MO April 19, 2012 My goal is to transform urban blight plots (some up to 1/4 acre) into viable community gardens having healthy, living soil as their foundation. To this end I am researching phytoremediation (thanks... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for Orange County, Florida April 14, 2012 I live in Central FL (Winter Park)and I have a small, mostly sunny (no trees) backyard next to a large in-ground swimming pool which fills up with the leaves of my neighbor's oak trees. The backyard ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant similar to forsythia for Kansas City KS April 11, 2012 I want to plant a plant very similar to Forsythia. I want it to be tall 4-5 ft tall. Need something that leaf changing, something besides burning bush.Former area rose beds 4 x 4 (two areas) Right ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native vegetation of Burbank, CA April 04, 2012 What is the native vegetation of Burbank, CA? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Azaleas for Southeast USA April 03, 2012 Where can I purchase wild azaleas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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