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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| New Jersey Tea shrub wilting and losing leaves December 30, 2013 I have New Jersey Tea shrubs transplanted last spring from nursery stock (18 tall, grown local) I live in SE WI. They are planted in part shade. There has been 6" of snow on the ground for weeks now... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oak root resistant hedge for Southern California December 28, 2013 I live in Southern California and my cypress hedge has oak root fungus. What kind of hedge can I plant that will grow fast and be resistant to the fungus? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees failing to prosper from Denham Spring LA December 23, 2013 I live in Louisiana. Out of all of the native trees that we grow, there are two in particular that always struggle no matter what the conditions are in which they grow. The first one, sassafras, is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Dwarf Yaupon Holly in Texas December 04, 2013 We planted 10 extra dwarf yaupons in our Austin front yard. They were identified as 'Gremici' dwarf yaupon. I googled them to get more information about them in order to determine why five have di... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is post oak resistant to oak wilt from Dallas TX November 22, 2013 I am confused. The NPIN website says that Post Oak IS susceptible to oak wilt, but all the other information I have been able to find says that it is resistant to oak wilt and rarely gets the diesase.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Incorrectly planted anacua from San Antonio November 22, 2013 I purchased a 12' anacua tree from a local nursery about 18 months ago. It was not planted correctly (root bound, rolled into a hole about 3" larger than the pot) but is still alive with the number... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Yellowing leaves of Texas Sage (Cenizo) from Las Vegas NV November 21, 2013 Leaves of Texas Sage are turning yellow. Can you tell me why? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Young pecan trees with leaf and branch problems from Gatesville TX November 18, 2013 I have a young pecan tree that had very rapidly browning Leaves. They became brittle and so did the branches with affected leaves. The branches soon fell off. We treated with fungicide during that pro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cutting Back Perennials in the Fall? November 13, 2013 We have large beds of flowering native perennials that we planted around our house as part of a landscape conservation plan (various Joe-Pyes, goldenrods, turtlehead, blazing star, brown-eyed Susans).... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ruffly foliage on native lantana November 05, 2013 A native lantana in my front yard has developed ruffly foliage on one stem. It looks like miniature broccoli. What can this be? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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