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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| Sap drips from Sophora secundiflora May 30, 2008 We have an old Mountain Laurel (sophora secundiflora) about 20 ft tall. It blooms pretty well and seems healthy. We are wondering why it drizzles a non-sticky sap in tiny drops. Hold out your hand and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low-growing plant for grave in boggy Newfoundland May 30, 2008 I am looking for any suggestions on what type of plant I can plant on a grave. It is very boggy (peat)land. I want something that is hardy & not too tall. We have about 8 weeks of summer, July & Augus... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen shrub/tree for British Columbia. May 28, 2008 What kind of hedge or trees might work to provide privacy in our lower mainland British Columbia yard/garden? We need something evergreen that is perhaps,fast growing. Our yard is not deep and our k... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen shrub with flowers Alabama May 21, 2008 I am looking for an evergreen plant, shrub or the likeness that flowers in the spring that can handle hot afternoon sun in Southeast AL. Can you give me some suggestions, if there is such an animal. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for gravesite in North Central Massachusetts May 18, 2008 I live in North Central Mass. Would like to plant something on my parents gravesite that would not be invasive or require a lot of care. Any suggestions? I just took 2 shrubs out that had become way... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for pool area in Florida May 09, 2008 My husband and I have a pool with 4 planters and are looking for plants that we can put into our screened in pool area. We live in Central Florida and looking for ideas of plants that are slow growin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for full sun and clay soil in NY May 06, 2008 We live in upstate new york( zone 5) with full sun and clay soil. What flowers/flowering shrubs would be successful in this environment? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for southwest exposure in Tulsa OK April 24, 2008 I want to plant something in a bed on the South side of my house with some Western exposure. The space is in a bed that would share space with a Red Tip Photinia (next to the house)& liriope( on the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to keep children out of yard April 23, 2008 I WANT TO PLANT SOMETHING ALONG A FENCE LINE TO KEEP CHILDREN OUT OF OUR YARD. NEEDS TO GROW FAST BUT NOT POISONOUS View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is difference between Rhododendrons and Azaleas April 23, 2008 I am replanting my entire front yard as a native woodland garden (I am on Long Island, NY). I am having a hard time finding native rhododendrons and/or azaleas. I would prefer to remain true to the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Sophora gypsophila from seed April 23, 2008 Sophora gypsophila B.L. Turner & Powell Do you have any information on growing this small tree from seed? I have a few seeds and would like to try. What conditions break seed dormancy? I have grown ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of shrub with red berries in Florida April 22, 2008 I purchased a plant/shrub at a yard sale in central Fl. They told me it was a native plant. It looks like a holly with the red berries but the leaves are not like a holly. They were all over the yar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with azaleas April 22, 2008 Last summer I planted 10 evergreen Azaleas "Hino Crimson" I sprinkled a little rhody fertilizer in their holes before planting and gave them plenty of water all summer. They are all doing fine excep... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure of hybridized red hollies to grow April 17, 2008 I have 2 red hollies planted in my yard about 20' apart, 3 years now. They won't grow. Do I need to have a male with them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to bloom of Texas Mountain Laurel April 15, 2008 My +/- 4 yr old Tx. Mountain Laurel, has never bloomed. It is in full sun. I sometimes (minimal) fertilize it. I've pretty much planted it and let it grow. Its been pruned back last year when som... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for Liberty Hill TX in full sun April 15, 2008 We recently bought an acre of land in Liberty Hill, TX. We have a large planting area in the front that is devoid of any plant life. I would like to turn this into a semi shaded area with some annua... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for sandy soil and not much water April 14, 2008 I am planning a new garden at home and would like to grow native plants that can handle sandy soil and don't need much water. I do not water my gardens.I would prefer plants that can have more than o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dwarf evergreen shrub for windowboxes in Staten Island , NY April 03, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Could you recommend a dwarf evergreen shrub, not deciduous that also has pretty flowers that would thrive in a container in the northeast...area would have sun for about 4 -5... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Suggestions for native perennials in Staten Island, NY April 03, 2008 My back yard garden has a good base of evergreen shrubs and perennials all doing well in clayish soil and I am ready now to add color and texture in an area with partial sun. Can you suggest hardy... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Reason for die-back of native Mahonia repens April 01, 2008 I have several mahonia repens plants planted on my property. This is the third spring for them and I have noticed that they look like they might be dying out. The leaves have turned brown and are cu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native shrubs that can be pruned to shape in Austin, TX March 31, 2008 We have some shrubs in our NE facing front yard in Austin in the Steiner Ranch Area. The shrubs are native, and give good flowers in spring and summer, but are not trimmable and I want something like ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-blooming Texas Mountain Laurel March 30, 2008 Two questions: 1. My mountain laurel (10 yrs old) has never had blooms. Is this a gender plant issue? 2. I have been seeking a groundcover that grows in shade and will take foot (dog) traffic. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Noise buffering by native plants in Austin, TX March 30, 2008 I live in Austin in a neighborhood that is bordered on one side by highway 183 and on the other by MoPac and the train tracks. Even though I am least a three blocks from the closest highway, the traf... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for soil with basalt outcroppings in Idaho March 30, 2008 We have basalt (lava) outcropping in part of our back yard and know we'll have to search for pockets of soil in which to plant. Any suggestions about what trees or shrubs would have a chance in thes... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of invasiveness of blackberry bush March 27, 2008 I bought a blackberry bush from Home Depot last year. My sister said if I planted it in the ground it would take over my lawn. So I put it in a big planter up against my fence, but I'd like to put it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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