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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| 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 |  | |
| Will Pavonia lasiopetala grow in Oklahoma from Kerrville Tx June 23, 2012 How successfully could I grow Pavonia lasiopetala in central Oklahoma? My research shows that it is not native to Oklahoma. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Asclepias incarnata poisonous to dogs? June 13, 2012 Is Asclepias incarnata safe in a farm/yard with plenty of dogs running around? What happens if a dog eats the leaves or seeds or pods? Is eating any of these fatal to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Overwatering Texas Mountain Laurel from Rosanky TX June 06, 2012 I just read your article in the Statesman about over watering Mt.Laurel. Now I know why my lovely 15 year old tree is dying. We put in new grass this winter and I watered too much. Is there any hop... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with non-native Eugenia in Scottsdale AZ June 02, 2012 I have 5 eugenia topiaries in my courtyard in pots..I notice as the days here in Phoenix get hotter and dry (as usual) they are starting to look bad, even though they are under a shelter out of the di... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will deer eat lemon cypress trees from Hayden ID June 02, 2012 Do deer eat lemon cypress trees? We do not think so since they are so spiny, but wanted a clarification. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees starting to die in subdivision in Hutto, TX May 31, 2012 I live in Hutto Tx, in a subdivision where everyone has the 2 trees planted in the front yard. My trees have started to die, and I want to find out what kind they are to find a solution View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Spots on leaves of Esperanza from Dallas May 30, 2012 Have a new 1 foot high Esperanza. It is flowering OK (so far) but it has small rust colored spots about the size of a B-B all over most of the leaves. On the top side of the leaf the spot is depress... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can foxglove poison be transmitted to the soil and taken up by another plant May 29, 2012 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, Recently I discovered a Foxglove that had come up after being planted 2 or 3 yrs ago. Next to it I have some medicinal Feverfew growing. (They were so close together I suspec... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cultivar of Cercis Canadensis from Haskell OK May 16, 2012 We have a Hearts of Gold Redbud that first had dark edges to many of its leaves (about 2 weeks after planting). It now has multiple leaves w/ medium-dark brown spots on them. Are we looking at some ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine in New York May 15, 2012 I have a flowering vine that grows against my home and I'm not sure what it is, but it's beautiful with a delicate scent. The flowers look like clusters of mini purple pea pods hanging downward befo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with a Sherman (Shumard?) Oak from Bixby OK May 14, 2012 We have done extensive research on oak fungi/diseases/pests could be affecting our Sherman Oak tree but we are stumped. The leaves are falling off and have some sort of moldy bunch within the leaf it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive American Germander from San Antonio May 14, 2012 I brought home some American Germander (Teucruim canadense) - page 259 In Wildflowers of Texas by Geyata Ajilvsgi - from a railroad right-of-way. Since it is a member of the mint family it has becom... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How to correct Anacacho leaves that are turning brown and curling in Driftwood, TX? May 11, 2012 Anacacho lunarioides leaves are turning brown and curling,how do I correct? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion Control in Bartlesville OK May 10, 2012 What kind of plants can we use to stop erosion and loss of bank on a creek that is mostly shaded? Is there any free advice/plants for people that are losing land due to water levels rising/dropping? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with evergreen sumac in San Antonio May 03, 2012 I planted 5 5-gallon (approximately 2 feet tall) evergreen sumac in early January. Since that time they have sprouted out new shoot with new leaves several times - every time the leaves have wilted a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eliminating KR? Bluestem from St. Augustine Yard in Spicewood, TX April 28, 2012 How can I eradicate bluestem grass invading my St. Augustine lawn? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small trees for property edge in Katy TX April 16, 2012 By deed restriction, I must have five trees on the side of my small suburban lot just west of Houston, TX. Due to the lot layout, the trunks are only about 8-10 feet from the house, with the trees abo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native photinias in Monroe NY April 11, 2012 Two Questions: Is the weather too cold to plant red tip photinias in Monroe NY? What is a good alternative evergreen shrub to hide chain link fence? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dodder April 06, 2012 I was driving around Llano, Texas and saw patches of orange amongst the wildflowers. From afar the patches seemed like dying plants. On close inspection, they are orange tendrils that are overrunnin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dodder April 06, 2012 I have seen patches of Bluebonnets that are covered with a stringy,rubbery,orange substance that seems to be choking out the particular patch. It wraps itself around the flowers,completely covering th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Insects on yucca from Ft. Worth TX April 05, 2012 I have a plant labeled Yucca Soft Leaf recurvifolia that I planted about 5 years ago,& was beautiful until last summer when it became infested with thousands of fast, tiny, dark insects. I sprayed wit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Specifications for a property in Corning CA March 29, 2012 Drought resistant, deer resistant, low growing (ground cover), and shade tolerant request: I am looking for a variety of species that not only fit the above preferences, but also a few other things. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native genista racemosa from Leander TX March 28, 2012 Hello, Mr. Smarty Plants. I fear I've made a horrible purchase at a local plant place. Bought a "broom" plant--it's not listed in your database. Latin name: genista racemosa, according to tag. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Most common wildflower in Texas from Grand Prairie TX March 12, 2012 What is the most common wildflower in the state of Texas? My kiddos stumped me on this one? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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