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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| Landscaping plant for Austin September 01, 2011 Great site! Have gotten lots of ideas. We're about to start construction on a fairly major landscaping project: raised beds/privacy screen. We're at the top of a hill in the Hill Country just wes... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought tolerant plants for MA August 28, 2011 We have some very very poor soil at our house on Cape Cod and are looking for plants that will take low water and sandy soil. Also we are high on a hill and quite exposed to the elements. The plot get... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought tolerant plants for IN August 23, 2011 What are some plants that would do well in an east facing area near my front door? I live in Indianapolis IN. I need something that is drought resistant and will fill in a 4x3 foot walled off area th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Difficulty of watering at drip line of trees from The Woodlands TX August 18, 2011 I'm watering my couple dozen native mature trees to make sure they survive this drought and its aftermath..and I'm reading about how to water at the drip line. But..all of my trees' drip lines ext... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Antelope Resistant Plants for Casper, Wyoming August 12, 2011 What are some drought resistant, full-sun plants for Wyoming that are Antelope resistant - Deer are not much of a problem, but antelope are! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Survival of native lawn in Hockley TX August 02, 2011 I'm on the edge of the Katy Prairie and a very large ranch with full blasting sun and completely open exposure. The soil is fill from the developers with more clay than sand, a minimum of nutrients,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dormancy in Pin Oaks without water in Del Rio, TX August 02, 2011 Can Pin Oak trees go dormant without enough water? If so how long can they live that way? Can they be brought back to producing leaves? If yes, then what do I need to do besides giving them water. I d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alternative to swamp sunflower for Austin June 15, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I love this forum and have learned so much from it! Do you know of an alternative to Helianthus angustifolius L. (Swamp sunflower) that requires less water and would be m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| protecting native trees during drought June 07, 2011 We are very concerned about our mature live oaks and cedar elms because they are so stressed due to the drought. We have lost several of our mountain juniper and I really don't want to lose our more... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Drought tolerant Plants and moving Wax myrtles in Austin April 30, 2011 Mr. Smarty Plants, What are the most fire resistant and drought tolerant plants for caliche soil in Austin area? I am considering relocating or removing my wax myrtle shrubs because they are ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Drought and Fire Resistant Plants for Round Top, Texas April 24, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants Do you have any advice on plants which are drought tolerant and fire resistant for a central Texas location near Round Top Texas? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for Jonestown/Leander September 01, 2010 Dear Mr.Smarty Plants, I am new to Texas we bought a house here in Jonestown/Leander that has absolutely no plant life whatsoever I was wondering if you could provide me with the names of some drough... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for sunny dry soil location August 22, 2010 Do any native plants exist in a highly sunny very dry soil location? (high overhang prevents rain but allows sun) View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shade loving plants with color for Irving, Texas July 01, 2010 Looking for shade loving perennials or annuals with color - native and low water. Live in Irving, Texas. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees and shrubs for adobe soil in Penngrove CA June 19, 2010 Hi, I'd like to find a list of trees that are native, drought tolerant and suitable to the adobe soil in Penngrove. We will be landscaping a bare .5 acre parcel starting later this fall. Another fea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is a cyme-bearing plant for Waco, TX? June 10, 2010 I need a wildflower or drought tolerant perennial example of the inflorescence type 'cyme' to plant in a school garden in Waco, TX. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small native plants to line driveway in Los Fresnos, Texas March 15, 2010 I have a 70' driveway. What are recommended drought resistant dwarf (no more than 3 feet) plants to line the driveway? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Straw that broke the camel's back. September 01, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I keep forgetting which day I am supposed to water and my St. Augustine lawn has turned into the neighborhood eyesore. Where can I go to learn more about this drought tolera... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Range and adaptability of evening primrose from Tucson AZ August 28, 2009 What is the natural range of the evening primrose? What adaptations does it have to live in the arid Southwest? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low water hedge for Sedona, AZ August 19, 2009 I'm looking for a shrub to plant along a 90' property line with my neighbor in Sedona, Arizona (high desert). Ideally, the shrub would grow to about 8' and would not require too much water. What wo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen replacement for bamboo in Redding CA July 27, 2009 We have just removed bamboo from our backyard and need to replace it with a plant that will give us the same type of privacy. What plant would you suggest to plant along a fence line that will surviv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plants for a school garden in Austin May 14, 2009 We are starting a native garden at our school in Central Austin, what native plants and flowers would be best to plant? The area we are planting faces east. We also need drought tolerant plants becau... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Drought tolerant plants for Gilroy, California March 15, 2009 We live in Gilroy, CA. We want to plant drought tolerant plants native to our area. We already have native sycamores and oak trees, manzanita and snowberry shrubs, and we have a list of local wildflow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Drought and pollution resistant flowers for Rock Falls, IL February 08, 2009 I am looking for hearty flowers for our city planters that are both resistant to drought and auto emissions. We are located in northern Illinois. Planting is done in May. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Watering needs for a new landscape October 11, 2008 How much and how frequently are you supposed to water after implementing a new landscape? For example, perennials and succulents that are drought tolerant. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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