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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Need a privacy screen beside a pool in Las Vegas, NV. June 15, 2012 Hi, I need to plant a privacy screen fence next to the pool. There is only 4-5 feet between the wall and the pool. That leaves only about 2 feet for soil. What are my best options for non invasive r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Decorative Trees for Scenic Bench in Fairhope IL June 10, 2012 I am looking for a recommendation for a pair of small trees (does not grow taller than 18-20 feet) that can provide shade on either side of a stone bench. The site is in full sun, western exposure an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need a vine to cover a chainlink fence in the shade in Tarrytown, NY. June 08, 2012 Any advice for a vine to cover a chain link fence in shade View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need suggestions for privacy hedge in New River, AZ. June 05, 2012 Hi! I live on a acre that is fenced and cross-fenced with 6' chain link. I am desperate to find a drought tolerant, very low water, non-toxic, fast growing privacy hedge or vine that I can plant arou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade trees for Tucson AZ May 25, 2012 I need to plant some "fast growing" trees or shrubs on my southwest yard in order to reduce the heat in my bedroom. What do you suggest? I live in Tucson, Arizona. Thank you in advance. I'm... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Screening Planter Recommendations for Lakeway TX May 16, 2012 I live in Lakeway in a townhome. The parking lot is directly in front of my unit so I always see headlights and cars. The HOA has agreed to build a planter about 4 feet high to help hide the cars. W... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen screening plant for California May 08, 2012 I am looking for an evergreen plant that can be used as a screen. Maybe something wispy. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need suggestions for privacy hedge in Northern NJ. May 01, 2012 Hi, I'm looking for advice on what plant would make an excellent privacy hedge in Northern NJ (Bergen County). Ideally something low maintenance, about 5 feet tall, would act as a fence. Thanks... 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 |  | |
| Construction problems on site in Mansfield OH April 28, 2012 Last year we had a rectangular above ground pool put in the person who "leveled" for use did a terrible job and basically dug a huge hole for us to put our pool in. The back side of the pool is abou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy screen for pool from Southlake TX April 21, 2012 I have a row of 7 live oaks that help block my neighbors two story house. Unfortunately, there is a gap between each tree of about 8 feet wide and 15 feet tall (from ground to the first branches/ leav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrubs/ Trees for Privacy Screening on Cape Cod April 17, 2012 Hi, I need a recommendation for a row of trees/shrubs that I can put on my boundary line to block my neighbor. It's in a wooded area that I could thin somewhat. I would need them to be fast growing... 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 |  | |
| Folsom CA Wall-cover April 13, 2012 I live in Folsom, CA and I have an ugly cinder block wall that I want to cover, I want something that is low maintenance and that is going to grow and spread into my grass. The only one i can really t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Screening Shrub for Lubbock TX April 08, 2012 I am a landscape architecture student at Texas Tech University and am looking for a drought tolerant shrub to be used for screening a water well area. The location is the northwest corner of a yard wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hedgerow plants non-toxic to horses April 07, 2012 What would be a good, fast growing, hedgerow plant that is NON-POISONOUS TO HORSES? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screen in Kansas City, MO April 04, 2012 Hello, I am located in Kansas City, MO and am looking for a wall/screen plant. Last year I used a wall of sunflowers and loved them, however I want something more hardy and something I don't have to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant for privacy hedge in Oklahoma that is not poisonous to dogs April 01, 2012 Hello! I am looking to put a privacy hedge fence in my yard. I love the look of American Holly, however, I have a dog who eats everything so I worry that this will not be a wise choice with the b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen shrub for screening from Austin March 25, 2012 Is there an evergreen, fruit shrub which grows 8 to 10 feet high, having about 6 to 8 hours of sun which could be trimmed to serve as a screen in front of pool equipment on the side of our house? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hedge in Desert Full Sun March 25, 2012 We want a short hedge, 2-3 ft tall, small leaves that fill in to full looking hedge. It is in Phoenix Arizona area and gets full sun all afternoon View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for pool privacy from Peachtree GA March 20, 2012 We currently reside in Georgia and have a pool surrounded by a fence. However, because our house is located on a hill, my neighbor on the left side can very easily still see my backyard and we can see... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-poisonous, non-allergenic plants for privacy fence March 15, 2012 I'm looking to put in some plants to create a privacy fence against one side of my property. I'd like a mix of plants that grow well together in order to create a diverse look. I need something ever... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen hedge for NY February 26, 2012 I am looking for a native evergreen shrub that could be used as a hedge or privacy screen on the Rockaway peninsula in Queens county. It is a beach community with sand soil ( except where it has been... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Landscaping plans in Kyle TX February 12, 2012 I am starting from scratch in a backyard (approx. 52'x25')in Central Texas (Kyle). The backyard is on the north side of the single story house. I would like to have plants and trees that attract and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing Drought-Stricken Cedars January 16, 2012 Hello, I live in Williamson County on a couple acres. We have several dead cedars as a result of drought; we're reluctant to cut them down because many of them provide a friendly barrier between us... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| topic | question | |