Native Plants
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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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| topic | question | |
| Decline in non-native crape myrtles June 15, 2007 I live in Round Rock and the ground is rocky about one foot beneath the surface. I have about 14 crape myrtles that have been doing very well for about 6 years now. Last year the leaves on 1 started... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Nativity of Myrospermum sousanum June 13, 2007 I bought a Myrospermum sousanum (Arroyo Sweetwood) at the Antique Rose Emporium in San Antonio. I see where it is listed as a Texas native on several web sites, but I could not find a reference on the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mulching vegetables with straw June 13, 2007 I have a small garden with 4 different veggies, tomatoes, hot peppers, squash & cucumbers. which plants is it OK to put straw under? which plants will straw hurt the stalks or other possibilities? tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Availability of non-native Elijah blue fescue June 01, 2007 I'm looking for Elijah blue fescue. Do you sell? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to produce ivy with large, green leaves May 25, 2007 How can I keep an Ivy green? When it was purchased it was green and had BIG leaves. How can I get the leaves to grow big again and get it green? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting plumereia and bird of paradise palm outside in Austin May 23, 2007 I have a plumeria and a bird of paradise palm in pots that I want to place in the ground. I've seen plumeria's planted in the ground at a house leading to Bryan College Station that seem to have bee... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Winter damage to non-native Jasminum mesnyi May 09, 2007 I planted 6 shrubs in 2006 that I think are some type of jasmine that have yellow flowers. Can't remember the name. I live in Lago Vista TX just outside Austin. This year 3 are doing really well a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Thinning of non-native rosemary May 09, 2007 I live in NW Austin and have a very large rosemary bush that is having problems this season. We trimmed the bush in early March because the plant was getting too large for the space. It is roughly 3... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Cryptomeria japonica for homeowners association May 09, 2007 Good morning. We are wondering if Cryptomeria japonica trees can fit under the term "pine like". We used the term pine like when asking for our home owners associations approval and we put in a Cr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Slow flowering wisteria May 09, 2007 We have a young wisteria growing on the side of the house. It began to flower this year for the first time. Whereas my neighbors' wisterias all bloomed in February, ours has only begun to bloom in mi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Diamonds and Rubies plant (Lychnis coronaria) May 02, 2007 I recently purchased a plant from the Huntsville, AL Botanical Gardens at their annual plant sale. The name on the plant tag is "Rubies and Diamonds". No one at the Botanical Garden knew the scien... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cat deterents May 01, 2007 I was wondering if there is such a plant that will deter cats from going in your gardens. I have a problem with them using my garden as a litter box, and had heard that there was a plant that the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alternatives to non-native heather (Calluna vulgaris) April 27, 2007 I live in Vernon, BC, Canada. I plan to put a heather plant in my garden, but my space is limited. I know that it will grow approx. 2 ft. high and that it likes well drained and acidic soil, but how... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| About African Violets April 26, 2007 I have an African Violet. i clipped a leaf off and rooted it and i have a baby pink-leafed African Violet now, not pink flowers, pink leaves. It struck me as odd. i never saw one like this before. i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive nature of non-native Zoysia japonica grass April 22, 2007 I have been reading up on Zoysia grass and I am curious about its invasive nature. Is there a good way to keep it from going into my neighbors' yards? I was thinking about using some edging material... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recovery of non-native star jasmine from freezing in New York April 22, 2007 Hello, I have a star jasmine plant that was left outside over the winter. Will it come back to life? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant replacements for non-native invasives in Austin, TX April 20, 2007 I live in Austin, TX, I have a large lot and small house. I want to do some selective planting on the back half of my lot. Currently there are large live oaks, cedar elm. hackberry, cedar, Texas persi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellowing of fronds on Sago Palm March 27, 2007 Our Sago Palm now has all yellow fronds from the Winter frosts. Should they be cut off? Will the plant grow new fronds from the bottom to replace the ugly looking ones that are there? And why do I se... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Muscari neglectum image March 23, 2007 I am doing a school project and found a native plant on the native plant information network image gallery. It is plant NPIN Image Id 524. What is it's name? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Toxicity of non-native, invasive Wedelia trilobata March 19, 2007 Could you tell me if Wedelia trilobata is toxic to animals? It grows so voraciously where I am that I am wanting to use the whole plant to feed to my large tortoises (who are also voracious for edibl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of non-native Primrose jasmine March 14, 2007 I have 4 large primrose jasmine shrubs that were transplanted about 4 years ago. They were cut back fairly harshly at that time. Since then, the centers remain very woody... no greenery... but the l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Thorns on non-native orange trees March 04, 2007 I just moved into a new home that has orange trees in the yard. The tree trunks and limbs are thorny. What kind of oranges are they? How should I care for them? Is it ok to cut off the thorns so t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Avoiding planting Indian Paintbrush in Hawaii because of invasiveness March 01, 2007 My daughter is living in Hilo, Hawaii. For her birthday, her boyfriend ordered her some Indian Paintbrush seeds. Trying to be sure she grows them correctly in a pot, she found instructions that say ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Obtaining information about non-native Maurandella antiffhiniflora seeds February 26, 2007 Mr. Smarty Plants: My Mother and I love to see all the beautiful Snapdragons blooming each year. We never know when to actually plant the seeds in order to have the Snapdragons come up and bloom by th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Use of non-native Indian Mustard for reducing lead in soil February 07, 2007 The EPA phytoremediation documents say lead contamination can be reduced with Brassica juncea: "Successful Reduction of Lead Contamination. Phytoextraction was demonstrated at a site in Tren... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why is non-native, invasive dandelion called a wildflower? January 24, 2007 Why is a dandelion a wildflower? {I read it in a book.} View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Sphaegneticola trilobata as non-native invasive plant January 24, 2007 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants, I have some wedelia growing but would like clarification on the type whether it is the texana or trilobata. Is the texana a bushy plant? Mine is more of the sprawling/tra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible damage by invasive, non-native earthworms in compost January 03, 2007 I received a worm bin (vermicomposter) for Christmas. The instructions that came with the bin say to use the red wiggler worm (Eisenia foetida) and that it is okay if some of the worms go into your g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alternatives for non-native Bradford Pear November 27, 2006 Hi, can you please give me some information about the "bradford flowering pear"? I live in Hutto,Tx. I want to know if this is a good tree to plant. What are the benefits of choosing this tree and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Student project on non-native bush snap beans October 30, 2006 I am doing a science project for school that involves bush snap beans. For my research I am required to have at least one interview with a professional on plants. I was hoping that you would be able ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growth rate for eucalyptus in Florida September 21, 2006 How fast does eucalyptus grow in Florida? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lists of edible plants in region of Pennsylvania for school project September 12, 2006 Please Help! I'm a grade four teacher in Philadelphia. My students and I are assigned a theme project that involves listing edible plants that grow in our region. Can you recommend a web site(s)... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Caring for non-native African violet September 05, 2006 How do you care for the African violet? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wintering over a Cuphea ignea in Iowa Zones 4-5 August 29, 2006 I have a Cigar Plant, or a cuphea. I live in Iowa and need to know how to take care of this plant. Does this plant die and that's it, or does this plant come back year after year? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Coleus canina, animal detererrent August 18, 2006 I had purchased a plant about 4 years ago at Lowes that I planted in my flower gardens that was a pet deterrent. I cannot remember the name of that plant now? I have spoke to Lowes and others and I am... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Suggestions for alternatives to invasive, non-native English ivy August 17, 2006 Can English ivy be planted in a pot, kept oudoors, and expected to endure our Maryland winters? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Disease problems of non-native Weeping Willow August 16, 2006 Could you please tell me why my weeping willow has got pink coloured leaves and seems very dry the bark is splitting and seems full of wood worm? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alternatives to non-native, invasive Pampa grass August 11, 2006 Could you please tell me if Cortaderia Selloana is "zone 4" hardy? Also how to start Opuntia Humifusa from cuttings? Do I let them stand upright dry and with no soil until they form the callous? Ple... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for non-native Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) August 08, 2006 I was given a desert rose and i'm looking for general information about planting, watering, how much sun it needs etc. I hope you can help. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Crape Myrtle August 07, 2006 My local nursery saw the flower and said I have a crape myrtle...is this the common name or botanical name? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Merremia tuberosa August 07, 2006 Respected Sir, I have been trying to find the scientific name and a sapling of a plant which had "flowers that look like rose flowers but are brown in color and have a paper like... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplant shock July 27, 2006 Today I dug up a new natchez variety crape myrtle that had only been planted about 3 months ago. It is fairly young. It was very difficult to dig up as it's root were pretty settled in the spot it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information for native garden in Guadalajara, Mexico July 24, 2006 I am trying to start up my native garden in Guadalajara Mexico but have not been able to find many databases or info. Any advice or suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native invasive tungoil tree July 21, 2006 I believe I have a tungoil tree growing in my yard. How do I care for it and when would be the best time to move it. It is about 6 foot tall and has about 12 seed (fruit) on it. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native, invasive mimosa trees July 15, 2006 I have a mimosa tree. The blooms on mine are very pale while I see many other trees with bright blooms. Is there anyway to change the color of the blooms? For instance, is the color due to the PH o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of non-native lilac July 14, 2006 How and when do we prune lilacs bushes ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplant shock in non-native Mexican Ruda July 14, 2006 I hope that you can help me. I planted some Mexican Ruda in a large pot. Planted it in good soil. The plant is not doing well. It's droopy and drying out. I watered it every other day. It is in t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edibility of native and non-native wild onions July 07, 2006 I'd like to know if the seeds of the wild onions found in southeastern Pennsylvania (possibly called Allium ascalonicum) are edible at all- these are the seeds that grow on top of the stalk, after ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Conditions for non-native, poisonous mandrakes July 04, 2006 What climates or conditions can mandrakes live in? Do they have to live submerged in water, with some water, or with very little? Why? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellowing leaves on non-native Hibiscus rosa-sinensis July 03, 2006 I purchased a chinese hibiscus hiros small tree and after 1 month the leaves keep turning yellow. What's wrong? It's in a large pot and never outside below 60 degrees. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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