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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| Sprouts at base of holly in Surprise AZ November 15, 2010 Friends have recently planted a holly tree in their front yard. They live in AZ and there is no grass (only rock) around their tree. It was planted as a fairly large tree (about 18 feet).My question i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen tree for planter in Sherman Oaks CA November 11, 2010 We have a large cinder block planter, 6ftx6ftx6ft,in the back of our building and would love to find a good evergreen accent tree (but not pine like). Planter is near a building so preferable it shoul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscaping north facing wall November 08, 2010 We live in the Dallas area and have a north facing home with a large, bare wall. I would like to plant a tall, flowering shrub that will look nice all year round. Or are there flowering vines that a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Year-round privacy screen of evergreen plants. November 02, 2010 We need a year-round privacy screen of evergreen plants. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need pruning advice in northern Michigan October 27, 2010 Is it OK to prune my evergreen bushes and holly in October in northern Michigan? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hedge options for Sag Harbor, New York. October 11, 2010 Hello, My fiance and I live in Sag Harbor, NY on the East End of Long Island. We would like to plant a hedge across our yard to separate the front and back and have privacy. Here is a picture o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Moving a volunteer holly from Springfield IL October 11, 2010 When would be the very best time to move a volunteer holly? I would say it is 3 years old, it stands about 5 feet tall, shaped like a very nice tree and it keeps its leaves. Thank you. Karen View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen tree for California screen September 28, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, I need a tree for screen and privacy. Our neighbors are building a second story. We will loose our privacy and our patio will be like a fish bowl. I will plant it about 2 fee... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Horse-friendly plants for Powell OH September 24, 2010 I am looking for horse friendly plants, i.e., shrubs, trees, bushes, etc. that can be planted in wet area in Ohio. Thank you in advance for your assistance. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native shrubs for containers in Los Angeles, CA September 23, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants - We are looking for some non-vine potted plants to grow on our balcony for privacy in Los Angeles. The balcony receives partial direct sunlight & we would like the growth to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscaping around a pear tree in Tyler, TX. September 22, 2010 We have a large raised flower bed, approximately ten feet by ten feet, surrounding a mature flowering pear tree. Do you have any suggestions for landscaping with native plants in this bed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree or shrub for acoustical protection in Clermont FL September 20, 2010 What type of tree or shrub would be best to lower the db level of freeway noise in Central Florida? I live about 3/4 of a mile from a freeway but due to the wind and hills it causes the noise to bounc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native tree for San Diego, California September 19, 2010 I have conflicting info about the Mayten tree. Pro: recommended patio tree, medium water needs, does not drop seed or leaves. Con: broadly invasive suckers, messy drop. I am in San Diego, Californ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need Small Native Shrub in Dallas, TX September 17, 2010 We live in Dallas and are looking for a dwarf bush that we can plant in the space between the sidewalk and the street in front of our house. It would receive full sun to partial shade. We would like... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree for memorial in Levittown NY August 09, 2010 I am planning a tree planting memorial in Wantagh Park and I don't know what will be hardy enough to grow there. There are the constant breeze and salt water elements to deal with there and of course... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Want to take cuttings from Yaupon in Tomball, TX. August 06, 2010 From Tomball, Texas - we have a very shaded back yard and would like some lower growing shrubbery as a screen for the neighbors. Wild yaupon holly is growing well on the fringes and I would like to f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen shrub/small tree for screen in southern California August 06, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants - I would like to find an evergreen hedge, ~15-20' (or so) to screen a busy road (noise and visual). I'm zone 8b - 92539 (close to) - light snow in winter (to -25) and can ge... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry) be toxic to chickens? July 25, 2010 We are considering planting Carolina Cherry Laurels around our yard for dense hedging purposes. We are concerned because we have a small flock of free-ranging chickens who eat every seed and leaf in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen tree for screen behind a waterfall July 25, 2010 I want to plant 3 evergreen trees as a screen behind a waterfall and along a fence by my pool. We took down a wax myrtle due to winter/ice damage and the mess in the pool. I want male yaupon hollies... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How can I control underground runners from from Pride of Houston Yaupons in Austin, TX? July 16, 2010 How can I control the underground runners from the Pride of Houston Yaupons? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Winter-interest plants in Wynnewood PA July 11, 2010 Could you please suggest flowering plants that provide winter interest after drying out (ie with seed pods or interesting dried flower heads)? I'm looking for something that grows in full sun. Thank ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen tree for Southern California coast July 06, 2010 I need a tree that is evergreen, non invasive roots that is not messy that can be kept at around 20 feet. We are at the edge of the thermal layer from the ocean. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting native yaupon into yard in Lowake TX June 08, 2010 I have lots of wild yaupon in my pasture,can I transplant it to the yard? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants that will grow on the Connecticut coast June 08, 2010 I live on the coast in Connecticut and have a hard time growing plants here. I live about 1/2 mile from the beach and find that my soil is very rocky. The only plants that have done well in my yard ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Schedule for pollen and nectar for bees in Austin May 27, 2010 For beekeeping in western Travis County (Cuernavaca at Bee Caves) I need to know what nectar and pollen is flowing when. I have asked my local beekeeping club, but they are in Blackland Prairie and d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pollination of blackberries in Lake Winnebago, MO May 27, 2010 Not sure if blackberries are native, but my daughter got a start of one at a plant exchange at the nature center. Do we need more than one for it to pollinate correctly? We have strawberries growing i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen large shrub/small tree for screen in Houston May 26, 2010 I live on the west side of Houston Tx. I need an evergreen large shrub or shorter tree between myself and a busy neighborhood road. There is a power line above this so we would like something that e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant for part sun in Nampa Idaho May 20, 2010 What could I plant in arid SW Idaho on the northwest side of my house along a border against the house? Most of the day this area is in shade, but at the hottest time of the day it gets a couple of h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why doesn't my Possum Haw have berries this year? May 20, 2010 A possumhaw holly has no berries as of mid-May. I planted this possumhaw last summer - it had lots of berries. Why would it have no berries this year? This spring I have two yaupons with lots of b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for shade under pine trees in Grapevine TX May 16, 2010 What plants are good to put under pine trees in the shade? I live in the Dallas Fort Worth area? The previous owners stuck a Japanese Maple in there that seems to be ok and some sort of holly bush (n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen plants safe for horses in Louisville, Kentucky May 16, 2010 I have a horse farm in Louisville, Ky. I want to plant evergreen plants along the walls in front of the horse barns. What types of plants are not toxic to horses can I use? Thank you so much for all y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-blooming or fruiting Oregon grape holly in Elmhurst IL May 14, 2010 I have an Oregon grape holly bush that has never bloomed and has never had fruit. I have had the bush for at least 6 years, it is approximately 5 ft tall. Have had no problems, just no flowers/fruit.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fast growing shade trees safe for livestock in pasture in Nashville GA May 13, 2010 I would like a list of fast growing shade trees that are safe for cows and horses in a pasture. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small evergreen shrubs for Fairfax VA May 13, 2010 I have a 2' wide 6' long strip between a brick wall and the front walk leading up to the entry way. Lavender has been a pain and I would like to replace it with an attractive evergreen alternate. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A non-native Japanese Maple for Branchburg NJ May 12, 2010 I am landscaping around my house and am looking for a tree that wont eventually grow too large. I thought maybe a bloodgood Japanese maple. Any suggestions would help View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen shrubs or small trees for privacy in Cumming GA May 11, 2010 I have a eight foot fence in my back yard. My back yard is full of trees and is very shady in the late spring and summer months and in the winter when the leaves fall is very bare. I am looking for... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a mixed hedgerow for privacy and for the birds May 07, 2010 What are the best native plants for a mixed hedgerow in a small backyard? I want privacy (heights 5'-10') and bird friendly. Thank you for your information. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees for pool area in San Ramon, California April 24, 2010 We live in San Ramon. We are remodeling our pool and are looking for a tree that will be 15 feet from a pool. We just removed a pine tree. We have now lost our privacy and see the neighbor's back f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree for sound block near Houston April 24, 2010 I live in Pearland, just south of Houston and am looking for a tree that I can plant along my fenceline between my neighbor and me that will block noise. We have a pool and entertain a lot, but they a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Correcting overgrown Savannah holly in Goldsboro NC April 24, 2010 I have an overgrown Savannah Holly. How do I go about correcting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Compact possumhaw holly for Plano TX April 19, 2010 What variety of possumhaw holly would be best planted close to a house? I'm looking for a variety 15-25 feet, as compact as possible. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Evergreen pet-safe shrubs for house and screening in McKinney TX April 15, 2010 Looking for shrub, preferably evergreen, to plant near the house that can handle wet ground and is pet (dog, cat, horse) safe. The area became boggy after we had an underground water leak that is now ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacement for pygmy date palms in Spring, TX April 15, 2010 We live in Spring, Texas and the front door of our house faces East. Last winter we lost both of our beautiful pigmy date palms! We are trying to find "unique" accent plants for our front entry. D... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shrub for part shade for hedge in Holly Ridge NC April 07, 2010 We live in Coastal NC. We would like a type of shrub for the front of our home which is partial shade, similar style to a boxwood or trainable hedge. What NC native would compare? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Hollyhocks deer resistant? April 07, 2010 Are Hollyhocks deer resistant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with non-native hollyhock in Austin April 03, 2010 Our hollyhocks develop small yellow spots on the leaves; these eventually spread into little swellings on the underside; I think of them as lesions. They spread and the leaf turns brown and shrivels ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blocking out noise from pond pump in Holly MI April 02, 2010 My neighbor has a motor for his pond pump that faces my backyard--it is extremely loud and irritating after listening to it for 5 hours or more. Is there any type of shrub that I can plant to block o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How close to a female tree will a male Possumhaw Holly need to be planted to ensure pollination in Plano, TX? April 01, 2010 I would like to plant a female Possumhaw Holly in my yard. Does a male need to be planted nearby in order for the female to have berries? If so, how close must the male tree be located? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast-growing evergreens for privacy in Center, TX March 30, 2010 I live in East Texas and am looking for a fast growing evergreen for a privacy screen around my backyard. The area gets partial sun and the soil has a lot of clay in it. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for floodplain in Fairfield, New Jersey March 21, 2010 I have an easy question for you... I hope... We just moved into the floodplains of NJ in Fairfield and are interested in some plants. We would like to know what plants are best suited to grow in flood... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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