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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| Time to Plant Trees and Shrubs in the Dallas Area February 13, 2015 Is it OK to plant evergreen shrubs-trees in January or February in the Dallas, Texas area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for Sideroxylon celastrinum (Coma saffron plum) seeds or seedlings February 12, 2015 Hi. I'm trying to find a good commercial source for la coma (Bumelia celastrina) seedlings/seeds. Can you help? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscape Fabric for Oak Suckers in Austin February 11, 2015 Can landscape fabric (covered w/decorative bark mulch) be safely used to control Escarpment oak sprouts? 70-year-old knees are tired of getting down to remove. Oaks are in Circle C area of Austin View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay) a major nectar source for honeybees? January 31, 2015 Is the Sweetbay Magnolia a major nectar source for honeybees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Franklinia alatamaha (Franklin tree) a major honeybee nectar source? January 31, 2015 Is the Franklinia tree a major nectar source for honeybees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sap oozing from trunks of Cherry Laurels in Austin, TX January 24, 2015 I have several mature compact cherry laurels whose leaves are beginning to turn yellow. They are in raised beds, have been properly fertilized, have compost spread around them, and are properly water... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Redwood as a Screening Tree for Santa Cruz Garden? January 20, 2015 I have a small yard in Santa Cruz, CA and we have to hide/distract from a power line. My husband is demanding a redwood. Is this sane? The space it will have to grow in is about 20x20. What species of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| large tree suited for limestone site in Austin, TX January 15, 2015 I have a dying Chinaberry tree [35 ' tall; WNW corner of lot; at least 25 years old] that I am having removed. What native / adapted tree would you recommend to fill that void. I do understand that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer-resistant trees for privacy in Texas January 09, 2015 I need to find a deer resistant tall shrub or tree to plant and hide the deer fence my neighbor just put up on our property line. My property has full sun in parts and mostly shady in other parts and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need plants for privacy screen and noise reduction in Dallas. January 07, 2015 Our backyard is on the north side of our house and is adjacent to the south side of LBJ Freeway (I-635) in Dallas. TXDOT only constructed an 8' concrete wall along our portion of its expanded right-o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen tree for privacy screen in Granbury Texas December 21, 2014 We need to put an evergreen privacy screen between our barn and our neighbor's new 132' long, unattractive building, which runs along & is just 40' away from our fence line & where they have decid... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for a moist, wooded area in North Carolina December 06, 2014 I am looking to plant some native flowers in a wooded area in Surry County NC. The chosen location is fully shaded beside a creek. The water table typically sets about 2 feet below the surface of th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is it safe to burn Cedar in a fireplace? December 04, 2014 Is it safe to burn Cedar in our fireplace? I'm trying to thin out the population of Ashe Junipers on my property in Spicewood Tx. to give the young Live Oaks a chance to compete for sunlight and w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Restoring disturbed land in Marshall, TX. December 04, 2014 I have a 30 acre tract of land in Marshall, Texas. The oil company has turned 2-3 acres surrounding the rig into gravel. I would like to return the gravel area to green space. Any suggestions on gras... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Does Acacia farnesiana (Huisache) have agressive roots? November 30, 2014 Hello, Do you know if the Huisache tree has an aggressive root system? I have a few in proximity to my septic draining field and I need to know if I should cut them down to prevent clogging of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need a Replacement for Chinese Tallow tree in Austin, TX November 26, 2014 I live in Austin and have a large Chinese Tallow in my front yard. I would like to cut the tree down, but it provides shade to my home. I was hoping to start growing a native fruit/nut tree near the C... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seven foot privacy fence in Tucson November 25, 2014 I am looking for a privacy hedge for a home in Tucson, Arizona that will be in full sun. Needs to be at least seven foot tall and low water and maintenance. Any suggestions. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oak Wilt in Georgetown, TX November 17, 2014 We have lost several live oaks to oak wilt. Another couple are dying but still have some green leaves. Is it OK to cut down these trees now or should we wait until they are entirely dead? I've heard ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low Water Use Plants for a Pond Island November 06, 2014 We have a medium sized pond/tank with a small island covered in black willows. The pond loses a lot of water and we were told it was partially due to the willows. We want to remove them and replace ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Small Tree for Texas Garden November 06, 2014 I would like to plant a small tree just 3-4 feet from my house, but I don't want to damage the foundation. Is there a small fruit or nut tree I could plant that would fit the bill? Failing that, is t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas Redbud Suddenly Died in NM November 06, 2014 We had a Texas redbud, approximately 5 1/2 years old. It had been doing great then all of a sudden after it bloomed this spring, the leaves appeared but then shriveled right away. We noticed the trunk... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Young Bur Oak not Flourishing in Texas November 06, 2014 We have a bur oak in our SW Travis County lawn in Texas, planted about 3 years ago as a 6-7' tree. It is now about 12' but has not "flourished". It has put out virtually no horizontal branches, an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need shrubs for a privacy screen in Glendale CA October 30, 2014 Dear. Mr. Smarty Plants I need to grow a tall hedge 15-20 feet minimum to block a condo complex which overlooks my back yard. I need a fast growing hedge which is non toxic to dogs and one which roo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to Identify Male and Female Texas Persimmon Trees October 07, 2014 I have just learned that Texas persimmon trees are either male or female. Is it possible to tell which is which when buying one? I am planting on 50 acres near Blanco. Do I need one of each? I'd ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference in native and non-native cherry laurel October 02, 2014 I have a backyard volunteer that I have identified as a cherry laurel, but how do I tell the Carolina from the non-native? This is still young (2 years or so), and not flowering, at least not now. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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