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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| Non-native vines poisonous from Bakersfield CA May 17, 2013 Are pink bower vines and stars and stripes mandevilla toxic to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| 10 year old Wisteria fails to bloom in Rockwall, TX. May 15, 2013 I love wisteria. I had four (4) wisteria plants professionally planted at least ten (10) years ago. These wisteria plants have NEVER bloomed. Why not? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shrub or Vine for NH Slope May 11, 2013 I'm looking for a native plant/shrub/vine that can be used to control erosion on a relatively steep slope in New Hampshire. Do you know of any? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for Sunny Slope in CT May 11, 2013 I need a plant to use as groundcover and for erosion control on a sunny slope in southwestern Connecticut. Any suggestions other than juniper? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade tolerant vines for Mobile AL May 07, 2013 I am looking for an evergreen vine that will thrive in the shade in hot and humid south Alabama. I plan to plant on a trellis. A flowering vine would be even better. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What thorny vine grows rapidly in Pensacola? May 06, 2013 What thorny vine grows rapidly in Pensacola? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need a native vine to grow on a fence next to a horse pasture in Kerrville, TX. May 01, 2013 I have a wooden fence between my yard and the horse pasture. I would like to plant a native Texas vine (grapevine, honeysuckle, etc.) to cover the fence that will be evergreen and showy, but one that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for a Sunny, Steep Slope in Maryland April 29, 2013 I need a groundcover for a sunny dry steep slope in Towson, Maryland. The slope goes from the parking lot down to a deck area. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vines to Cover Brush Pile in Maryland April 29, 2013 We have a large brush pile on our property that we'd intended to burn, but it is big enough now that it would require the help of the fire department! I'm thinking I'd like to cover it with native ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smoky Mountains Shaded Slope Plant Suggestions April 29, 2013 We live in a very shady spot in Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. We would like to plant vegetation on a sloped area behind our cottage to stop erosion after building an addition. Our h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for a Steep, Sunny Slope in Iowa April 28, 2013 I am looking for plants native to Iowa for a steep, sunny slope or groundcover. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Want to identify thorny vines growing in Charlotte Hall, MD April 25, 2013 I have vines with thorns growing in my wood, vining around the trees and killing them. It grows and vines go up trees of any height all the way to the top. It has green pointy leaves. If it doesn't... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vines for Shade in Upstate New York April 23, 2013 Hello! I am looking for a non-invasive vine that will grow in heavy shade near my house in upstate New York. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy Screening Plant for New York Narrow Site April 20, 2013 I need privacy screening on the side of my house in Mount Kisco, New York located 40 miles north of New York City. The area gets plenty of sun but is somewhat narrow. What evergreen bushes or trees ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover Under Maple Tree in Ottawa That Takes Foot Traffic April 19, 2013 Hi, I am looking for a groundcover to put under a large maple tree that will be alright for kids to run about on and will be happy in the Ottawa climate. Your other answers to similar questions have b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing kudzu in Las Vegas NV April 18, 2013 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a question about a known invasive species that I know you advise against, but I feel my situation may be different enough that it's worth asking about. Yes, I'm talk... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Climbing options for a Coral honeysuckle in Austin Texas April 16, 2013 Regarding Coral honeysuckle, what is the best support to encourage continued spread, chicken-wire/fencing? Currently the plants and vines are on fencing and beginning to fold over. I'd like to add... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Huckleberries and blueberries from Vancouver WA April 14, 2013 Can you plant a blueberry next to a huckleberry? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native trees of Hornsby Bend in Austin, TX April 10, 2013 We are looking for a list of the trees occurring along and in the vicinity of the Colorado River at Hornsby Bend circa 1820. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of passion flower in Tunbridge Wells England April 08, 2013 I planted my passion plant 3 years ago and I have really looked after it. I think this winter has killed it, it looks so dead. I hope it can be saved; there isn't one part of it that is looking healt... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Containerized honeysuckle for Dassel MN April 05, 2013 We are renting our house but I would like to enjoy my own honeysuckle. Can they be planted in a big pot so that I can take it with me when we move. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| South Austin Groundcovers for Oak Shade March 29, 2013 Hi! I live in S. Austin now but used to work at the Wildflower Center! My backyard is shady with several oak mots. Do you have any suggestions as to what if any ground cover will grow in all that sha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants to cover 1000 square foot wall in Virginia March 29, 2013 In Norfolk, VA, I want to cover a large (1000 sq ft) cement wall with a variety of maintenance free plant life. Any recommendations? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen vine for screen March 20, 2013 We have pretty much "dead" red-tipped photinia bushes and old pine trees that have seen better days, on a steep hillside. We need to remove and replace with a more natural setting, with some terraci... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Patio Privacy Screen Suggestions for Central Texas March 17, 2013 I have just built a patio and want to plant some small trees, bushes or shrubs to form a visual barrier (rather than to erect a fence)to the neighbors yard. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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