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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| topic | question | |
| 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 | ||
| Fast-growing, non-poisonous evergreen vine for California March 14, 2013 Hi, I am in the north bay area of California, north of San Francisco, need a quick growing vine to cover a very long section of chain link fence that is not poisonous (back yard backs up to school pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Flowers for monarch butterflies in Bastrop, Gonzales and Travis Counties of Texas March 05, 2013 Hi Mr./s. Smarty Plants, What are some flowers that grow naturally on a Bastrop, Travis, or Gonzales county riverside that monarch butterflies commonly feed on? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Front Door Vine in Alabama March 02, 2013 I live in Birmingham, AL in a large-scale, white brick, French-style home. I would like to have a vine over my front door. I don't want an invasive vine (seed pods that create new vines or attaches t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Passionflower Vine for Boulder March 02, 2013 I would love to have a passionflower vine growing up an arbor. I have read comments online that indicate: 1. I can grow some types of passionflowers in Colorado. 2. The plants can become very invasiv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Vine to cover concrete retaining wall in Georgetown TX March 02, 2013 I have an unsightly concrete retaining wall and culvert covers that require fast coverage from a vine of some sort. The plant must be deer resistant and drought tolerant. The retaining wall and culv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine for pergola in Belton TX February 06, 2013 Hello, I would like to know what vine would be best to cover a rather large pergola. It will be in full sun in caliche soil. :( The area has access to a water hose and I would like to have something... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for vineyard from Round Rock, TX February 04, 2013 I will be planting a vineyard in the Hill Country next spring. I am looking to maintain low-growing understory plants across the entire vineyard to maintain soil health, choosing plants that the leaf... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine with large leaves and blue-black berries January 15, 2013 I visited a creek with a limestone seep spring that supplies it. Around the creek is growing some kind plant that has leaves that are very similar to a briar, or snailseed. However, the leaves of the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with crossvine from Semmes AL January 06, 2013 I have a 3 year old cross vine (tangerine beauty) and the leaves have started turning black and falling off the plant. I have two plants growing on the same pergola (opposite ends) and the second plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine with hair-like prickles January 04, 2013 Trying to find out what kind of vine I ran into yesterday while climbing a deer stand. While pushing limbs and vines down from around me, I noticed hair-like thorns stuck in my sleeves and hands. This... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mexican species Orbexilum melanocarpum. January 04, 2013 This is not a question; just a note to supplement a previous MSP post answering a query about a source for Orbexilum. The "mountain pea" that the original questioner was asking about is the e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for complete shade in California December 21, 2012 I'm looking for a vine to put over my back door which is in complete shade. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lonicera sempervirens not harmful to dogs from Naperville IL December 16, 2012 Is the trumpet honeysuckle (lonicera sempervirens) harmful to dogs if eaten? I have been told in the past that the common trumpet vine is harmful, but this appears to be different. Thank you!! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants under Oak Trees in Austin TX December 10, 2012 Half of my small yard is in the shade of one big live oak and one kumquat. Nothing I plant grows in this shade. The other half of my yard gets sunlight. It is planted with Jasmine grass which grows w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Invasive mandevilla from Chula Vista CA December 10, 2012 How can I rid my yard of mandevilla that has invaded from my neighbor's yard? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Tournefortia volubilis December 07, 2012 I am a State Park Host at Estero Llano Grande SP in Weslaco, TX and am looking for information on the Tournefortia volubilis, Googly-eyed vine. I would like to know if there is a best method for propa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of a vine in El Paso, Texas November 23, 2012 I live in Del Rio Texas - Zone 8/9 and I have a vine which can't be identified. It looks like a morning glory white flower with crimson throat, but the leaf pattern is like a 5-7 fingered hand with d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of milkweed vine with smooth seedpod November 23, 2012 I believe the vine I am curious about may be Matelea reticulata. However, most of the pictures I have seen of that vine show bumps on the exterior of the seed pod, and the pod I have is green and smo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eliminating unwanted vine on arbor in San Francisco November 20, 2012 There is a vine growing on our arbor, it has sickle-shaped pods and is crushing the arbor, how do we get rid of it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Re-landscaping in Stephenville, TX. November 17, 2012 I prefer native plants. We are re-landsacaping, so I need grass, ground cover, vines and flowers to plant in our back yard. We have many trees and the whole yard is shady. A small area might be con... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vines free from cutter ants from Caldwell TX November 14, 2012 What are some climbing vines cutter ants won't eat View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant with dark black/purple berries in a cluster November 06, 2012 Today at our local dog park we noticed a bush/vine that's been growing up the fence is producing berries. It didn't flower at all. The berries look to have started out green and now are changing t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Chlorosis in Texas Wisteria from Blanco TX November 05, 2012 Just noticed a Texas Wisteria I bought last month and it is already looking chlorotic. Mixed compost in w/the dirt it is planted in but I don't think that will be enough. Is Blanco soil too alkaline?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of vine with green flowers November 03, 2012 What is this trailing plant with half inch green flowers with gold metallic centers? Looks like a milkweed plant or gourd plant of some kind. I found it off Hamilton Pool road. West of Austin TX View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vines for an arbor November 02, 2012 We're building an arbor in a 9 1/2 x 12-ft area on the south side of an urban lot. It's bordered by two-story buildings on the south and west and has a tall,sparsely leaved pecan tree on its northea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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