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 | |
| Germinating Penstemon tenuis, Monarda citriodora and Machaeranthera tanacetifolia Seed June 03, 2013 I am a graduate student at Texas Tech (UT Austin alumni), studying horticulture. I will be researching several wildflowers found in west Texas including Penstemon tenuis, Monarda citriodora, and Macha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflowers for September wedding from Licking MO June 02, 2013 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I am getting married this September in Licking Missouri back in the woods on my dads land. I would like to have wildflowers for the bouquets and reception decor. Can I get some... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| New York City Native Perennials for a Long Growing Season May 31, 2013 Which native New York City perennials would be best for the longest growing season? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Creating a wildflower meadow May 18, 2013 I have an area 1-6 acres worth that is currently grass that I would like to overseed with wildflower seed. The local native plant nursery says that would be a waste. I don't really want to kill gra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Illegal to pick roadside wildflowers from Vilonia AR May 11, 2013 Is it illegal to pick roadside wildflowers in Arkansas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Annual Plant Substitute for Impatiens May 11, 2013 What can be used as an annual flowering plant to substitute for the diseased impatiens? Is Vinca one you would suggest? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Springbeauty in New Jersey and Dog Allergies May 11, 2013 Is Claytonia virginica in New Jersey and could my dog be allergic to it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plants for a garden in Panama City, FL May 10, 2013 I live in zone 9 in Florida. We are looking for plants which will be attractive all year long for the front of our house's landscaping which faces north. I need a specimen bush which doesn't get ov... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can bluebonnets be made into jelly from Ennis TX May 07, 2013 Are Texas bluebonnet flowers okay for human consumption? I have seen recipes for wild violet jelly,so was wondering about making bluebonnet jelly from the bluebonnet blossoms if they are not poisonous... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Spreading bluebonnets in pasture from Ledbetter TX April 29, 2013 I've found a small patch of bluebonnets in my back pasture in Ledbetter, tx. What is the best method of encouraging their spread across the pasture? I've heard that one can pull up the plants and ... 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 |  | |
| Dicentra Late in Emerging in the Spring April 29, 2013 I have had a bleeding heart plant that has come up for over 50 years. This year it did not come up. Is there anything I can do? Is there a chance that it will come up next year or should I assume that... 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 |  | |
| Wildflowers for October wedding from Rockford AL April 26, 2013 Want to plant wildflowers that will bloom in early October in central Alabama for a wedding. Can you give me any suggestions ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for seeds of Mexican primrose from Dallas April 25, 2013 Can I purchase Mexican Evening Primrose seeds now for planting in the fall or do I need to wait for the fresh crop of seeds that will be gathered from this spring flowering. How can I be assured the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Souce for Houstonia caerulea in Massachusetts April 25, 2013 I am looking for bluet (Houstonia caerulea or H. serpyllifolia). I can't find them anywhere. The two sites listed under possible distributors under H. caerulea have not gotten back to me. I read that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Edible Plants of Pennsylvania Books April 25, 2013 What is the best book that you know of for finding wild plant edibles in Pennsylvania? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Origins of the Name For Blackfoot Daisies April 20, 2013 Can you tell me why blackfoot daisies are named “blackfoot”? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer Resistant, Fast Growing Groundcover Suggestions for Georgia April 20, 2013 Our driveway is 1/4 mile in length and is steep on both sides (one side up one side down). It currently has grass that our contractor planted using seed when we built our house. We are unable to cut t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Horse pasture seeds from Pawling NY April 19, 2013 We are getting ready to seed an area to be used as horse pasture some time in the future. What seed mix should we use to create an organic horse pasture in Pawling, NY. Ideally there would be some wil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mutation in bluebonnets from Elgin TX April 16, 2013 What causes bluebonnets to mutate..grow as if three or four are combined into one flower on one very flat, wide stem. I have these in my yard; they are beautiful! I have taken several pictures. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| White evening primrose from Baton Rouge LA April 16, 2013 My husband and I have a disagreement about Mexican Primroses. I believe I have seen patches of them which are pure white. He believes they must be faded pink ones. Do white ones occasionally grow? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Resources for a green roof project from Wayne PA April 14, 2013 Hello! I am researching a project to create a native wildflower/ turf mix for a green roof. I would ideally like to grow it as a sod mat, and then install it in rolls. I am currently working as an i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lupinus perennis Poisonous to Dogs? April 14, 2013 I have heard that some lupine varieties are quite poisonous to dogs, others are not. Do you know if it's safe for my dogs if I plant and encourage Lupinus perennis in my NH meadow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Few bluebonnets on MoPac in Austin March 30, 2013 The grass fields along Mopac from Lake Lady Bird to Southwest Parkway usually have a grand display of bluebonnets. This year I do not see any color at all. Can you help me understand what is happening... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Schedule for planting perennial wildflowers from Asheville NC March 22, 2013 When is the best time to plant perennial wildflowers? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Milkweed Seedlings Source for Austin, Texas March 18, 2013 Where can I find seedlings or four inch pots of common milkweed? I have a backyard garden that is mostly filtered sunlight and space for them. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Starting Antelope Horn Milkweed Seeds March 08, 2013 I recently found a sealed plastic bag containing milkweed seeds in a cabinet drawer that I had gathered more than a year ago, (maybe two years ago). These are the "antelope horn" milkweed I think it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Landscaping a Fence with Native Plants for Central Texas March 08, 2013 I'm looking to landscape my fence that I've lined with woven bamboo. The area gets the hot afternoon sun in summer and is pretty shady in winter. The plants need to be drought and heat tolerant. I'... 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 |  | |
| Wildflower blooming in Austin in mid-March from Laceys Spring AL February 27, 2013 Hi I will be at and around the center the weekend of March 9 & 10 to exhibit in the Art and Artisan's Festival and plan to stay a few extra days to "wildflower" either before or after. What is you... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflower Garden for a June wedding in Pepper Pike OH February 24, 2013 Greetings, We have a grand idea to plant a wildflower garden for an outdoor wedding in June. Located in Pepper Pike, Ohio at the home of the groom. They have a large property and we wondered what woul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for dotted blue-eyed grass from Saluda SC February 23, 2013 I lived in Texas for several years and now live on acreage in South Carolina. I have heard that bluebonnets don't grow well in South Carolina. However, there is a place by the road near our house t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Will native plants become invasive from Grapevine TX February 23, 2013 Main Question - I want to convert my front and back yards into a native plant sanctuary but worry about if these plants growing out of control/invasive and if neighbors will complain about these "wee... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Buying bluebonnet plants for project in Amarillo TX February 10, 2013 Is there anywhere I can buy some bluebonnet plants by March 1, 2013 for a school project? We are growing some, but they are just up. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bluebonnet trip planning from Searcy AR February 10, 2013 We are planning a Spring Bluebonnet trip to east, central and south Texas. Is there an average timetable for Blubonnet blooming in the areas of San Antonio, Hill Country, Austin and east, and Northea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Blooming time for bluebonnets in Fredericksburg, TX January 30, 2013 Any idea of when the Bluebonnets are expected to be in bloom I Fredericksburg TX, this year? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Forecast for the 2103 bluebonnet season from West Columbia TX January 30, 2013 What is your current forecast for the 2013 TX bluebonnet season? What would be the best time for people coming from out of state to come to TX to see them? What areas are likely to have the best dis... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Where can white prickly poppy be viewed en mass from Baton Rouge LA? January 16, 2013 Does the center feature the native White Prickly Poppy? When is prime blooming season? Can you give me some specific locations in the area where the plant can be seen en mass and photographed? Thank... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| School Rain Garden in Iowa January 08, 2013 Could you recommend plants for a rain garden to be installed on a middle school campus in the Council Bluffs Iowa area???? Many thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflower garden with Castilleja indivisa (Indian paintbrush) January 08, 2013 I want to start a wildflower garden in my front/backyard. Specifically, I would like to include the indian paintbrush. What is the best way to go about this? Straight in the ground, containers, etc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Texas natives that attract butterflies but not deer December 13, 2012 I'd like to have some plants in my garden that are butterfly attractors, but that whitetail deer won't like. I can find lists of butterfly plants, and lists of deer-resistant plants -- is there a li... 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 | ||
| Texas wildflower guide with every flower listed November 09, 2012 Is there a Texas wildflower guide that contains every single flower that grows in the state? I have a few flowers on my land I haven't been able to identify because they aren't in the guide I have. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lupines annual or perennial in Zone 4b from Austin November 08, 2012 Are lupines treated as perennials or annuals in Zone 4b (Northeast) if they are planted in the ground? Will other native species of lupines grow in a region they are not native to? Any recommendations... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Arizona centaury near Lost Maples from Austin November 05, 2012 I found a clump of Arizona centaury growing/blooming beside a road near Lost Maples State Nat. Area in the Texas hill country last week. Centaurium calycosum is the scientific name. I have 2 questio... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of sunflower November 02, 2012 I am not able to find how to post a picture to help you identify a plant on our campus. I believe the plant I am trying to identify is a rough sunflower. (Helianthus hirsutus) We have zexmenia as ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seeds of Meremia dissecta from Austin September 30, 2012 I have a large quantity of seeds of Merremia dissecta that I acquired from plants growing in the parking lot of the San Antonio Museum of Art. (Hmmm… I wonder if it's called alamo vine because of som... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for hill with erosion in San Carlos, CA September 22, 2012 What wildflowers would you suggest for our hills that have erosion, low ground cover in San Carlos, California? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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