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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| Can two species of Muhlenbergia be cross-pollinated from Portal AZ July 17, 2012 Will Muhlenbergia lindheimeri (Big Muhly) cross-pollinate with Muhlenbergia porteri (Bush Muhly)? I am attempting to restore the grasslands on my private property to a pre-1900 state. Bush Muhly was a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Rooting cuttings in water from Rifle CO July 11, 2012 Found russian sage lavender stems from cutting. Need to find out if I can root them in water? I also have found rose cutting; wondering if I can put them in water to root? I have a western chokecher... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Petunias pollinated by clematis from Logansport IN July 11, 2012 Can petunias be pollinated by clematis? I have 2 petunias that have split blooms and look like a small clematis flower. They are growing close to a jackamani clematis. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting Texas Mountain Laurel seeds in Horse Shoe Bay,TX July 09, 2012 I have harvested Texas Mountain Laurel pods and extracted the seeds from the pods. The seeds are characteristic red/orange/maroon. When is the best time and best method to introduce seeds into pots? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lookink for bulbs of German Blue Bells in Weatherford, TX. July 09, 2012 I am searching for a plant that is called "German Blue Bells". They are tubular as seed. Like tiny iris only bands around the tubular. The flower looks like a morning glory with an off set bloom.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Kinnikinnick for a green roof July 04, 2012 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I live just north of Seattle and want to build a green roof (outdoor kitchen) I'm concerned about the weight of the soil (saturated), drainage etc. am building from scratch and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is slow growth of young Tx mountain laurel normal? July 02, 2012 My Texas mountain laurel is 2 or 3 years old and is about 4 feet tall. It seems quite healthy but has grown very little, if any, and has never bloomed. Is this normal? Although I don't want it to gro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating plant cuttings in cut potato from Columbia MO June 26, 2012 Hello. I belong to a garden group and one of the members posted a "tip" she found in an early 2000 garden magazine. I wanted to see if there was any truth to the tip? Basically the tip was to use... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Making Ruellia nudiflora thicker in pot from Tucson AZ June 25, 2012 Can Ruellia Nudiflora be propagated in the same pot as the parent plant? Can it be cut back to stimulate a denser plant? I have plants in several pots and would like to 'thicken' the plant. Tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of Asclepias tuberosa June 18, 2012 Re: Asclepias tuberosa, "butterfly weed" bush -- I have a bed in a mix of Shoal Creek well-drained caliche, soil, and some enrichment of mulch that gets almost full sun and low water. After 4 yrs a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Gathering seeds of Indian Blanket from Duncanville TX June 09, 2012 We have a field full of Indian Blanket that are blooming now and would like to share some seeds with our friends! Where is the seed on them and I take it we wait till they are done blooming to get the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source of Berlandiera pumila seeds from Coral Gables FL June 07, 2012 Where can I buy plants or seeds of Berlandiera pumila? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propogating snowbells from Elmendorf TX June 06, 2012 Is it possible to propagate Styrax platanifolius and Halesia diptera from cuttings? If yes, what is the process? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Digging wild buttercup from roadside in Mechanicsville MD May 28, 2012 Mr. Smarty Plants, is it illegal to dig out wild buttercup in Maryland? I see them along the dirt road or just in the ditch. Since buttercup considered weed, I'm wondering what the law say about this... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Adding Wildflowers to Corpus Christi May 20, 2012 I have a dry sandy yard, full sun in Corpus Christi with lot's of stickers mostly, want to transform to wildflowers. When should I plant, how should I prepare soil, should I dig out stickers? Which w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pollinator to Arkansas yucca from Arlington TX May 15, 2012 Thank you Barbara for your answer. However, my Arkansas yuccas bloom every year, but do not set seed. I am asking for the name of the moth that pollinates them, or other native plants that serve as ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pollinating moth of Arkansas Yucca from Arlington TX May 15, 2012 What is the pollinating moth of the Arkansas yucca. I have Desert willows which is the larval host for white-winged moth, but the yuccas are still not seeding. What other larval hosts plants can I p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Making cuttings from purple sage in Austin, TX. May 15, 2012 I would like to plant additional purple sage for landscaping. May I do this with cuttings from an existing adult plant? If so, how and when would be the best method? I live in Lago Vista, TX View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How to propagate Clematis texensis in Austin, TX? May 14, 2012 How do I propagate a Clematis texensis Buckl. Scarlet leatherflower from the seed pod? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Stump sprouting of Oak trees in the wildfire area in Bastrop, TX. May 13, 2012 We live in Bastrop, Texas, in the wildfire area. We lost all of our trees. The oak trees have "suckers" growing from the base of the burned tree that has been cut down. They look like little bushe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need care instructions for Cardiosperma halicacabum in Little Rock, AR> May 11, 2012 I'd like to find out how to cultivate & care for a balloon vine/heart seed vine/love in a puff vine which I found growing wild in my yard (in Little Rock, Arkansas). There seems to be very little in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Restoring the woods in Central Austin. May 08, 2012 I live in Austin, south central between Red Bud trail close to the low water bridge and Bee Caves road. My question: I want to make the wooded sections of my yard attractive. They have filtered sun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Germination of Sophora seeds, and Dodder identification in Kingsland, TX. May 02, 2012 Our Mt. Laurel has just produced seeds. Can those be scarified and planted now or do they have to dry out. Also what is the stringy orange substance that gets on bluebonnets and other wildflowers ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Seed source for Carex texensis from Louisville KY May 02, 2012 Your reply to my question re a grass for my Kentucky home with cistern only water available was much appreciated, Carex texensis was recommended. I am unable to find this product for sale other than ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Male and female possumhaws for berries from Georgetown TX April 23, 2012 Do I need to plant two ilex decidua (possumhaws), a male and female to have red berries on the tree in the winter? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dividing non-native daffodils from Austin April 15, 2012 The foliage on my daffodils is lush and healthy, but I have no blooms. Should I divide them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native lilacs for Salt Lake City, UT April 15, 2012 Is the weather in Salt Lake City UT good enough to plant a lilac bush root? If not, how long should I wait? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing non-native lettuce under artificial light from Washington NY April 15, 2012 Which artificial light( UV LIGHT, FLUORESCENT LIGHT AND INCANDESCENT LIGHT) makes a lettuce plant grow the fastest over a time period of 3 weeks and what would be your variables( independent, dependen... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowers for Fall in Bosque County from Valley Mills TX April 06, 2012 What Wildflowers could we plant in Bosque County area to bloom in the Fall? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting and germination of Pride of Barbados in Adkins, TX April 02, 2012 What is the root system like of the Pride of Barbados? I have a lot of new plants coming up in my beds from seeds. Can these be transplanted to a new location easily without damaging the plants? If... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of non-native Selenicereus Antonyanus from Warwick RI March 24, 2012 I just purchased a Selenicereus Anthonyanus, Rick Rack Cactus unrooted. I have searched on the web of the proper way to root the plant and have had no luck except it says easy rooting but not how to r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling Passionflora Incarnata propagation March 20, 2012 Would a cinderblock raised bed, 8 inches in height, be sufficient to contain the roots of passiflora incarnata and keep them from traveling to places where I don't want the vine? Are the roots deepe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant cloning or genetic engineering February 23, 2012 Can you take one genome (strain) and take a clean cut and put onto another plant another strain? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can trees survive if trunks are buried under 3-5 ft of soil? January 27, 2012 We have two cedar elms and a mesquite that I protected from backfill as our Texas Hill Country lot was leveled in preparation for building a house. The bulkheads are now holding back 3' to 5' of ma... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing Drought-Stricken Cedars January 16, 2012 Hello, I live in Williamson County on a couple acres. We have several dead cedars as a result of drought; we're reluctant to cut them down because many of them provide a friendly barrier between us... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Speeding up growth of Hesperaloe parviflora (red yucca) January 12, 2012 I have germinated Hesperaloe parviflora, Red Yucca, for our Caddo Native plant sale. I have kept in the cool greenhouse for 2 months and they are about 2 inches. A friend put one outside and they froz... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| native plants for landscaping in Honolulu January 08, 2012 Hi, wildflower.org has been a great help for me in learning about different plants, their Latin names and characteristics. I was looking for a list of plants (trees, shrubs, ground covers, perennials... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can I Grow Beautyberry December 30, 2011 Will try to be brief. Beautyberry sprouted leaves in vase of branches in water. It's NYC beginning of winter. Can I plant it outside? If not will it grow in a pot inside? Thanks. Happy New Ye... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source of dollarweed for shady lawn in Hillsboro TX December 19, 2011 I live in Hillsboro,Tx - Where can I get Dollar Weed for my shady lawn? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why is non-native peach tree not going dormant in Owensville IN December 19, 2011 I have a peach tree I grew from a peach pit. It is about 2 years old. I planted the tree in my yard this summer. It is now about 3' tall. My problem is it is not going dormant. We have had several fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Germinating Mexican Persimmon seeds in Austin, TX. November 15, 2011 I'm planning to germinate Mexican Persimmon seeds, and plant them this spring. I want a female for fruit. Is there any way to encourage a plant to be female, and if not, is there any way you can iden... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mexican Sycamore trees grown from seed November 15, 2011 If someone is selling an alleged Mexican Sycamore grown from a seed harvested from a mature tree growing in Austin, is it likely to be a TRUE Mexican Sycamore -- or has it most likely been pollinated ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating a Magnolia tree from a twig cutting in New Hampshire. November 02, 2011 I have a twig cutting from a rare magnolia tree I found on a farm in central New Hampshire. The tree seems to be at least one hundred years old. It was in full bloom in late August and I was told by t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| transplanting Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) October 25, 2011 Behind our house is a huge grotto with a spring flowing through it that runs into a creek. Because of the constant flow of water, there are many of the Maidenhair Ferns (Adiantum capillus-veneris). I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Baby mountain laurels are ready to move, in Lockhart Texas October 19, 2011 I want to harvest the baby mountain laurel plants which are growing under a large bush. What height would be best for the young plants survival? Please recommend a soil mixture for the pots. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Golden groundsel plants or seeds for Bulverde TX October 02, 2011 Where can I find golden groundsel, plants or seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eliminating black locust volunteers in Rockville MD September 27, 2011 I am a landscape designer whose client has a very large, mature black locust in her front yard. Not surprisingly, she also has multitudes of black locust volunteers popping up all over her yard. The... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant called beargrass from Granbury, TX September 24, 2011 I am not a native Texan. We have a clump of what my husband (from Big Spring) calls "Bear Grass." It is over to the side of our yard and we have always enjoyed it (moved here in 1982). It blooms ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seed planting of Crossvine from Orlando FL September 12, 2011 Seed planting of Bignonia capreolata - Tangerine Beauty. I have seed pods. Do I plant how deep and should I put in a plastic bag with a wet papertowel in the refrigerator and let it sprout? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of Crossvine from San Antonio September 03, 2011 I have a new Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) that has a single seedpod so far. What is the best way to plant it for the best chances for success? It is still green and a very hot August. Do I plant ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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