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 | |
| Is crape myrtle deer resistant June 22, 2008 Is Crape Myrtle deer resistant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Ruellia deer resistant June 19, 2008 Is Ruellia deer resistant? I have white Ruellia, 18 -20 inches tall. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant groundcover under pine trees June 07, 2008 what kind of ground covering can be planted under pine trees (acid soil) that the deer will not eat and will not attract bees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant native plants for Michigan June 06, 2008 I am looking for a deer-resistant ground cover for a mid-to-northern Michigan (lower peninsula), which can grow in completely sandy soil. Thanks for any advice. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Protection of redwoods from deer rutting June 04, 2008 We have a mountain home that we visit every other weekend. Are there any methods to protect redwoods from deer rutting that we can put in place since we are not there enough to spray repellent every f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant plants for steep hillside erosion control June 03, 2008 Hello, I am looking for advice on native plants to control erosion on a steep hillside in the western cross timbers. This is a shady area under post oaks and cedar elms, in shallow sandy soil mixed w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for deer June 01, 2008 I live on 5 acres near Brenham and want to plant FOR the deer, without using non-natives. I leave unmowed islands of Buffalo grass, little bluestem and many native forbs. I know they are using it for ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) deer resistant May 13, 2008 I visited a building in Austin, Texas today that had Star Jasmine out front. The man I was visiting said it is also called Confederate Jasmine. It smelled divine! I am wondering if it is deer resis... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about Maui Red Starflower April 29, 2008 I can't find any information on MAUI RED STARFLOWER. I found some in Houston Texas & the card says sun, blooms spring to frost, showy bloom, good in clusters. MY QUESTION was to find out if it is a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast-growing, deer resistant native plants for Kerrville, TX April 28, 2008 I'm looking for a plant that will spread quickly and thickly on a very steep slope. The area to be covered is 60'long x 5'high and is crumbly limestone with full sun and very dry. We have a large... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recommendation for variety of St. Johnswort (Hypericum spp.) April 14, 2008 Hi. Can you please recommend a variety of St. Johnswort for my yard in the Texas Hill Country? The planting bed is on a southern side of the house, and is shielded from afternoon sun by a tree. The ar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistance of non-native Loropetalum April 01, 2008 I love Loropetalum (Plum Delight). Is it Deer Resistant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant native plants for privacy fence in Bandera, TX March 24, 2008 I am trying to have a living privacy fence of some type of evergreen shrubs that would grow about 6ft tall and that would be deer resistant. It would be good if didn't need a lot of maintenance. Do y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant native plants for Idaho March 22, 2008 I live in Pocatello, Idaho. Everything we plant the deer eat. Are there trees, bushes, flowers that they won't eat? Is there any barriers or natural repugnant fragrances that will deter the deer f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native, deer-resistant evergreen trees for Rhode Island March 17, 2008 What deer proof evergreens can I plant in RI that may make nice xmas trees in a few years? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native, deer-resistant flowering plants attractive to bees February 03, 2008 I am adding several beehives to our property this spring. I would also like to add more native, flowering, deer-resistant plants that bees love as well. Any recommendations? I live in SW Austin, qui... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bur oak bark damage done by deer February 03, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: Just noticed that deer have been rubbing the bark on good sized, but young, bur oaks planted last spring. Mostly in one spot on one side of the trunk. Will this kill the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants that are deer resistant for high desert climate in Utah January 23, 2008 We are building in a high desert climate in Dammeron Valley, Utah. We want plants that are both deer resistant and require little watering. Can you advise which plants (shrubs, flowers, cacti) that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer and rabbit resistant alpine plants for New Mexico December 21, 2007 What plants, including wildflowers, would you recommend for a somewhat windy, southeast exposure with rocky soil at 9150ft in Angel Fire, New Mexico, that are deer, rabbit, and chipmonk resistant? (I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant ground covers November 29, 2007 Are there any deer resistant ground covers? Our asiatic jasmine has been eaten up by the deer. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for evergreen deer proof plants for full sun October 17, 2007 Which plants would be DEER PROOF, will be with almost full sun and will not die completely during winter? besides some plastic ones =) It doesn't matter the size, flowers or not. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Protecting guavas from deer August 06, 2007 I have large guavas that the deer love to tear up rubbing their new antlers. When do I need to re-cover the plants with anti-deer nets to be sure to get ahead of them? One night too late and they ar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Keeping deer and rabbits out of plants June 23, 2007 Are there plants that are both deer- and rabbit-resistant? Something is eating the plants that the deer seem to leave alone--snipping off the flowers at the top of the stems (ie, zinnias and plumbago... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control for slugs and snails in Arisaema triphyllum June 06, 2007 I had a beautiful Jack In The Pulpit growing and something has eaten it. What can I do to help prevent that next year? I live in Northwestern PA. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer-proof native plants May 14, 2007 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: Can you recommend some Deer-proof native plants including shrubs and flowering plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant native plants for Oregon May 06, 2007 I have 21 acres of timber property in Oregon. We are converting part of that property to residential and I would like to plant wild flowers. I want to make sure I only plants native to Oregon and wo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant, sun tolerant plants for landscaping April 19, 2007 I live in Driftwood and am looking for flowering, deer-resistant plants for the northern side of my house; however the house turn just enough to the west that the flowerbed receives about 3 hours of a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lupines for attracting deer in South Carolina April 06, 2007 I live in SC and was watching a TV show called "Making it Grow" and they did a segment on Lupine. The lady on the show said that the plant attracted whitetail deer and I was wondering if that was t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistance of Calylophus berlandieri March 25, 2007 Is Calylophus drummondii deer resistant? We have a lot of mule deer in se Arizona? Thanks in advance for your advice. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflowers for deer resistance, low sun, granite gravel soil March 21, 2007 We live on Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill country. What would you suggest for a flowerbed next to the house: north exposure, deer resistant, blooming, shaded by a live oak, granite gravel soil. Tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Determining best time to harvest deer grass seeds in California September 06, 2006 When is the best time to harvest deer grass seeds at about 4,000 feet in southern Riverside County California?? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Use of Gaura by deer as a food source March 05, 2006 I live in North Central Texas and am considering planting some Gaura plants in my backyard. However, we have a large deer population in the area. Are deer generally drawn to Gaura as a food source? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Suggestions for deer-resistant plans February 28, 2006 I live in Horseshoe Bay and there are deer everywhere. They seem to eat everything I plant. Is there anything they don't like? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant plants for campground in West Virginia February 24, 2006 We spend the summers at a campground as permanent campers. We fix up our sites to be a pleasure to spend our time smelling and see the wild life come and perch around the area. We would like to know... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant plants for South Carolina December 09, 2005 I have purchased a home in SC in an area that is overun with deer. What flowering plants for that area do deer not eat. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Safely killing Paedeeria cruddasiana Prain (sewer vine) October 27, 2005 Is there anyway to safely kill Paederia cruddasiana Prain (sewer vine)? Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Perennial plants native to northeastern Pennsylvania May 12, 2005 What perennial plants are native to northeastern Pennsylvania? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Texas cherry tomato April 24, 2005 We just bought 2 Texas cherry tomato plants at the plant sale. We have to container garden in a walled courtyard due to deer. (Would deer be attracted to the plants in a garden with herbs and high de... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses and wildflowers to attract butterflies in Blanco Co., TX February 23, 2005 Could you please recommend (native, xeriscape, deer resistant) grasses and flowers that attract butterflies that can be grown in Blanco County? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer deterrent for Texas Persimmon September 23, 2004 The deer have destroyed my Texas Persimmon by standing on their hind legs and pulling down the branches--either ripping them off entirely or twisting them. I didn't realize the persimmon fruit would... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on Deer-Resistant Plants March 22, 2004 Do you have a list of Texas plants that are deer resistant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Help! The deer are eating my landscape. March 14, 2004 Help! The deer are eating my landscape. Is there anything I can plant that they won’t eat? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |