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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| Geographic determination of flower colors August 30, 2009 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I'd like to find out if there are any correlation between geographic location and the statistic of flower(native) colors. Here in the Rockies, there seems to be a lot more ye... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Classes for a nature lover in Frisco TX August 16, 2009 I have a question which I don't think is available in this website. I love plants & flowers,trees etc- just like you, I've only studied till my higher secondary school; now would love to study as we... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Question about booklet, Native and Adapted Landscape Plants June 24, 2009 In the booklet"Native and Adapted Landscape Plants for Central Texas", the light requirements for some plants are written in a way that I do not understand. Is Sun/Part Shade different from Part Sha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What caused purple heartwood in my Tuliptree? June 15, 2009 My Tulip tree was hit by lightning and all bark from the base of the tree up to 50 feet was blown off. The tree also sustained a significant crack through the trunk. When the tree was cut down, we... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rotten Oranges June 03, 2009 Do oranges rot if they are not taken off the tree when ripe? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Do plants grow better under artificial or natural light? May 25, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, So do plants grow better under artificial lights, or sunlight???? and if so what happens when they are growing? Which seedling sprouts first??? What happens as they grow? I a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for soils with extreme pH values May 24, 2009 I am doing a project on acid and alkaline on the ph scale but all I can find is a range of 5.0 to 8.0. Do they have plants in the range of 8.0 to 14.0 or 1.0 to 5.0? If not, why is that? If so, what a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Does music affect growth of necklace pod plants? May 15, 2009 Does music affect the growth of the necklace pod plants? this is for a science project! Please help! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why will my Butternut trees not produce nuts in Tennessee? May 06, 2009 I have 2 butternut trees planted about 20 ft from each other. I see the long blossoms on each tree but I have not gotten any nuts from either tree. I do not know if I have a male and female or if th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Which plants grow well together April 17, 2009 Please tell me what plants grow best together and which plants do not grow very good together View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Appearance of plants April 14, 2009 What is plants appearance? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ways to group plants April 14, 2009 Are deciduous plants and leaves and roots ways to group plants? I need the answer now; tell me the answer if some are wrong? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why do some flowers open during the day and close at night? April 08, 2009 My son is doing a science fair project on the California Poppies. We are trying to find the definitive answer on why the flowers open during the day and close at night. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will molasses harm beneficial organisms in my garden? April 06, 2009 If I use molasses in the garden, I am hoping this will NOT kill the beneficial nematodes and my earth worms, or other good bugs such as lady bugs? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grafting stone fruit April 02, 2009 Do you know of anyone grafting the new low chill stone fruit trees to the Mexican plum to minimize cotton rot? Or would it even work? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can plants in the same genus cross-pollinate? March 27, 2009 Can you cross-pollinate plants from the same genus? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Do plants grow faster in natural or artificial light? March 13, 2009 Do you think plants will grow faster in natural light or artificial light or a combination of both? And why do you think that. and need your answer for my biology project please and thank you for your... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Devilsclub related to Gunnera? March 09, 2009 Is Devil's Club related to Gunnera? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Esperanza a deciduous or an evergreen plant? March 08, 2009 I've read that Esperanza/Tecoma Stans is an evergreen. I planted one last year that seemed very healthy, but it dropped its leaves in late fall and looks (at least) dormant now. Will it come back o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Determining male/female wax myrtles March 06, 2009 We are planning to use Wax Myrtle as a screen plant, and want to be sure that we are successful in having berries for the birds. We have read that berries are only on the female plants. When we aske... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Clover in grass in Marysville WA March 05, 2009 I noticed clover growing in my grass and know that this is a sign of poor nitrogen in my soil. I would like to know of some native plants / shrubs that I could put near my house in Washington that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants addicted to caffeine February 28, 2009 Im doing a science project on if plants can get addicted to caffeine, but coffee in general and i was wondering what materials you need to figure that out. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What do cedars do to cause cedar fever? February 20, 2009 What do the native cedars in Fate Tx do in the winter that causes allergies to get really bad that they have named it cedar fever View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is more important for plant growth; sunlight, water, soil or what? February 20, 2009 What is more important for plant growth generally. Sunlight, water, good soil what ? please write back I need an answer I am 13 doing a science project. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants named for Thomas Drummond February 09, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Please send list of plants discovered and named for Thomas Drummond. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will lead accumulate in the flower nectar of plants used for phytoremediation January 16, 2009 I'm attempting to phytoremediate lead in my garden with mustard and/or sunflowers. I also keep bees. I understand that lead is sequestered in roots and stalks. Would the nectar also be contaminate... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seed for Kosteletzkya virginica, salt marsh mallow January 13, 2009 I have a nursery in North Carolina. We are looking for a reliable seed source for kosteletzkya virginica salt marsh mallow. We are www.campbellfamilynursery.com View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Strange form of Dasylirion sp. (sotol) December 27, 2008 Mr. Smarty: I have a client with a huge (2 ft. diameter trunk), multi-headed dasylirion. On one or more of the heads, the leaves arch inward instead of outward. Someone said this is because of an inju... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is there a flower that blooms only once in seven years? December 17, 2008 Just wanted to know if there exists a flower that blooms only once in seven years? Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Texas native plants that absorb air-borne pollutants December 15, 2008 hello mr. and mrs. smarty, I'm looking for native Texas plants that absorb pollutants and trap air-borne particulates. I found a list (below), but don't think they're native. Could you give me ad... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What to do about grass dying under pin oaks in Iowa December 10, 2008 We have 2 pin oaks about 15 years old in our front yard. The grass has started dying out under and around them. What can we do? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Every plant in Texas December 01, 2008 Do you know every plant in Texas? Alexis View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will a Venus flytrap bite? December 01, 2008 Will a venus flytrap bite a person? Taylor View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can users sort plant lists in the Plant Database? November 17, 2008 Although your database searches are very useful, I would like to take it further, for example by sorting the "Central Texas Recommended" list on various columns, as you might do in a spreadsheet. D... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| USDA Plant Hardiness Zone of Worcester, Massachusetts November 11, 2008 What zone is Worcester, Massachusetts? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How many plant species are in Maryland October 31, 2008 About how many plant species are there in Maryland? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Guide for plants for landscaping in Central Texas October 22, 2008 I am new to Texas and want nothing but native plants. What is the best book or guide so i can see the plants, flowers, shrubs and trees and know best what part of the yard to plant them in? I live i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| North American plant that inhibits mold and mildew growth October 06, 2008 Hi! There, I just wanted to know is there a north American plant that inhibits or eradicates mold and mildew growth, in the home. Also do they make a CFL (the new energy efficient spiral) type light b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Night-flowering plant that blooms every five years September 20, 2008 What plant flowers every five years at night? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Simple flowers vs. compound flowers August 23, 2008 Please, give the characteristics of a "simple flower" as distinct from a compound flower which has rays and "disk flowers". What type of flower is the flower of a chive,which seems to be composed... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Least common flower color June 14, 2008 What is the least common flower color in the world? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Gardening books for Austin and Central Texas June 09, 2008 Hi, I'm looking for a book for my wife. She is a beginning gardener here in Austin. Do you know of an ideal book or two that covers vegetable gardening and gardening in general in Austin/Central Tex... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellowing of palm tree leaves May 14, 2008 I want to know about palm trees. The leaves are turning yellow. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pure white primroses (Oenothera speciosa) May 13, 2008 Hello MS. Smarty Plants! I have wildflowers instead of grass in my backyard (mow once a year and it's spectacularly beautiful) and I noticed some pure white primroses (the rest are all pink or wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants as accumulators of heavy metals in Texas March 29, 2008 I would like to know of any native plants that could be used as hyperaccumulaters of heavy metals in Texas. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native subarctic plants March 26, 2008 I'm doing a project on subarctic things and I have to have subarctic plants in it. I need to know a few and about them. Can you help? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Endemic plants for the Edwards Plateau March 23, 2008 Thanks so much for the info. it will be very helpful with the boys and we really stress "Leave No Trace Behind". The pictures will be enough. Thanks again!! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Increase in plant cell size when nuclei take on water March 07, 2008 Do plant cells increase in size when vacuoles or nuclei take on water? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Official definition of native plants March 06, 2008 Does the Wildflower center have an official definition of "native" plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blooms as far as the eye can see March 06, 2008 Why are some wildflowers capable of putting on spectacular sweeps of blooms "for as far as the eye can see" such as Indian paintbrush at Vail Pass in Colorado, or bluebonnets in the Texas hill count... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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