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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| Mixed non-native sod in El Paso, TX May 19, 2010 Hello, My family and I just finished laying sod in our backyard. We thought we could save some money by buying scraps from a sod farm nearby. It never dawned on us to ask if the sod we were buying w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trying to find a plant called sheepshire May 17, 2010 Hey there Mr. Smarty Plants, just one question. As a child in east Tennessee, we picked plants called sheepshire that looked like small clover leafs and had small yellow blooms. One could chew these... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source of Calycanthus floridus in Lincolnton NC May 14, 2010 I have been trying to find a Calycanthus Floridus, I want to plant them around the house, but have had no luck. I live in Lincolnton, NC do you know of any place I can find them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a source for Dollarweed in St. Augustine FL. May 13, 2010 I need a source of Dollar Weed Seed and/or plants. The back yard has been regraded to correct direction of rain water drainage. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native lilacs for wedding bouquet in July in Salt Lake City May 07, 2010 My friend's daughter wants to have lilacs in her wedding bouquet, but she is not getting married until July 15th. I realize lilacs are spring flowers, but will there be anywhere in the U.S. that lila... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing non-native bay leaf plant from Elyria OH May 04, 2010 I was wondering if the bay leaf plant is native and how hard it is to grow? I am so tired of buying expensive bay leaf in the store and want to do it myself. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for wintergreen to make tea in Waynesboro GA April 26, 2010 I want to know where to buy a wintergreen tree to make tea from. Thanks. I live in Waynesboro,GA. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Using a stock tank as a planter for Maximilian sunflowers in Pflugerville TX April 26, 2010 I am going to re-phrase a question I asked last week, because even though I tried to be very careful, I posed it in a way subject to misinterpretation and thus did not get an answer. So here goes: I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recommendations for a slope in Margaretville, NY April 21, 2010 Mr. Smarty Plants, We really love all of your ideas on our 60 degree bank needing plants to keep the topsoil in place. The grasses you suggested are beautiful!!!! They will look incredible against the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for native plants in Margaretville NY April 19, 2010 Mr. Smarty Plants: Thank you so much for your recommendations for the Margaretville, NY!!! I am thrilled with the colors of everything you recommended, especially the beautiful grasses and the shru... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need a source for 100 lbs of Bluebonnet seeds. April 16, 2010 Where can one buy 100 lbs (yes lbs) of bluebonnet seeds? Any suggestions on where I can most economically do so? Trying to spread the love :) View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Locating Rudbeckia cultivar in San Antonio April 16, 2010 Hello, I’m searching for one-gallon plants of Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa “Viette’s Little Suzy” to purchase either from a San Antonio or area nursery or through a mail order Texas Grower. Is th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where to buy native grass seeds for Blanco County Texas April 07, 2010 Can you recommend what kind and where to buy native grass seeds to sow on land in Blanco County which has just been cleared of cedar and burned? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seed source for thistles in San Marcos TX April 07, 2010 Where can I buy thistle seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can plants bought at Plant Sale wait a while in Leander TX April 06, 2010 I would like to buy some native plants at the upcoming sale at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, but my yard is not ready to receive them. We are building a new house and anticipate being able ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for eroding hillside around garage in St. Paul MN March 28, 2010 We live in St Paul, Minnesota. Our garage was built into a shaded hole close to the bottom of a small hill. We need to find plants that can retain soil around the garage but will not have root syste... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to find out which native plants grow in your particular area March 26, 2010 I'm doing an ecology project (prairie restoration) PLEASE RESPOND A.S.A.P MY PAPER IS DUE SOON!!!! Any native plants of Kenosha, WI? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a source for Texas persimmon tree (Diospyros texana) March 23, 2010 I have looked all over for Texas persimmon trees but am having a difficult time finding any for sale. Do you know of any nurseries near Austin or Georgetown that sells them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for seeds of non-native poinsettias from British Columbia March 19, 2010 Hello, I would like to grow my own Christmas poinsettias from seed. Do you know where I may be able to purchase seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Native and Adapted Landscape Plants: an Earthwise Guide for Central Texas March 18, 2010 Do you know where I could get a copy of the publication, "Native and Adapted Landscape Plants: An Earthwise Guide for Central Texas"? I believe this was a joint effort between the City of Austin an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Red bluebonnets in the garden March 11, 2010 I bought 6 blue bonnet plants at Lowe's last fall. They survived the winter in my garden fine and they are now blooming (3/11)but they are red! Did I buy a wrong variety or is there something about... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need source of Texas Madrone seeds or seedlings in Kissimmee FL. March 05, 2010 Where can I can purchase seeds or seedlings for a Texas Madrone Tree? I appreciate your help. Thank you, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible Plant Resources for Minnesota February 25, 2010 Can you suggest some references or resources that could tell me what native species would do well in a Twin Cities region edible forest? Pretty much all deciduous with buckthorn in the understory tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification sources for Southern California February 21, 2010 I hike the trails here in Ramona a lot. I want to be able to identify the wildflowers as they bloom. They are beginning to bloom and I am afraid another year will come and go and I won't know the nam... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for sea lavender in Hampton NH February 09, 2010 Where in southeast New Hampshire or Northeast Massachusetts can I buy sea lavender, please? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Bigelow oak in Austin February 03, 2010 Hi folks! I noticed on my last visit to the Wildflower Center that you now have a shrub white oak/Bigelow oak which I think is new (maybe I was just seeing it for the first time). I absolutely love ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seeds of Pinus engelmanii for the Netherlands January 30, 2010 I am living in the Netherlands Europe, I hope that you can help me. A friend of mine has a beautiful Pinus Engelmannii and I am looking for seeds of this pine. Have you any idea where i can buy them? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source of non-native Cutweed from Burbank CA January 22, 2010 Where to find Cutweed in southern California? If not, which nursery sell cutweed? or any cutweed powder to buy? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Resource for identifying winter rosettes or seedlings January 18, 2010 Do you know of a good resource for identifying winter rosettes before bloom? I am interested primarily in hill country and blackland prairie. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Purchase of frostweed in Staten Island NY January 05, 2010 My grandson would like to buy a frostweed plant. Can I buy this from you? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Escarpment Black Cherry trees in Austin January 04, 2010 I live in Central Texas and I am looking for a tree farm or nursery that has Escarpment Black Cherry trees. They seem to be quite hard to find. Are you aware of any local nurseries that might carry t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflowers for an April wedding in Baltimore December 11, 2009 Dear Mr Smarty Pants, Thank you for your help. Our niece wants native wildflowers blooming at her wedding on April 17, 2010 which will be at a family home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland between Ba... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Finding Viguiera dentata seeds or plants. November 09, 2009 I'm trying to locate seeds or plants of Viguiera Dentata, but have been unsuccessful. With the poliferation of these beautiful flowers this fall, I don't understand why I can't locate them. Do you ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Best sod for a yard in Elgin, TX? November 05, 2009 First time home buyer and the back yard will need to be sodded. What is an honest price range for this service for 213 sq.yds.? The site is in blackland prairie soil. What type grass is best suited ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Books and other resources to identify plants in Washington state November 02, 2009 We live just north of Seattle, WA on Camano Island and want to do a plant survey of our two acres. Any suggestions of books or other resources, particularly for the grasses and low growing plants? A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing bermudagrass with buffalograss in San Antonio October 28, 2009 We inherited a back yard full of weeds when we bought a fixer-upper a couple of years back in San Antonio, TX. Since we moved in, some "native" bermuda started growing in the yard. I think the "nat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification and seed source October 23, 2009 We drove to Fredricksburg this Saturday the 17th and beginning at about Dripping Springs there is a very showy bright yellow wildflower that is so pretty. It probably is about 2' tall. Would love... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing firs with smaller plants October 22, 2009 I want to pull out old fir bushes and plant smaller plants in their place. What could I buy that would take little care in my area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where to find seed drill October 15, 2009 Hello I am a recent member. I want to conserve a 4 acre parcel with native grasses. Do you know where I can rent a small seed drill? I have heard that some conservation groups own these for rent. I wa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for sensitive briar in Austin October 06, 2009 My husband, young son and I are beginning a landscaping project at my son's school where they have a colorwheel garden. Our section is the green section. There are already some plants in the plot and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Donation of seeds of Silphium Terebinthinaceum to India October 03, 2009 Hi, I am located in India. I am planning to plant Silphium Terebinthinaceum in my garden in India. Please let me know who can donate me seeds to India. I need 20-30 seeds. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Looking for chinaberry trees to buy and plant in Austin September 15, 2009 I am looking to buy china berry small trees to plant in Austin , any suggestion where i might be able to buy them thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for Vitis californica September 15, 2009 I am trying to find two Vitus Californica "Walker Ridge" to plant on a trellis. I live in Santa Cruz, CA and am unable to locate a source for this plant and my local nurseries haven't had any luck ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Outdoor container gardening in Hughesville PA September 15, 2009 Coming from Europe, I have found myself in a whole new climate and am trying to learn about what is possible for gardening in PA. Unfortunately, at this moment,we live in a trailer and have little roo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mediun-sized tree for southern California, possibly Monterey cypress September 07, 2009 Hello, I live in Glendora CA 91741, I am looking for a CA native non -deciduous medium size tree to provide shade in the front yard. I was thinking of monterey cypress; any suggestions and place to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Carex blanda in Washington DC September 03, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, After reading your recommendations, Carex blanda seems to be a suitable evergreen native plant for a small pond island planter I am making for our small backyard turtle pond.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for non-native yellow bauhinia in Tomball, TX August 29, 2009 I am trying to find a yellow bauhinia plant/tree/shrub here in Tomball, TX. I went to the Arbor Gate in Tomball and they only have the white and orange, but they do have a yellow bauhinia on display ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native landscaping in Austin August 24, 2009 I am planning to convert a pretty large portion (app. 500 sq feet) of my front yard from St. Augustine to an area with native and well-adapted plants. I have solarized the area to kill off grass and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for purchase of Texas ash tree in Round Rock, TX August 24, 2009 Where can I purchase a Texas Ash (Fraxinus texenis)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for maroon bluebonnets in The Woodlands, TX August 23, 2009 Please tell me where I can purchase maroon bonnets, seeds or the plant, near College Station or The Woodlands, Texas. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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