Native Plants
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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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| Should Mexican milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) not be used to attract Monarch butterflies? November 20, 2015 Should I remove Asclepias curassavica (Mexican milkweed) in my garden for threat of OE parasitic protozoan threat to Monarch butterflies? Is this threat as widespread as Chronicle implies? I had great... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of Bidens aristosa (Tickseed sunflower) in Texas November 20, 2015 I think the ID of the plant I submitted a description of yesterday is Tickseed Sunflower (Bidens aristosa). Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Thorn bushes for a fence in Puerto Rico November 17, 2015 I'm looking for thorn bushes that grow in Puerto Rico. Want to use as fence to keep wild life in. Thanks, at least 5 ft tall so dogs can't get out. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spriranthes sp. blooming on rocky hilltop November 13, 2015 I am not sure if my previous question went thru, so I am submitting it again. How unusual is it to find a few blooming specimens of Spiranthes sp. on a rocky hilltop west of Loop 360 near Bee Caves R... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Texas grapes November 11, 2015 What is the best way to propagate wild Texas grapes? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Poison ivy always rooted in the ground? November 11, 2015 Does Poison ivy on a tree always start at the ground and climb up the tree or can it start producing its vine and leaves by itself at the top of the tree or middle? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Competition between peony and bulbs November 06, 2015 I am planting 3 herbaceous peony bare roots 3 feet apart from each other. I am told it will take 3 years before I get blooms. In the meantime, can i safely plant springtime flowering bulbs in th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Improving Bluebonnet seed contact with soil November 06, 2015 I have a five acre field in Blanco County, much of which is covered by bluebonnets. There are several species of native grasses as well. Would it be beneficial to disk or otherwise disturb the soil ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What is the difference between indigenous and native? November 03, 2015 What is the difference between indigenous and native? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A good Amelanchier (Serviceberry) for Brooklyn, NY. November 03, 2015 I am looking to purchase an Amelanchier to plant in Brooklyn this month. Would you know which variety works best in a small garden and also is it too late to plant. Mainly, I am looking for someone wh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover for a Texas dog run November 02, 2015 What ground cover do you recommend for a residential dog run located under a pergola in high limestone soil at White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Origin of the plant name Soft greeneyes (Berlandiera pumila) November 02, 2015 What feature of Berlandiera pumila accounts for its popular name Soft Greeneyes? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Straggler Daisy as a Groundcover in Salado, TX October 30, 2015 I've identified Straggler Daisy or Horseherb as the plant to cover my 20 x 40 partly shady partly sunny lot. Could you provide me with the best method for starting and growing the plant to ensure it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What is the black stuff growing on my thoroughwort? October 27, 2015 What is the black stuff on my thoroughwort plant's leaves that is killing the plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Precautions regarding pruning live oaks in the Austin area. October 27, 2015 Is it still recommended that we clean pruning shears and spray wounds when pruning live oaks in the Austin area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Making a raised garden bed in Texas October 25, 2015 I just bought a house in Ft Worth Texas and the soil is undisturbed red clay. I was told I probably would need to build a raised bed to make a 25 ft by 4-6 ft butterfly/humming bird/bee native flower ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen shrub for Austin TX shade October 24, 2015 I live in Austin, TX. I'm looking for a 4 season shrub for a partially shaded area that gets about 3 hours of sun towards the evening. It's mostly partially shaded. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Mexican feathergrass October 24, 2015 I live in Austin. I've recently seen negative comments re: Mexican feathergrass. Is it native to this area? Is it becoming a problem? I have had it in my yard for years and never considered it a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Osage Orange in Caliche in Austin October 23, 2015 Does Osage Orange tree grow in caliche? Do nurseries carry it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers to complement Mexican hat in Texas October 22, 2015 We have 10 acres in Driftwood that has Mexican Hat pretty much everywhere that is not shaded. We are looking to add additional wildflowers to them in order to have color earlier and later in the seas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer eating Non-native Asiatic Jasmine in Georgetown, TX October 22, 2015 Is there a spray or granular material that will prevent deer from eating asiatic jasmine? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Creekside Groundcover for Upstate New York October 22, 2015 I live in Upstate New York in Rochester. Our winters can have lows of -10 at night at times. I have 1,300 linear feet of creekside land that seniors can view from their homes. Because of the brush, it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Food Allergy to Beautyberry or Persimmon? October 22, 2015 I think I might have a food allergy to Beautyberry or American Persimmon, eaten Saturday at the North Carolina Great Dismal park. These were the only strange foods recently, though I've had persimmo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Do Delphiniums Transfer Toxins to Strawberries? October 22, 2015 Is it safe to eat strawberries grown beside delphiniums? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Iva Angustifolia Salt Tolerant? October 22, 2015 I was wondering about the salt tolerance of narrow-leaf sumpweed (Iva angustifolia). It is the predominant species on a disturbed site in Haynesville, LA where brine contamination is in question. Un... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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