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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| How to grow bluebonnets in Atlanta TX March 04, 2011 How can I grow bluebonnets in Atlanta Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Raising bluebonnets in Stanford CA January 17, 2011 I'm a Houston girl now living in Northern California (Stanford). I would like to know if I need to adjust my growing timing for lupinus texensis? Mostly, I want to know when I should actually put th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How does Asclepias asperula (antelope horns) respond to fire December 18, 2010 From your experience with prairie burns, how does Asclepias asperula (antelope horns) respond to fire? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Black-eyed Susans in potting soil on ground November 12, 2010 I would like to know if black eyed susans can be planted in just potting soil instead of mixing it in with dirt from the ground? I don't want to leave it in the pots. I want to plant it, but the grou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why all the acorns from Austin November 03, 2010 What's the explanation for the huge crop of acorns falling from my live oak trees this fall. Do you recommend I dump them in my composter or just throw them in the flower beds? Thanking you in adv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower seeds affected by mulch in Austin October 24, 2010 I have a small wildflower garden in my central Austin yard. In early summer, I had some extra mulch and put it in this garden. Now I'm thinking that was a mistake. The bed has re-seeded itself for se... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to make a lawn into a prairie in Arlington, Texas September 15, 2010 I am removing lawn grasses in order to start a native prairie meadow. After grass removal, I'll put down 1/2" of compost. I will broadcast wildflower seeds on the compost. If I mulch after broadcas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seeds for India from Guilderland NY August 15, 2010 I have Green Cross “Non Profitable” trust in TamilNadu India. We are looking for free seeds from Government and other NGO foundations. Moto: Global Vowing awareness program and our volunteers help ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sagebrush for Westminster CO August 06, 2010 On a recent visit to Taos, NM we fell in love with the local sagebrush. We would like to plant this sagebrush in our yard. We are located near Denver Colorado. Would this plant survive and how do we g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sprouts from Sabal palmetto in Charleston SC July 23, 2010 I live in SC and have several palm trees (our state tree and symbol). The trees are wonderful, but my situation concerns the many, many sprouts that appear in the flower beds around the trees? Is the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Winter-interest plants in Wynnewood PA July 11, 2010 Could you please suggest flowering plants that provide winter interest after drying out (ie with seed pods or interesting dried flower heads)? I'm looking for something that grows in full sun. Thank ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting red Columbine and Cedar sage from seed in Canyon Lake, Tx. July 06, 2010 I live near Canyon Lake, Texas in the Hill Country. I would like to plant red columbine and cedar sage in the shady areas beneath live oaks and ashe junipers within the limestone soil that is there n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers planted in Pittsfield, IL to bloom the first of October July 01, 2010 If I plant my wildflower seeds now in Illinois, is it possible they will bloom in three months (by the very beginning of October)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cottonwood trees shedding in Orion MI June 23, 2010 How long can I plan on my cottonwood trees (wild) shedding long wide cotton strips? This is a first for my trees. Usually it is fluffy small puffs. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Number of seeds per pound for Curvepod fumewort from Bridger MT June 17, 2010 Do you know or where can I find the number of seeds per pound for Corydalis curvisiliqua-scrambled eggs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Severely cutback sloping soil in Dripping Springs TX May 09, 2010 We have 5.5 acres off Henly Loop just north of Hwy 290 about 10 miles west of Dripping Springs, TX. The former property owners carved out soil from a sloping area to get soil for the driveway. Doing ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for steep slope in Washington DC May 07, 2010 We have a steep slope in our garden in Washington DC which has sun from noon to sun set. Could you please recommend some low maintenance plants which would be a good ground cover and limit erosion? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How and when to harvest bluebonnets. April 30, 2010 A previous answer mentioned harvesting bluebonnet seeds by pulling up the whole plant when the seed pods turn brown. Two clarifications - when do the seed pods turn brown as these plants are hard to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Collecting seeds of Anemone berlandieri, windflower March 29, 2010 The recent rainy weather has produced a small colony of what I have identified from your web site as Anemone berlandieri Pritzel (Texas Anemone) in my backyard. Is there a way to harvest these seeds f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Time to mulch without inhibiting seeds in Hitchcock, TX March 17, 2010 When would be the best time of year to put down mulch, if I want my native plants to re-seed? I don't want to bury the seed under mulch layers or new dirt. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Research on Atriplex confertifolia in Austin January 21, 2010 I have heard a lot about Atriplex confertifolia (Shadscale). Has the Center done any research/trial growing of this plant for possible adaptability to Hill Country (west Austin) area? If this is a ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Milkweed with the biggest pods in Smith County, TX? September 11, 2009 I live in East Texas and I would like to know which of the milkweed plants bears the largest seed pod. I would also like to know the best time to locate the pods in and around the Smith County area. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control in Santaquin UT August 11, 2009 I have a hill in my backyard; it is about 40 ft tall and about 80 ft wide. It is probably a 1.5 to 1 slope ratio. I am going to be landscaping my back yard and have top soil put on the hill as well. S... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling erosion in Leburn KY July 21, 2009 I would really appreciate advice on controlling a serious erosion problem in eastern Kentucky. The slope is north facing, shady and moist with rich soil. Would prefer to use native Kentucky plants. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Clay hill with erosion problems in Reedsport OR July 10, 2009 We have a very steep 35-40' clay hill subject to erosion in the Oregon rainy season. How or what do we do to get some kind of vegetation/grass, etc to grow without washing away? We have had mudslides... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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