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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| Moving milkweed to another location in Maine, NY April 15, 2010 I live in up-state New York. I have a 'patch' of milkweed growing where I don't really want it to grow - but have left it because the butterflies and bees love it. I would like it to grow in my ba... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What soil to plant native plants in Huntsville TX April 14, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I recently purchased several plants at the Spring Plant Sale and would like to know when planting them, what type of soil should I use. I typically use partial native soil an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Laurel oak tree not leafing out in Pasadena TX April 13, 2010 Hurricane Ike blew down our red bud in the backyard. Had a large 25' laurel oak planted early March 2010. When it was put in the ground, the leaves were on it, but they were all brown and dried. T... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mexicana Redbud failing to bloom in Austin April 12, 2010 I have a Mexican Redbud that I bought last fall. It is now April (I'm in Austin), and the leaves have emerged, but the tree did not flower. So . . . what should I do to get it to flower? (The tree i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why isn't my recently planted Mexican Redbud growing in Georgetown, TX? April 11, 2010 I planted a container-grown Mexican Redbud in early March. As of April 5th, it is showing no signs of buds or leaves. Other redbuds in the area (possibly Texas redbuds) have been blooming for severa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Peeling bark on red oak in Plano, TX April 08, 2010 I have a red oak that was planted 2 years ago. The trunk is approx. 5 in around. The bark around the bottom of the trunk is peeling off. At first we thought it was rabbits so we put some rabbit gua... 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 | ||
| Tree transplants having problems in Manchaca TX April 03, 2010 I have recently transplanted a Mexican Buckeye, Chinquapin oak, and Sandpaper tree that I have been raising inside since they were seedlings. They have now developed a browning of the tips of their l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen screen for newly constructed metal building March 31, 2010 Neighbor built a 12' tall metal building right by my gate. I want to screen it with fast-growing evergreen natives. I have lots of ashe juniper on my property, but none where I need it now! Can AJ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to grow milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) for monarch butterflies March 31, 2010 I tried and tried and tried to grow Asclepias viridis, A. asperula and even A. oenotheroides from seeds and even tubers for fourteen years! Do you have advice for growing these and other milkweed plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Lime Prickly Ash in Austin March 22, 2010 We found only one small what we think is Zanthoxylum fagara or Lime Prickly Ash, Colima on our 8 acres, and the deer had apparently recently broken the main stem. I quickly made 6 or 7 cuttings, dippe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification and advice about moving it March 10, 2010 I have a plant (a thick stalk about 4 foot tall with yellow flowers on it) that blooms in the morning and the flowers fall off at night. I have searched for info on this plant and have come up short. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to transplant agarita in Floresville, TX. March 10, 2010 How is the best way to propagate Agarita? I have acres of them in the pasture but want some for the house landscape and to grow. I was told they go dormant for a year if you dig them up to transplan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting mature guavaberry in St. Croix January 22, 2010 I live on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands and I have a Guavaberry tree that is about 25 to 30 years old, between 15 to 20 feet tall and about 6 feet wide that I would like ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Indian Hawthorn and Abelia resistance to deer from Ackerman MS January 16, 2010 I recently landscaped my yard. I have a large variety of bushes and trees. They have been planted for about a month. Yesterday, while out in the yard, I noticed that about half of my Indian hawthorn... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blossoms but no fruit for gooseberries in Enoch UT January 16, 2010 My gooseberries always get loads of blossoms, but I never get fruit. I think they need more sun, and thus, want to transplant them to a sunnier location. What (and when) is the best way to do this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting Hollies in winter January 12, 2010 I want to transplant, relocate holly trees in January. Is that ok, and what is the best holly for landscaping? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replanting a blue agave in Rio Rancho NM January 11, 2010 I have acquired a Blue Agave, approximately 4-5 ft high. It still appears quite healthy. It was used over the holiday season for display purposes in a liquor store. Unfortunately, the root ball has be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of pecan trees in Las Vegas NV October 11, 2009 In April this year I purchased two 8-foot tall pecan trees in 3-foot square boxes from a local nursery and planted them here in Southern Nevada. I'm sure I dug a large enough hole to provide plenty ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-blooming climbing rose in Conroe, TX October 09, 2009 I have a climbing rose and it has never bloomed and has no thorns, it was a cutting from another rose bush. I have given it water and fertilize and have mulch around it also. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of pups from Century Plant after blooming in Prairieville LA October 03, 2009 Will the main part of the century plant always die after it grows a stalk? I have babies coming off the base and need to know if I should separate them to keep them alive. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with transplanting cenizo in Weatherford TX September 29, 2009 I tried to transplant a Silverado Sage into a large pot but within 1 day it started wilting. Could it be the soil? I used potting soil not soil from the ground which is a sandy soil. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting agave in Austin September 22, 2009 I have an 8 foot tall agave (americana?) planted in my front yard. It has been there quite happily for over 20 years. How would I go about transplanting this to another location? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Horseherb for ground cover in Dallas September 19, 2009 When considering horseherb as a ground cover for a large area; are there disadvantages to sowing seed versus planting established plants? If not, what time of year is best to sow horseherb? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Moving Century plants in Norwalk CA September 15, 2009 I have two large Century plants that are each 10 1/2 years old. One is 4'x5' tall and wide with about 8-10 small shoots. The smaller in about 3 1/2'x 5' with about 6 shoots. They've grown too l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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