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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| 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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