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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Bark damage to Tulip Tree August 10, 2006 I have a tulip tree planted. It is about 9-10 years old. Two years ago the tree looked as though the trunk was cracked. Maybe hit by lightning after a storm. This year the bark on the side of tree... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Soapberry Transplant shock symptoms July 21, 2006 Please suggest a cause & cure for general yellowing of the leaves of Western Soapberry when planted in the ground 20 miles NW of Austin (thin, poor clay over limestone). Trees still in containers are... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Leaves falling off recently transplanted mature Mountain Laurel July 05, 2006 I have recently purchased a Mountain Laurel for my backyard landscaping. It is a fully matured ML standing over 9 feet tall by 6 feet wide. Since it was planted (about 6 weeks ago) it has been losin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree ordinances re Magnolia Ladybird Johnson tree July 02, 2006 What exactly is a Ladybird Johnson tree? Also, is there any type of federal or state law(s) that prohibits the cutting, trimming or removal of a LadyBird Johnson tree? Thank you for your time! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Manor, TX in Blackland Prairie ecoregion June 27, 2006 Hi, I am planning an event for my community in Shadowglen and Manor, TX so my neighbors can learn about using native plants in the landscape to create healthier habitat for wildlife and be more respon... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast growing native trees for Austin June 15, 2006 What are your suggestions for a fast growing native tree that will do well in the clay soils of North Central Austin? I just had a 30 foot hackberry tree fall and would like to restore some shade to m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Texas Hill Country nitrogen-fixing plants June 07, 2006 Please help me find a listing of native (TX Hill Country) nitrogen-fixing plants. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hill Country natives for a hedge June 01, 2006 Can you recommend a "hedge type" bush to use in lieu of a fence along the road in the San Antonio region? My whole back yard is planted with Hill Country natives and I would prefer to keep the the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alder native to Central Indiana May 30, 2006 I am trying to find out whether there exists a plant named Alnus rugosa. I bought a plant recently that said Speckled Alder, Alnus serrulata (rugosa), but have been unable to determine if this is a c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native holly (ilex) for Austin area May 28, 2006 Hi--my brother and his family live in Austin, TX--their german shepard "Holly" just died (she was 13)--I was throwing around the idea of sending them a holly plant of some sort to have in honor of H... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Protection of Mountain Laurel from Pyralid or Genista moth caterpillars May 28, 2006 I have a Texas Mountain Laurel. Every year it is attacked by caterpillars. They form a bag for lack of a better word on the ends of the branches destroying the blooms for the following year. PLEASE... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mountain Laurel and Desert Willow in pots or ground in Brady, TX May 09, 2006 I would really appreciate your advice if a Texas Mountain Laurel (now a 1 gal. size) and a Desert Willow (now a 3 gal.) are good candidates for planting in containers and, if so, what size for each? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fertilizer and application for live oak trees April 27, 2006 What do I use to feed live oak trees? How do I apply the fertilzer? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Determination of native plants of North Carolina April 24, 2006 I am compiling lists of native plants to use in NC, and found that Dirr (Manual of Woody Landscape Plants) lists introduction dates (xxxx) for MANY of the trees you list as natives, e.g., Acer rubrum ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native, non-invasive plants for Canaan Valley, WV April 23, 2006 I recently purchased a home on an acre of land in the middle of Canaan Valley, WV. The front yard is flat and sunny, the back is on a ridge and is a little forest with a creek at the bottom. The tre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Inadvisability of mounding earth around tree in ring April 20, 2006 We have a mimosa tree in our backyard. My husband wants to build a tree ring around it. My mother told me that some trees will die from having soil built up around it like that. Will a tree ring ki... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Xeriscaping in clay on a slope in Fort Worth April 06, 2006 Xeriscaping in clay (Fort Worth) on a slope -- Please offer suggestions and publications. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lopidea texana nymphs and adults feeding on Mountain Laurel in March April 04, 2006 What is the species name of the bright red bug (Miridae) nymphs and adults that are feeding on Texas Mountain Laurel leaves at this time (March 24) at the Wildflower Center? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Susceptibility of Shumard oaks to oak wilt March 25, 2006 I have planted a red oak tree. I am still trying to locate the ID tag for the type. I planted it two or three years ago. I purchased the tree from either Lowes or Home Depot. Is there a type of red oa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native drought resistant evergreen plants for privacy hedgein clay soil in Texas March 08, 2006 My family would like to create privacy around our 4 acres of fence line. What native evergreen or fast growing bushes would work? We have terrible clay soil and need drought resistant plants. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eastern red cedar as tall privacy hedge for North Texas February 28, 2006 I live in Northern Texas, outside of Dallas, and I need a very, very tall hedge to hide the view of the neighbors car lot from our second floor. We see everything beyond his fence and it drastically ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Differentiating between red oak, Shumard oak and American sycamore February 05, 2006 I have a few trees growing in an arroyo and I'm pretty certain that they are either red oak, shumard red oak, or Texas sycamore. The trees are deciduous and have a scaled grey bark which becomes lig... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tahitian gardenias (Gardenia taitensis) salt and wind resistance in Hawaii February 03, 2006 Are Tahitian Gardenias salt tolerant? We live on a rocky coastline in Hawaii and we get a lot of salt spray. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible identification of Post Oak in New Braunfels, TX January 27, 2006 I live 6 miles north of New Braunfels in the Hill Country and own 5 acres of land. The property consists of many escarpment live oaks, texas persimon, and ashe juniper. I believe I also have some Te... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Determining distance of trees from paving in NE Indiana December 09, 2005 I'd like to plant 3 types of trees (Catalpa speciosa- Northern Catalpa; Juglans cinerea - Tulip Tree; and Acer saccharum - Sugar Maple) next to sidewalks and driveways, but need to know if they have ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |