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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| Invasive Cissus trifoliata in Dallas May 25, 2011 I have finally identified an invasive, stinky vine in my urban landscape as Cissus trifoliata. It was waxy leaves, small greenish flowers, and small black berries. It appears to spread with undergrou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of small tree in McKinney TX with puffy red/pink bloom May 23, 2011 Looking for info on McKinney area sm/med size tree found at water's edge that has a puffy rd pink bloom. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native invasives question from Arlington MA May 20, 2011 When I searched your website for creepers in Massachusetts, I found the following recommendations: Campsis radicans and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. But in response to a reader's question, you called... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How many native trees in U.S. from Clarkson MI May 18, 2011 Does anybody have any numbers on how many native trees there are in the entire United States? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for shaded area under pecan trees May 11, 2011 The east side of our Houston home has a 15 foot strip overhung with pecan trees. The shade by the start of summer is so dense that grass dies pretty quickly. I'd like to keep enough grass for the k... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of small plant with lavendar flower May 07, 2011 I have something growing in my yard and pasture that for some odd reason is growing all over the place. I never noticed it being this abundant before. I'm not sure if it's listed as a wild flower or... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of Invasive Mint April 23, 2011 The herb Mint is taking over my flower garden. How can I kill this out? Thank you, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to tell the difference between native and European thistles April 19, 2011 How can I tell the difference between invasive (European) thistles and thistles that are native to Texas? And what is the best way to eradicate the invasive varieties? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflowers blooming in upstate South Carolina from Seneca SC April 13, 2011 When do most wildflowers bloom in upstate South Carolina? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Annabelle hydrangeas blossoms drooping to ground in Wilmette, IL April 10, 2011 I have a row of Annabelle Hydrangeas that become very heavy and droop over the entire width of the bed. I would like to know what I can use for support so that they will stand up and allow me to plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for fruit and nut trees to plant in San Augustine, TX April 05, 2011 I am setting up residence in San Augustine, Texas on approximately 9 acres of land. We wanted to plant a few of each type of fruit and nut trees that would prosper in the area (for wildlife and for o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with live oak in Carrollton TX April 03, 2011 This past winter was very hard on all the trees in our area in Texas, but added to our stress was the loss of three large Bradford pears just prior to the winter (23yrs old and over 50ft spans of limb... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Freeze damage on Barrel Cactus in Llano TX March 04, 2011 I believe my barrel cactus has freeze damage. The flesh turned yellow and is now turning dark. The base is still green. If I cut off the damaged top portion, leaving the green base, should it survive?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fast-growing, evergreen, non-invasive root tree for El Dorado CA February 20, 2011 We need to plant a FAST-growing, non-deciduous TREE with a non-invasive root system. Where can we buy one? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wet & Shade in South Austin February 19, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants - I live in south Austin (S. of Ben White) in a new development. Our houses are fairly close together, so there's little sun between them. The issue is that when it does rain, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Aesculus parvifolia from Rochester MI February 11, 2011 Aesculus parvifolia. I purchased one plant in spring 2010---it's about 3 ft tall. How might I propagate from this one plant, or should I buy another? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Nuttall oak to replace ornamental pears in Houston, TX? February 08, 2011 We recently bought a house in the heart of Houston that has 2 huge flaming pear trees that were planted too close to the house and just engulf the house. Our landscaper suggested taking them out and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| No, you are not crazy. February 06, 2011 Has the family classification for Coral Yucca changed recently? I was going through some old notes and expanding them for a class I need to teach for some homeschoolers, and it appears that Coral Yuc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Leaf problems on Cherry Laurel in Boulder City, NV January 29, 2011 I live in Boulder City, Nevada and have 4 cherry laurel trees. I'm having a hard time with brown leaves and loss of leaves. How much water should I give them each season? Temps run from 28 degrees to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Texas Ash and non-native Bradford Pear in Hutto TX January 27, 2011 We have planted two trees in our back yard. The first one(a Bradford Pear) died and the second one (a Texas ash) doesn't look like it's doing very well. Our back yard is mostly black clay about 1 f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a Drummond Red Maple in Lawton, OK. January 18, 2011 I would like to buy a female Drummond red maple from a local retailer but it's Jan.12 and those he has in stock are leafless with just the beginnings of buds showing. They are about 20 feet tall and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rhizobium Source for Bluebonnets December 20, 2010 Trying to find a source for rhizobium for bluebonnets. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Thuja in Oakland CA December 16, 2010 I have a Thuja hedge about 100' long. Part of this hedge and a well established Rhododendron have been diagnosed with Armillaria mellea that is spreading. I see the bunches of mushrooms growing eve... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fungus Spots on Native Bush Honeysuckle December 03, 2010 My native bush honeysuckle plants that I have along my back fence have leaves that are turning yellow with spots. It appears to be a type of fungus, but not powdery mildew. Any suggestions as to what ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why are branches falling from my pecan trees? November 02, 2010 I have tree branches falling that appear to have been cut, not broken,off the tree. Seen most on the pecan trees but had a young red bud die with what appears a clean cut of the trunk approx. 2 feet ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Reasons to leave a century plant in place in Florida November 01, 2010 Can you please list ALL the reasons to leave a century plant (as opposed to cutting it way back or removing it) in the wilds of the sand dunes on the coast of Florida, other than its prominent beauty? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Student wants pointers to increase germination rate of Salvia farinacea in Lubbock, Texas October 06, 2010 I am a student at Texas Tech, studying environmental horticulture. I have been doing research on Salvia farinacea as well as a number of other natives. I've just been assigned a project to increase t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with oak trees in Mansfield, Texas September 26, 2010 We have lost 2 large oaks last year & now another is nearly gone. It has several large patches of missing bark - beneath a thin layer of skin-like membrane that seemed to separate it from the bark i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where to test for Bacterial Leaf Scorch in Austin, Texas September 26, 2010 It appears that the American elm trees in my backyard may have Bacterial Leaf scorch. Where can I have this confirmed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with a Hackberry tree in San Antonio. September 23, 2010 Our old hackberry tree fell over last year. Now we have dozens of new ones popping up in the same area. We want to transplant a few to another area of the yard, but they aren't surviving. It appears ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A suggestion for a native small tree for San Diego September 23, 2010 Another good suggestion for a native small tree for San Diego - Garrya veatchii - Southern Silktassle. It's really gorgeous! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine in California September 19, 2010 Recently a volunteer vine appeared along a fence line in my yard. It has grown rapidly, has small, vaguely heart-shaped leaves, tendrils to climb with and tiny yellow flowers. As the flower fades a fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wintering of non- native jasmine in Newton KS September 18, 2010 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I received a gorgeous jasmine for mothers day and I planted it in my front yard in the flower area close to the house. Can I keep it there all winter or do I need to dig it up a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting time for late October bloom of Cowpen Daisy from Marble Falls, TX September 18, 2010 How fast does Cowpen Daisy grow from seed to flower? Do we still have time to plant seed and get flowers by the end of October in order to attract late migrating Monarch Butterflies through the Austi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need Native Plants for Ditch Stabilization in Texarkana, Arkansas September 14, 2010 I live in Texarkana, Arkansas. I have a ditch near the street in my front yard that is approximately 90-100 ft. long. It gets full sun. There is a lot of clay and rocks in the ditch. I need to fin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Soapberry tree problems in North Richland Hills, TX September 01, 2010 We have a small grove of soapberry trees. The city recently reconstructed the street and added a side walk which now sets as close at 1 foot from the nearest tree. Everything seemed fine until they ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flaming sumacs in trouble in Wimberley TX August 31, 2010 I planted three flaming sumacs last fall and all leafed out this spring. Then, early this month all the leaves turned brown on one and it appears to have died. Today I noticed that a second one is d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification of ethereal plant in Colorado August 28, 2010 We live in the south central mountains of Colorado in the upper Arkansas River valley near Salida, Colorado. During the past few weeks we have noticed a very mystic looking plant (flower/grass?) alon... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What's that sticky stuff on plants under many trees? August 23, 2010 Here in Austin, I've recently noticed a sticky film appearing on shrubs, flowers, grass, etc. under many trees. It appears to be coming from the trees under which they are planted. The sticky film ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting non-native yellow lantana in Emerald Isle, NC August 22, 2010 We live in Emerald Isle, NC. Can we transplant yellow lantana? It is not really a perennial but appears to be one at the coast. If so, when do you transplant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification, possibly Phytolacca americana (American pokeweed) August 20, 2010 I have a patch of plants I can't find what they are, could you help? The plant is a tuber (resembles a carrot when it is small), the stalk is red and fibrous, comes back each year bigger, has green ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of desert willow in Wimberley TX August 10, 2010 I have a desert willow. It is always, whether I water it or leave it alone, yellow/ brown leaves, dark spots on the leaves, losing leaves. now it looks sad and not very healthy. Can you please tell m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree for memorial in Levittown NY August 09, 2010 I am planning a tree planting memorial in Wantagh Park and I don't know what will be hardy enough to grow there. There are the constant breeze and salt water elements to deal with there and of course... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Leaf problems on Arizona ash in New Braunfels, TX August 07, 2010 I have an Arizona Ash tree that is 10 years old. The leaves have brown spots all over and then eventually the leaves curl up and fall off the tree. Is this a fungus or a bacterial infestation? What... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen shrub/small tree for screen in southern California August 06, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants - I would like to find an evergreen hedge, ~15-20' (or so) to screen a busy road (noise and visual). I'm zone 8b - 92539 (close to) - light snow in winter (to -25) and can ge... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Arizona ash tree with brown leaf tips in Las Vegas NV August 01, 2010 We've had an Arizona Ash Tree in our yard for over 7 years it was doing fine until last summer, the tree seems to be struggling with the heat, its leaves look like they are burning up and turning bro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Distance apart to plant Arizona ash trees in El Paso, TX July 01, 2010 How far apart can I plant two Arizona ash trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can Juncus effusus winter outside in Mountville PA? June 28, 2010 If we have the juncus effusus spiralis outside in a small pond and you say to let it outside in the winter does that mean we should let it in the pond? thanks for your time View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible freeze damage to Texas Persimmon in Fair Oaks Ranch TX June 27, 2010 I have a Texas Persimmon tree that is in a green belt. It has leafed out and flowered for the eight years we have lived here. This year it leafed out then the leaves turned brown and dropped. The top ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ash tree dying back to lower sprouts in Kempner TX June 19, 2010 My 2 year old ash tree leaves dropped, appears dead, branches dying. New growth near base of tree. Do I cut upper trunk or remove entire tree? My other ash is doing well. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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