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?
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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Nassella tenuissima for Woodland Hills CA June 30, 2013 Good afternoon, I wanted to purchase some already grown Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima) and was wondering how often and for how long I would need to water said grass on a scheduled sprinkl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tall native grasses for privacy in Central Texas June 29, 2013 Hi- I am looking for a grass that will grow tall and be thick for privacy. I live here in Austin east of 35. Obviously something draught tolerant would be great! Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Illinois native grasses for shade June 27, 2013 Hello, my grass has died in a very shady area (standard buffalo grass), and I took this as an opportunity to plant some native grass varieties. I originally thought of buffalo grass, but learned that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Use of Turffalo in Possum Kingdom TX June 27, 2013 Hello, we will be building a retirement home in the hillside area of Possum Kingdom Lake which currently has cactus, cedar, and some live oaks. Our intention is to keep most of the 8 acres natural wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcovers over roots in Roeland Park KS June 18, 2013 Large Hackberry tree (aprox 50+years) roots are popping up above ground making mowing under/around it impossible. Is there a plant, ground cover, something I can plant, or cover the roots with that w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Brown blade tips on Habiturf from Austin June 18, 2013 After carefully following all the directions, II recently planted Habiturf and it's growing well. After the first mowing, however, we discovered the top half of the blades turned brown. We have a pus... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Brown rings on grass under live oaks in Austin June 13, 2013 There are brown rings in the grass at the dripline on several Live Oak trees in our neighborhood. What causes this? The trees appear healthy. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
What's invading my bermuda grass? June 11, 2013 Our grass is being totally overrun by this weed.(I don't know what the name is identify it by the description. It is in Bermuda grass and the only way to describe the weed is to say it looks like big... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for a Shady Woodland in MA June 09, 2013 Hello, I am looking for natives to plant in full shade or part shade. My house is in the mountain woodland area of Mt. Washington, MA. I am looking for grasses, flowers and shrubs. Also I am looking f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Erosion Control for a NC Clay Slope June 06, 2013 Hi, We have a large slope on the road edge of our property that has been gradually eroding with spring rains (NC red clay). We would really like to plant something for erosion control but the bank is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Replacement for non-native maiden grasses from Fredericksburg TX May 25, 2013 I am trying to replace some maiden grasses that died during the drought. I want an evergreen grass or something soft looking to replace them. I want something that is native and 5 to 6 feet tall to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Non-native ligustrum in non-native fescue in Medina TX May 22, 2013 Is there an effective way to kill baby ligustrums coming up in my fescue yard without harming the grass? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identification of red-topped grass blooming in Comal County May 21, 2013 I live in Comal County and right now (mid May) there is a beautiful, red topped grass growing along the side of country roads. It is maybe 1 foot tall, and waves in the breeze. Do you know what kind o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Limiting erosion around pond from Brooklyn Park MN May 20, 2013 Minnesota resident, wants to find plant limit erosion from pond? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wildlife garden for Austin May 19, 2013 I am trying to make my backyard more wildlife friendly. I have pecan trees for the canopy and some understory shrub/trees like rough leaf dogwood and redbud. I am having a really hard time finding sui... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Creating a wildflower meadow May 18, 2013 I have an area 1-6 acres worth that is currently grass that I would like to overseed with wildflower seed. The local native plant nursery says that would be a waste. I don't really want to kill gra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native alternative to Japanese grass from Lake Jackson TX May 16, 2013 Is there a native alternative to Little Kitten maiden grass? I was asked to comment on a plan and don't want them to introduce another Japanese plant into our local habitat. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Low growing erosion control plants for lakeside in Washington Township NJ May 12, 2013 I live on a small lake in Northern NJ and have installed beautiful Boulders along the water to help stop erosion. Now I want to add plants along the property but would like low growing, soil retentio... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Container plants for Yakima WA May 11, 2013 My condo complex has purchased large, pottery pots for around our pool. I need to choose low maintenance plants. hopefully something that takes limited water, etc. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native plants for a garden in Panama City, FL May 10, 2013 I live in zone 9 in Florida. We are looking for plants which will be attractive all year long for the front of our house's landscaping which faces north. I need a specimen bush which doesn't get ov... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Will buffalograss thrive in Ada OK? May 08, 2013 Would buffalo grass thrive in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, where my sandy loamie soil struggles with summer droughts? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Privacy screen from Temecula CA May 04, 2013 I live in Temecula and need a fast growing tree by our pool that is good to block neighbors house. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Privacy screen from Simpsonville SC May 04, 2013 My neighbor cut down his part of our shared woods so now we see his whole "outside patio area". What kinds of fast growing shade loving trees and shrubs can we plant on our property line that will c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Can fibrous roots of Chasmanthium latifolium damage house foundation May 03, 2013 Dear Mr.Ms. S-P, Can the fibrous roots of inland sea oats cause foundation problems? I was digging around my foundation and found a root about 1" in diameter that I am afraid might be from sea oa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dying non-native St. Augustine grass from Austin May 02, 2013 Although we all know St. Augustine grass is not a good thing, I am stuck with it and am trying to save areas that appear to have take-all fungus. I have done much reading online and have tried peat m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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