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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| topic | question | |
| Identity of vines in Florida October 30, 2012 Hello, I have 2 different types of vines growing in my shrubs. They are very pretty and I like them I just want to know if they are poisonous or if they will take over my shrubs. I have not been able ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native, invasive Asiatic Jasmine from Austin October 25, 2012 Is Trachelospermum asiaticum considered a native texas plant? Is there an example growing at the Center that can be viewed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for a fence in San Saba County, Texas October 22, 2012 I want to plant vines on a deer proof fence close to my house for privacy. Are there any vines that stay green year round? Also what breed of vine would you recommend for several hundred feet of fenc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with recently planted trumpet vine from Worcester MA October 20, 2012 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a question about my recently planted Trumpet Vines. First of all, I live in Massachusetts, zone 6. The soil is perfect for the two vines, which I bought from a local nur... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine for planter box in Berkeley CA September 29, 2012 I live in Berkeley, CA and want to plant a vine to crawl up a trellis on my deck. It gets sun most of the day. I need to use planter boxes because there is only patio below and would like something ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Blocking dust from a road in Sturgis MS September 20, 2012 Please let me know what Trees/shrubs will help block dust from dirt road. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant to trail down concrete block retaining wall in Maryland September 15, 2012 Hello, Your website is an excellent resource. Thank you very much! My girlfriend recently bought a house that has a concrete block retaining wall in the front yard. We want to improve the app... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is purple bindweed good for a screen growing on a fence? September 12, 2012 We cleared a bunch of dead trees and tree limbs (mostly cedars and some oaks) on our semi-rural property in Driftwood and now we're left with an undesirable view onto the neighboring property. We're... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Want a vine, non-toxic to dogs, for Reno, NV. September 11, 2012 I want a non toxic (to dogs) vine for Reno, NV View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Coral Honeysuckle suitability for Central Texas Fence September 05, 2012 I recently purchased a house in Liberty Hill. My backyard is enclosed by an iron fence (painted). I am interested in creating a habitat for birds, so I'm thinking of planting coral honeysuckle vine... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Crossvine on a Wrought Iron Fence in Austin September 02, 2012 I would like to plant crossvine along a wrought iron fence. Will it damage the fence or the stucco posts? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine recommendations for Central Texas homes September 02, 2012 I have hardy plank siding and am looking for a Central Texas native vine that will grow over it. I am trying to keep it from growing under the planks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine for Marin County, CA August 31, 2012 Looking for relatively fast growing evergreen vine (not Ivy). Plant along sturdy 7 foot wire fence. Mostly sun, some shade. Soil drains reasonably well. I had some success w/ star jasmine, but too... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Duplicate request for information from Austin August 30, 2012 I am considering planting cross vine on a wrought iron fence. Will it cause any damage to the wrought iron or stucco posts? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to distinguish male and female grape vines in Gage OK. August 19, 2012 Are there male and female plants for wild grapes? If so, how do we tell the difference? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive trumpet vine from Fredericksburg TX August 03, 2012 I have a large trumpet vine growing on a dead tree stump. My problem is that new baby trumpet vines are coming up all over my yard. I mow them, but is there anything I can use to prevent new trumpet v... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cottage-style landscaping for Chesapeake VA August 02, 2012 Dear Mr. Smarty Plant staff, I recently moved into a cottage style home that has a poured concrete/paver patio. I am trying to come up with ideas for plantings that would 1. give me a bit of privacy,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sources for plants from Abingdon MD August 02, 2012 What stores or nursuries in Harford County sell already grown Coral honeysuckle, Purple passion flower, trumpet creeper, and crossvine? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Poison ivy? vine in NJ July 30, 2012 I have a vine growing among some vegetation in my backyard. It has a leaf with 3 "points" with ridges along its edges. The smaller leaves are reddish which is why I thought poison ivy but definite... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bird-friendly plants for the Texas coast July 13, 2012 I'm interested in starting a native plant garden, specifically with an eye towards providing food (either from the plants or insects that are attracted to the plants) for migratory birds. However, s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants that smell like chocolate from Coral Gables FL July 12, 2012 I am looking for plants that smell like chocolate. I live in south Florida. We are currently growing and testing Berlandiera lyrata. Do you know of other plants whose flowers smell like chocolate? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| climbing vine for growth in sand July 11, 2012 I live in Grand Beach, MI. My house sits on a sand dune. I want to plant a flowering vine that will grow up a fence. The area has plenty of sand and I have a trickle watering system. Can you pleas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine from Las Vegas NV July 11, 2012 I'm interested in identifying the vine shown by the leaf in this photo: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zR3R4JSPYcCI4ESczNXWM4h8z33Cq5cyZNqSSYf9hx0?feat=directlink My mother-in-law got one o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hybrid Campsis radicans 'Madame Rosy' from Medina OH July 07, 2012 I have a Madame Rosy Campsis that is not blooming. We purchased and planted it last year, mid-summer and it did well for the remainder of the season but this year...nothing but green leaves........wh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of vine growing in New Jersey July 03, 2012 Hello! I am hoping you may be able to help me out in identifying a vine plant that has started to grow from under my deck, through the lattice and up the outside of my deck. I bought the house 2 y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A privacy hedge for a shady spot in Austin, TX July 02, 2012 What is a good choice for a privacy hedge in west Austin in a predominantly shady area? I'd like it to be 8-12 feet, along the fence, so as to obstruct the view of the neighbor's yard. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cow-itch vine name from Seguin TX July 02, 2012 How did Cow-Itch Vine (Cissus incisa / Cissus trifoliata) get its name? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of cucumber-like plant with red fruit July 01, 2012 Hi; My name is Peter, live in Lewisville. When I walked through a park trail last year, I noticed a very strange vine described as the following: It is vine with leaves and stems (size and shape) lo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine non-toxic to alpacas and dogs from Fowler CA June 29, 2012 We have alpacas and would like to plant a flowering vine on a backyard fence that adjoins the pasture. We live in Central California so we have many hot days during the summer and would like a plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plantings for a slope from New Carrollton MD June 27, 2012 My house (Maryland, near DC) sits at the bottom of a south facing slope. The soil is very heavy clay. The grade is about 1:20 for about 100 feet (with a steeper part at the top). Part of the hill is i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| E-mailing a picture for Plant ID from Dexter KY June 25, 2012 Could I email a picture of a vine that is taking over my porch? Can't seem to find it anywhere. It is dark green and relatively shiny with 10 leaves on each stem. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Distinguishing non-native Wisteria from Austin June 25, 2012 How do I distinguish a native wisteria from a non-native wisteria? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-toxic plants for dog yard from Freeport PA June 24, 2012 I'm looking for wildlife-friendly native plants that aren't toxic to dogs. I have a place for some small shrubs and/or flowers. And a climbing vine that I could train on a trellis would work espec... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for 100 gal. pot by pool from Ft. Worth TX June 23, 2012 What North Texas evergreen — or combination of evergreen plants, bushes or trees — could thrive in a huge, 100-gallon clay pot (immovable!) that is situated in full sun year round in an exposed area n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native vines poisonous to animals from Park Ridge IL June 18, 2012 I have a Star Jasmine and sambac Philipine Jasmine Plant . Are they poisonous to cats or dogs. I have them in the house. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine in Pennsylvania June 11, 2012 I have several vine plants growing in my deck planters from last season. The leaves are 9 pointed, it looks more like 7, but there are 2 little points at the very bottom of the larger leaves. When t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need a vine to cover a chainlink fence in the shade in Tarrytown, NY. June 08, 2012 Any advice for a vine to cover a chain link fence in shade View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine Choices Scarce in Beaverton Oregon June 08, 2012 Hi, I am looking for a hearty vine that we could use to cling to and cover a cement wall that is about 8 feet tall and 30 feet long. It is on the south side of our house but never gets direct sunli... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Question about male muscadine plants June 01, 2012 I have 9 muscadine plants, 3 females and 6 perfect flowered growing in my yard. A plant started growing under my porch lst year and it grew through the spaces between the boards. It grew nicely. It fl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine with 4-petaled purple flower May 30, 2012 Does anybody know what vine has a purple four petaled flower with small bulb in middle?? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Do monarchs like Cynachum laeve in Austin, TX? May 29, 2012 I have found what I believe is Honeyvine (Cynanchum laeve) growing in my yard here in Austin. I tried using the LBJWC plant data base and could not find it. I also found the plant with a diff... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need an evergreen flowering vine to cover a fence in Houston, TX. May 28, 2012 Looking for an evergreen flowering vine to cover my fence. caveat? one part of the fence is within 5 feet from the air conditioning unit which blows a lot of hot air, the area takes a day or two to dr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing native vines in pots from Houston May 28, 2012 I am writing in regards to your often mentioned issue of plants not doing as well in pots and in the ground. After last years drought, i moved all the plants I had that were in danger of dying of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants wilting too quickly in Toledo OH May 27, 2012 The garden I have had recent issues with plants wilting all too quickly. I would like to know what types of plants would be hearty for the climate in Toledo, Ohio. I have a partly sunny front yard and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oak trees shedding leaves in Denton TX May 27, 2012 In Denton, TX we have two mature Quercus buckleyi. It is May 11th 2012 and one of these trees has been shedding green leaves for the last week. The only changes we have made are: planted English ivy... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine with green flowers May 23, 2012 Trying to identify a vine with 5-petaled ~1 cm dia green flowers (w/ barely perceptible white & black speckles). I have 3 photos I can send (showing flowers & leaves). The flower petals are almost... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of a plant that looks like a watermelon. May 21, 2012 A wild plant came up in my bed that looked like a watermelon plant. It had small yellow blooms and then marble balls formed with prickly thorns. The balls were in clusters. What kind of plant is i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native Purple Hyacinth from Sylvania OH May 21, 2012 I am wondering if I plant a Purple Hyacinth Bean vine seed under a tree and allow it to grow up the tree trunk, will it kill the tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Variation in leaves for Vitis mustangensis May 17, 2012 Hi, I am doing a sculpture of a mustang grape vine in limestone. In seeking a good leaf image I notice that there are both roundish shaped leaves and highly divided or "fingered" shapes on your sit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Caterpillars eating passion vines from Austin May 17, 2012 My question concerns Yellow passion flower, purple passion vine & butterflies. I have had my passion vines for 3-4 years, each spring they start growing beautifully, then in 1-2 days are almost compl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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