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 | |
| Replacing yellow bells with hibiscus from San Antonio July 03, 2012 Help! Will the roots of the yellow bells keep sprouting if I've removed the shrub? I'm replacing it with a hibiscus shrub. Will it do well in the same spot where the yellow bells were? 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 |  | |
| Foundation plants for Albuquerque. July 01, 2012 Hello, I live in Albuquerque. I am looking for some native/xeric low water usage plants for foundation plants for my home. They will be foundation plants for a two story home that has a large ponde... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants under an oak tree from Corpus Christi TX June 30, 2012 My project: To grow white turk's cap under an old oak tree I first planted St. Augustine sod this spring because we had many oak suckers around the tree. We mixed new soil and compost, and laid the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Safe grazing for donkeys and goats from Osteen FL June 30, 2012 I am having a very difficult time trying to find shrubs, hedges, plants, flowers, or trees etc. that are safe for donkeys and goats. We live in Zone 9 and have a small farm. I've had to pull every ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Installing limestone walkway around trees from Pflugerville TX June 28, 2012 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants:I wish to install a limestone walkway in my front yard, however, there are some roots(~ 1.25 inch) in the designated area. Will this hurt or kill the tree if I cut these away? T... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees for Socorro NM June 28, 2012 I recently moved from Austin to Socorro, NM. I want to add 2 shade trees to my hot, dry garden. I am considering Arizona Cypress, Live Oak (Quercus Fusiformis - yes, they are native in NM, as well a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagating plant cuttings in cut potato from Columbia MO June 26, 2012 Hello. I belong to a garden group and one of the members posted a "tip" she found in an early 2000 garden magazine. I wanted to see if there was any truth to the tip? Basically the tip was to use... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for non-native hybrid hydrangea from Traverse City, MI June 24, 2012 We just planted some new Hydrangea (Summer Beauty) that we bought at a local nursery. The plants are about 3' tall with blooms on the stalks. The blooms appear to be top-heavy as most all the stalks ... 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 Philadelphus Innocence mock orange from Paris TX June 20, 2012 What is the best place in the garden to grow Philadelphus Innocence mock orange in Paris, Tx? Also, how long after transplanting do flowers occur? Any tips appreciated View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplant shock in Chinkapin oak from Copperas Cove TX June 18, 2012 I have a newly planted chinkapin oak, appx 14' tall, in the Copperas Cove TX area. It has done great for the first two weeks. Now the leaves are yellowing (June) and beginning to dry up. I water it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplant shock in non-native crape myrtle from Wesley Chapel, FL June 12, 2012 I just bought a 12 ft. crape myrtle and planted it, giving it plenty of water I think. After 3 days the leaves are wilting and flowers are falling off. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplant rootbound tree now from Kerrville TX June 10, 2012 I purchased a Blanco Crabapple tree. Should I plant it now or wait until Fall? (It is currently rootbound.) Second question: Our Mountain Laurel has a dead trunk and one trunk has already died. I c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cardboard or newsprint for mulch from Cedar Park TX June 09, 2012 What is your opinion on using cardboard and/or newspaper for mulch in flower beds or around trees? 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 |  | |
| Overwatering Texas Mountain Laurel from Rosanky TX June 06, 2012 I just read your article in the Statesman about over watering Mt.Laurel. Now I know why my lovely 15 year old tree is dying. We put in new grass this winter and I watered too much. Is there any hop... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Failure to bloom of Esperanza from Austin June 06, 2012 I have an Esperanza plant. I've had this plant for over 5 years. Its in a large pot. The plant has NEVER bloomed. I fertilize maybe once a month and dont seem to be over watering, only when I notice ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Repotting non-native Agave ghiesbreghtii from Spring TX June 03, 2012 I've recently purchased an Agave ghiesbreghtii, and will need to re-pot it soon. I have some cactus soil mix as well as a few rocks to put in the bottom of its new pot. There seem to be roots comi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees starting to die in subdivision in Hutto, TX May 31, 2012 I live in Hutto Tx, in a subdivision where everyone has the 2 trees planted in the front yard. My trees have started to die, and I want to find out what kind they are to find a solution View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Putting in native grass in June in Manor TX May 31, 2012 We are moving into a new-built house in the middle of June. We opted to not have them put in Bermuda grass as we wanted to seed a native mix. From my understanding, mid June will be too late to start ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How close can house be built to live oak from Austin May 30, 2012 We have a healthy 21" live oak tree on our lot and are planning to build a home in Circle C subdivision in southwest austin. The home foundation will be within 15' of the large live oak. Need your h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When can native wildflower mix seeds be planted from Rosenberg TX May 30, 2012 I received a package of "All Native Wildflower Mix". The package says plant in Spring. Is too late to plant now or should I wait for next March? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Digging wild buttercup from roadside in Mechanicsville MD May 28, 2012 Mr. Smarty Plants, is it illegal to dig out wild buttercup in Maryland? I see them along the dirt road or just in the ditch. Since buttercup considered weed, I'm wondering what the law say about this... 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 | ||
| topic | question | |