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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| Survival of bluebonnets in extreme heat from Tioga TX September 03, 2011 Is there anything I can do for my bluebonnet patch in this extreme drought for the rest of the summer and fall? Should I have watered this summer? I had a good show and think seeding was fairly normal... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of Cahaba lily from Columbia TN September 03, 2011 My cahaba lilies have so many seed pods. I would like to use the seeds properly to grow more lilies. Can anyone tell me the best way to go about it? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting trumpet creeper in Prairie City, IA August 22, 2011 I have a Trumpet Creeper that I would like to transplant. How do you do that? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Commercial sources of Virginia creeper August 19, 2011 I am looking for Virginia Creeper 'Engelmannii' liners, I have looked through most of your national suppliers directory, only a couple carry vines. Thank you, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting a redbud in August from St. Louis MO August 09, 2011 I have a 4' tall redbud that needs to be transplanted before the end of August because of construction on our house. Can this be done without killing the tree? Can I take a cutting from the tree and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting young Nolina texana plants August 05, 2011 Mr. SP, I am looking for information relating to transplanting some young Nolina texana. Esp. the best time of the year and whether to replant directly in the ground or .. Thanks, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagating Magnolia grandiflora from Murfreesboro TN August 03, 2011 There are several Magnolia grandiflora (Southern magnolia) that have been planted in my neighborhood in middle Tennessee by a landscaping company, and now that they all appear to be producing seeds, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Reproducing Echinacea 'Sunbeam' from Powthan VA August 03, 2011 I would like to reproduce a flowering plant- Sundown echinacea. I have a plant now. Can you give me info on how to do it? thanks so much. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Air layering with Spanish moss from Dunnellon FL July 28, 2011 Is it possible to air layer plant cuttings using Spanish Moss instead of Sphagum Moss? I have a yard full! Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of quincula lobata from Alleyton TX July 20, 2011 Quincula lobata..how to propagate and when? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native Moth Mullein as a garden plant from Starksville MS July 09, 2011 I collected seeds from a beautiful Moth Mullein growing in a lot which will soon be bulldozed. Would I regret sowing them in the back of a sunny perennial bed this fall. These are from the white-pin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating magnolias from Springtown TX July 07, 2011 I am trying to find out how to plant Magnolia tree seeds and what has to be done with them prior to planting, if anything and what type of soil to use. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Tx Mt. Laurel and Mex. Buckeye seed propagation in drought July 01, 2011 I live in the Hill Country near New Braunfels. Since I am only at my house in July and August, I would like to plant both Texas Mountain Laurel and Mexican Buckeye from the seeds harvested from mothe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Squirrels eating seed pods of Rock Rose in Austin June 24, 2011 Squirrel(s) have been ripping the branches off my rock rose bushes in order to eat the seed pods. Previously we had problems with squirrel(s) gnawing on our garden ornaments. I sprayed the ornaments ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Collecting seeds for Texas Bluebell from Clifton TX June 13, 2011 How and when should I try and collect seeds from the Texas Bluebell? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can wildflower seeds be stored in plastic from Bayside TX June 10, 2011 I have been harvesting seeds from all of the varieties of wildflowers I'd planted in a raised flower bed. I had vacuum sealed them with my Seal-A Meal but a few days ago I was told that this was not ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Saving seeds of western red cedar from Monroe WA June 06, 2011 I would like to know how to save and store seeds of western redcedar if not planning on planting them their current year. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| germinating Gulf coast penstemon and purple coneflower June 03, 2011 I'm interested in propagating gulf coast penstemon (penstemon tenuis) from seed. Do I have to mascerate the 'berries' to remove the pulp from the seed, and do I have to stratify the seed to get th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Care of recently propagated Century Plant from Litchfield Park AZ April 24, 2011 To germinate some century plant seeds I put them in dirt and put the pot in a tray of water. Now, I have 3 sprouts about an inch tall and they came up about an inch apart. Question is, how should I w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Blackfoot Daisy from Gonzales TX March 25, 2011 How do I propagate Melampodium leucanthum, blackfoot daisy? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing native trees from seeds March 25, 2011 I'm trying to let large empty sections of my property revert back to woods by means of natural seeding. I have existing White Oaks, Water Oaks, Yaupon Hollies, Sweet Gums, Loblolly Pines, American E... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need advice for growing Texas Mountain Laurel from seed in Humble, TX March 25, 2011 We live in Humble, Texas 77396 and would like to grow some Texas Mountain Laurel trees from seed. I recently read that they may not grow well in this area because they prefer the Texas Hill country a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Red Yucca from Golden, CO March 17, 2011 I have collected the mature seeds of Hesperaloe parviflora (the red yucca). Can you tell me what steps I need to follow for successful germination? Many thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting orange-flowered asclepias in Austin March 15, 2011 I have asclepias seeds of the orange flower variety and would like to plant them. What should I do for the best success, and how long does it take for them to come up? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting Spiderwort in Austin March 14, 2011 I have a big patch of spiderwort that has popped up in the middle of my front lawn. Will it survive being dug up and moved to the garden? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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