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.
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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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| Plants for steep embankment on the Missouri River in Nebraska July 01, 2009 Hi, My embankment along the Northeast Nebraska shoreline of the Missouri River is eroding the land away. Do you have any suggestions for seed I could throw over the side of the bank that would grow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seeding wildflowers in Dallas June 30, 2009 What is the best way to establish seed for wildflowers in Dallas, TX? The area does get some irrigation from rotors. Would hydromulch be the most effective option? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to come up of blackeyed susans in Lancaster PA June 28, 2009 My blackeyed susans have been blooming for ten years. All of a sudden this year they didn't come up at all..why? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When is the best time to plant or seed after a wildfire? April 29, 2009 This past week our 1 acre lake property at Possum Kingdom Lake in north Texas was scorched by a wildfire. No brush, grass or bushes remain, and we're hoping not to lose all the cedar and mesquite tr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Creating a bluebonnet patch between Brenham and Houston. April 12, 2009 I am creating a Bluebonnet patch in a well-drained section of my flowerbed. I just planted the plants (it is now early April and I'm between Houston and Brenham, TX). I plan to let them go to seed ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When to harvest bluebonnet seeds in Hurst TX April 12, 2009 Can I harvest the Blue Bonnet Seeds now (April) or do I have to wait until they dry up & pods begin to open? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Should I transplant my bluebonnets from the planter they came into soil in Austin? April 10, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Since moving to Austin two years ago I have fallen in love with bluebonnets. Last year I purchased seedlings from the Wildflower Center but a taste-first-evaluate-later inquis... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seed for Kosteletzkya virginica, salt marsh mallow January 13, 2009 I have a nursery in North Carolina. We are looking for a reliable seed source for kosteletzkya virginica salt marsh mallow. We are www.campbellfamilynursery.com View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Photograph of seedling or pigeon berry (Rivina humilis) seedling January 13, 2009 Where can I find a photograph of a pigeon berry seedling? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about growing mountain laurels (Sophora secundiflora) November 15, 2008 I live just outside of Austin on 10 acres. I have several very large mountain laurels on my property that I planted from containers. Mine flower profusely every year. I feed them bi-weekly and wate... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting Mexican bonebract in Floresville, TX November 12, 2008 My kids and I finally identified a small plant that we found growing in our pasture. There was only one and it is lovely. It is the Mexican Bonebract. What I am interested in finding out is how to tra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Camellia seeds September 21, 2008 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants; I have a Camellia plant that has bulbs that look like they could be fruit. And when this bulb opened, four or five little nuts came out. Are they fruit or nuts and can they be e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure of Viburnum dentatum to produce berries in Maryland September 20, 2008 I planted several Viburnum dentatum shrubs in a hedgerow for my yard. Although I have some other viburnums in the yard, this shrub blooms profusely but does not ever produce berries. What can I do t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to get rid of plants spreading fluffy seeds July 27, 2008 I live in Blaine, MN next to a Lake. The "buffer zones" next to the lake are filled with native grasses, weeds & wildflowers. We are trying to identify a plant that blooms July with lavender flowe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Die-off of Texas bluebells June 04, 2008 I live in southeast Travis County east of IH35 in the Blackland Prairie. We have a gorgeous stand of Texas bluebells. Last year, the bluebells would look fine, then they would turn brown and die for... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mountain ash seedlings in Yorkshire, England May 25, 2008 Is there any way I can stop Mountain Ash from seeding in my garden. This year in particular, I am absolutely overrun with the seedlings and once they get a hold they are difficult to remove. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Too late to begin planting in May in Austin? April 30, 2008 Is it too late to begin planting in May? I live in Austin Texas and have finally completed my plans for a native Texas landscaping (plants and grass) of my front yard. I'd like to get the landscapi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Sophora gypsophila from seed April 23, 2008 Sophora gypsophila B.L. Turner & Powell Do you have any information on growing this small tree from seed? I have a few seeds and would like to try. What conditions break seed dormancy? I have grown ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting bluebonnets April 20, 2008 How long do bluebonnet seeds take to mature, and when is the earliest in their development they can be harvested? When can they be scattered? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Information about Lady Lupine (Lupinus villosus) April 20, 2008 Dear Mr.Smarty Plants, Lady Lupine grows in our yard in northeast Florida, and I would like to learn more about it, especially the stages it goes through, like now the purple petals themselves are c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bluebonnets in memorial garden in cemetery April 11, 2008 When is the peak time to scatter bluebonnet seeds? I have a loved one that recently died, and she requested that her body be cremated. She would like her ashes to be mixed with bluebonnet seeds and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Germination of bluebonnet seeds in Hempstead, TX April 01, 2008 We scattered 20 lbs of bluebonnet seeds on our property near Hempstead. Only about 10 plants have come up even though on another part of the property we have thousands. It is well drained and in sun.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Problems with Eves necklacepods (Styphnolobium affine) March 25, 2008 Mr. S-P, I urgently need your advice regarding two Eve's necklacepods that appear to be dying. They are in two completely different areas of my yard. One began leafing out and then the leaves sh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Texas bluebonnets in North Carolina March 11, 2008 I live in North Carolina and love the Texas Bluebonnets. Can I create my own mix of soil to be able to grow them here? Soil is basically red clay and icky. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bluebonnet seeds north of Chicago March 11, 2008 Hi My husband is originally from Texas - we now live north of Chicago. Last year he bought a whole bunch of Blue bonnet seeds from a company that said they would grow in our area... I planted enough ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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