Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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?

Share

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
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
<< previous 1 2 3 next >> 
252 Results:   10  25  50 100 per page


topicquestion
Checklist of native plants
March 03, 2008
I have recently submitted my membership. I would like to know if there is a complete list of wildflowers, that one may check off as they are seen, such as the birders check off their lifetime list.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

How do plants living in various climates differ?
February 25, 2008
Do plants that live in different climates have different tecture or are they just totally different?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

The most important part of growing plants.
February 21, 2008
In your opinion what is the most important part of growing plants.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Why is water used for plants.
February 19, 2008
Why is water the most popular thing for watering plants if is so plain?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Withering plants recover with water
February 17, 2008
Why do withering plants stand up when you give them water?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone of Haskell, TX
February 17, 2008
What region are we in --- Haskell, Tx. (Between Abilene and Wichita Falls)
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Looking for leaves of milkweed plants for experiment
February 09, 2008
I am an undergraduate chemistry student at the University of Portland and want to perform an experiment using milkweed leaves. How would I get milkweed leaves at this time of year? Any help you can p...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Thickness of liquid when growing plants
February 09, 2008
Q: Does the thickness of liquid matter when growing plants?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Effect of epsom salts and gray water on plants
December 04, 2007
We live in Phoenix where water is a precious commodity. We have decided to use as much of the gray water as we can for watering our garden, shrubs and trees. One of the suggestions we heard about w...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Plants killed by frost
October 31, 2007
In a frost why do flowers etc. die where grass will not die?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Information about glucose concentration in plants for Science Fair project
October 24, 2007
I am a high school student enrolling in science fair. MY topic is as follows, "Can a plant be removed from the sun and put in dark and still survive if I directly inject glucose into the stem/roots (...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Century plant dying after bloom
August 12, 2007
My century plant is so tall that it is up to the top of the telephone pole top lines that carry our streets electric. I was wanting to know if you knew if I cut the stock off would it save the plant ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Correct spelling of Passiflora caerulea
August 07, 2007
What is correct, passiflora coerulea or caerulea ?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Percentage of flowers that close up at night
July 19, 2007
Percentage-wise, approximately how many species of flowers close up at night? Is there a list anywhere?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Percentage of worlds flowers of each color
July 14, 2007
What percentage of the world's flowers are blue? red? white? yellow?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Where do plants grow?
June 23, 2007
Where do plants grow?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Inducing flowering out of season
June 22, 2007
We are currently conducting research on insect transmission of a plant virus to flowering weeds. Is there a process to trick biennials into flowering in their first year?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Identification of first flower on Earth
June 14, 2007
When was the first on Earth and who find it and what was the name of the flower. Also what part of the Earth was if find?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Herbarium locations for Bifora americana
May 12, 2007
Dr Hampton: I am trying to find specific locations of populations of Bifora americana (prairie bishop). Apparently, many collections of this species have been made in the Dallas-Ft Worth area as we...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Identification of Cryptomeria japonica for homeowners association
May 09, 2007
Good morning. We are wondering if Cryptomeria japonica trees can fit under the term "pine like". We used the term pine like when asking for our home owners associations approval and we put in a Cr...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

20 years to bloom
May 02, 2007
My girlfriend and i have come up with an interesting question, we were wondering if there is a plant in existance that takes over 20 years to bloom, and how many different kinds (if any) there are? We...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Native plants that will grow under alleopathic black walnut
March 03, 2007
I have a large, beautiful black walnut tree in my yard and have trouble growing the annuals, begonia, impatients, etc., that I have always grown. They don't do well in the ground and I have resorted...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Plants that might absorb moisture from air
February 27, 2007
I am searching for a plant that will reduce the relative humidity of a building. I work for a manufacturing company that is experiencing problems with water condensing on ceilings and equipment due t...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Alleotrophic effects of caffeine found in Ilex species
January 24, 2007
I'm doing research for my biology class on the alleotrophic effects of caffeine. I'm planning to use Ilex vomitoria as the caffeine-producing plant. As the control I want to use another non-c...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Definition of what constitutes a native plant
January 23, 2007
Hello, I am doing research concerning "native plants" for the Northeast. I am "befuddled" as I am finding conflicting definitions for what constitutes a native plant. Do you have a good definiti...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Mechanism for Cenizo bush blooming before rain
October 04, 2006
Why does cenizo (aka barometer bush) bloom before it rains?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Books on Lilies
August 27, 2006
Dear Sir, I am looking for a book covering the Lily Family as a whole, i.e., it should preferably also discuss other Genera than Lilium only. I am especially interested in Lily members occurring in t...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Contacts with botanical illustrators
July 16, 2006
I am interested in preparing 3D (stereoscopic) illustrations of plants and flowers. Can you give some contacts with botanical illustrators for guidance? Are there any guidelines about botanical illust...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Drawings of Illinois native wildflowers
July 15, 2006
I am looking for line drawings of Illinois Native Wildflowers to use for educational material for visitors to our new City Park. We plan to have signs throughout the park describing how Native Americ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Plants adding calcium to soil
June 08, 2006
Hi, I am looking for a resource to help determine the functions of native plants. For instance, nitrogen fixing can be found in Indigo, Lead plant, lupines. Are there other plants that add back cal...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Why do sunflowers turn towards the sun?
February 27, 2006
Why do sunflowers turn towards the sun?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Effectiveness of house plants for removing household air pollution
January 30, 2006
I have heard that there is a combination of house plants that will increase the oxgyen in your home. Could you please tell me the names of these plants? I think there are a group of four of them. ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Mycotrophic plants that develop underground for years in Alabama
January 10, 2006
I recently heard someone say that there was a plant that took seven years to grow. They stated that the seed is in the ground but it begins the growth under ground but does not come to the surface for...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Consequences of leaving geranium in dark room
December 18, 2005
What would happen to a geranium plant that was left to grow in a dark room for many days?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Possible reasons for yellow heads for Indian Blanket
December 13, 2005
I had Indian Blanket flowers that had almost pure yellow heads. Will the seeds of these flowers produce plants that will have yellow flowers?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Process of transpiration in plants
November 21, 2005
I'm in 6th grade and I have a science project to do and the question is, Do living plants give off moisture. The first part of my project is to explain how living plants give off moisture. I've chec...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on science projects
October 24, 2005
Hello, i am a 6th grade student at a middle school in GA. I am doing a science project and my question is, "Does music affect plant growth?" Is there a plant that would work best for me to experiment...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on temperature
October 18, 2005
Mr.Smarty Plants, I am a student at Hill Freedman Middle school and I have a science fair coming up. I really need a answer to this question "What effect does temperature have on the growth of plants...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on forbs
October 16, 2005
What kind of plant is a forb? I see the term used frequently in reference to grasses (I think), but I can't figure out exactly what a forb is.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Monocarpic plants for Indiana
October 06, 2005
We were in Hawaii this summer and became acquainted with the Silversword. This plant (according to what we were told) blooms only once in it's lifetime (of 50-70 years). Are you aware of any other pl...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on air purification
September 14, 2005
What plant purifies the air?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on Science Fair projects
September 13, 2005
I would like to know what kind of plants can grow in two weeks? Please answer quickly so I can do my Science Fair project.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on Wildflowerology
July 08, 2005
I know there is a word for everything, but I can't find the offical word for the study of wildflowers. Wildflowerology just doesn't sound right. Can you help?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on cell elongation
June 09, 2005
Why do plants grow faster in the dark?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Copper beech
May 12, 2005
Hi, I work for a youth camp in southeastern Pennsylvania. The property for the camp was purchased from a farmer in 1958. The farmer was a collecter of unusual trees and one of the trees on our prop...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Native plant initiatives for universities in Southeast U.S.
April 26, 2005
Hello, I am an undergraduate student majoring in botany at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN. I am a native plant enthusiast and would like to promote n.p.'s on campus. Do you kn...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on spines
April 09, 2005
What do you call part of a plant that is needle-like or has spikes or bristles?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Genetics reason for color variation in Indian paintbrush
April 03, 2005
Are the color variations in Indian paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa) a matter of genetic mutation or minerals in the soil? I say it's genetic and the rest of the family says it's environmental.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on Hypogon
March 22, 2005
How many sides does a hypogon have?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on aceae
March 21, 2005
How is the family suffix "-aceae", as in Asteraceae, pronounced? I find disagreeing claims in my searches- "ay-see-ee" and "ay-see-ay" seem to be the most common, but I've also seen just "ay-...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on plant names
March 16, 2005
I want to learn what the scientific names of plants indicate about the plant physiology, its namer, its evolutionary relation to other plants, etc. Could you give a print or web source for looking up ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Definition of a weed
April 22, 2003
What is your definition of a weed?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

topicquestion

<< previous 1 2 3 next >> 
252 Results:   10  25  50 100 per page