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?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Search Smarty Plants
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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 | ||
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