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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topic	question
Rain Gardens Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs Shrubs Trees	Need suggestions for plants for bioswales in Philadelphia, PA August 24, 2015 Hello, Are there a handful of species you would recommend for inclusion in bioswales throughout the US? I realize plants need to be selected based on climate, but I'm wondering if there are two or... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Non-Natives Watering Drought Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like	Will Bermuda grass survive a drought-induced dormancy? August 12, 2015 If I stop watering a Bermuda grass lawn and let it go dormant, will it green up again when it rains again? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Planting Erosion Control Shade Tolerant Ferns Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs Shrubs Trees	Erosion controlling plants for a shady Minnesota lakeside August 11, 2015 I live about 50 yards from a lake and there is a steep embankment. Recently someone decided to cut the trees off the embankment and now the dirt is eroding off the embankment as well as off my back ya... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Shade Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like	Replacement for Love Grass in Michigan July 27, 2015 need a replacement for Love Grass at Shops of Willow Bend in Plano. The entire perimeter of this mall has Bermuda and Love Grass. The Elms and Oaks have grown so the Love Grass is mostly gone. Ther... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Groundcovers Shade Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like	Lawn for a Shady & Wet area in Austin, TX July 22, 2015 We have a drainage area that has appeared in our back yard since the neighbors� homes were built. When we get heavy rains (like this year) all their drainage flows into our back yard and forms a river... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Planting Propagation Erosion Control Ferns Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs Shrubs Trees	Stopping erosion on bank of a Florida retention pond July 21, 2015 I live on a retention pond, which has had all vegetation killed by the lake doctor. As a result the bank has eroded so there is a drop off directly to the water rather than a sloping bank. What plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Erosion Control Grasses or Grass-like Shrubs	Hillside Erosion in Pace FL July 17, 2015 I have a hillside that slopes down about 10 feet to a spring fed pond. The pond drains into Escambia Bay. We have 2 dams with culverts to control the flow of water. Last year during a torrential ra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Xeriscapes Drought Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs	Drought-Tolerant Plants for Arizona July 16, 2015 Slowly turning south-facing lawn to drought-tolerant plantings with gravel paths. Mature Ponderosa and several blue spruce and junipers surround area. Grass area I'm converting with a few larger tr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Planting Groundcovers Grasses or Grass-like	Groundcover Planting in Shiro TX July 09, 2015 I have been collecting seeds from White Avens and Texas Sedge to use as ground covers. What is the optimal time to plant these seeds? We have been experiencing heavy rains in our area lately, so I am ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Problem Plants Grasses or Grass-like	Dead, brown Habiturf lawn July 07, 2015 I planted Habiturf seeds last fall and had a good lawn all winter. Now the grass is brown and dead. Did it drown with all the rain we have had? If so, what should I do now? If not, what should I do... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Pollinators Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs	Pollinator friendly lawn for Longmont CO July 06, 2015 I have a sunny, treeless, South-facing yard, with a slight South-facing slope in Boulder County, CO. It has one patch of buffalo grass, but is more then half some other type of grass. I would like t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Shade Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like	Seep Muhly in limited sunlight. July 01, 2015 Can Seep Muhly withstand just 3 or 4 hours of direct sunlight in an urban setting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Turf Grasses or Grass-like	Best grass for the shade in Austin, TX. July 01, 2015 What is the best grass seed for shade in Austin? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Diseases and Disorders Grasses or Grass-like	Need help with dying clumps of Cedar Sedge June 24, 2015 Carex planostachys. This grass was planted 2 years ago in light shade. It grew well until this year. Now some clumps are dying. Others in same area look fine. No insects can be detected. Why are... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Water Gardens Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs Shrubs	Evergreen perennials for a pond bank in Texas June 18, 2015 We want evergreen perennial plants for the banks of our small pond. The banks are eroding and we need to help keep them strong. We have ducks in the pond and lots of turtles. We would love something ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Water Gardens Planting Ferns Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs Shrubs Trees	Poolside plants for East Texas June 18, 2015 What are the best plants, shrubs, ornamental trees, etc. for poolside planting in East Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Plant Identification Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs	A blue-eyed grass with salmon-colored blooms? June 16, 2015 Has anyone heard of a blue-eyed grass variety that has salmon-colored blooms? I have a photo if needed. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Turf Grasses or Grass-like	When do Habiturf� grasses make seeds? June 16, 2015 I planted Habiturf seeds last year near Dripping Springs. It looks like the Buffalo grass has had seeds on it for a week or 2. How long does it need to remain on the live Buffalo Grass before it can b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Grasses or Grass-like Shrubs	Foundation Plants for Leander, TX June 05, 2015 Looking for suggestions for a narrow bed 2-3 ft. wide, 32 ft. long against my house. Full evening sun with morning shade. Considering Salvia greggii with some type of companion plants/grasses ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Meadow Gardens Seeds and Seeding Grasses or Grass-like	When to harvest native grass seeds? May 29, 2015 We are trying to restore native grasses to a small pasture between Oak Hill and Dripping Springs. Last spring (2014), we seeded a mix of sideoats grama, little bluestem, dahl bluestem, and sprangleto... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs Wildflowers	Indian Paintbrush outnumbering our Bluebonnets this year. May 26, 2015 We noticed we have more Indian paintbrush than bluebonnets in our front yard this year. Our issue is we also have more spear grass than normal. Is there a way to control this grass without killing th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Plant Identification Grasses or Grass-like	Identity of grass-like plant with white or cream flowers in The Woodlands, TX? May 16, 2015 What is the name of the tall grass-like plant with small white or cream flowers that is planted in most esplanades in The Woodlands, TX.? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Problem Plants Turf Grasses or Grass-like	Controlling weeds in Habiturf lawn May 16, 2015 What's the best way to get rid of weeds in a Habiturf lawn? Habiturf seems like a great idea, but even with no extra water and no fertilizer, it seems the weeds take over - K.R. Bluestem and various... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Diseases and Disorders Grasses or Grass-like	Effect of heavy rains on Lindheimer Muhly May 04, 2015 It is April 2015, in San Antonio we've had very heavy rains recently. My Lindheimer muhly, which was looking beautiful, has now turned brown all over. Is this normal or is this a problem? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Drought Tolerant Turf Grasses or Grass-like	Drought-tolerant turf for Southern California April 23, 2015 Is it possible to grow Habiturf in Riverside, California, in the area of UC Riverside? The climate is similar to the desert areas or Arizona, just slightly cooler in the Summer. If not, is there a d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
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