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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| Identification of potentially toxic weed in California May 08, 2015 Hi! Sorry about the error, I'm not very computer savvy! I have a weed that grows on my land; about 1 foot tall its flower looks like a Q-tip. My neighbor says it killed her horse! I can't find i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will Hellebores planted in the soil near vegetables transfer poisons to them? April 29, 2015 I just planted helleborus in my garden and have now read that they are toxic. They are planted near vegetable plants, will they affect the vegetables and leave them inedible? Also, are they toxic to d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vines for a backyard pergola not toxic to dogs and cats April 26, 2015 We have just built a pergola in out backyard and are wanting a vine to grow up and around the posts. We have 3 dogs and also have a cat that loves to go outside. We are really looking for something th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Thyme Toxic to Cats? April 15, 2015 Is 'Pink Chintz' thyme, the ground cover, toxic to cats? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non Toxic Fruit Plants April 03, 2015 I am trying to plant on my backyard. My dog spends about 8 hours a day outdoors and I am afraid she will be poisoned. I am overwhelmed by the information of toxic trees\plants for dogs. However, I ju... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pool-Side Plants for Miami April 02, 2015 I am looking for plants, along the line of ti plant cordyline features, to plant around my chlorinated pool area with full South Miami sun. We have a dog therefore they must be non-toxic plants. The... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Agave attenuata Poisonous? March 12, 2015 Is Agave attenuata (foxtail agave) poisonous to horses or humans? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-Toxic Flowering Vine for Sunny Trellis in California March 12, 2015 I am looking for a flowering trellis plant that is non-toxic to my dog, will grow in the California area that I live in, and will be in full sun. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Skin Reaction form Cochineal on Prickly Pear February 16, 2015 I have severe burning and peeling skin on pads of fingers after touching "white stuff" on a prickly pear. White stuff tuned purple then burned skin even after washing hands. Skin has been cracking a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Viguiera dentate leaves toxic to dogs? November 26, 2014 Many dogs on the Turkey Creek Nature Trail in Emma Long Metropolitan Park love to snack on the leaves of the Viguiera Dentata plants. The leaves SEEM to be harmless. I am writing to request informat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is the fruit of Melothria pendula edible? November 22, 2014 Is the fruit of Melothria pendula edible? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Kousa Dogwood Fruit Toxic to Dogs? October 14, 2014 Are Kousa dogwood berries toxic to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is mulch from hackberry and chinaberry trees safe for flowerbeds? September 17, 2014 We had to remove several large hackberry and china berry trees. Is its mulch safe to use in garden and in flower beds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for shade in Duval County, Florida September 17, 2014 What low growing ground cover would be good for a lake edge area. This area is shaded with overlying woodland type trees. I planted some autumn ferns but they have getting overrun with poison ivy. I a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are Castor Bean Leaves Toxic to Pets? September 13, 2014 I understand that the beans of the castor plant on lethal if chewed on. Are the leaves that toxic? I would love to plant this plant and not let it flower, but I do have visiting grandchildren and dog... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of bush/vine with purple berries August 09, 2014 I was clearing fence line and came across this plant it looks like a Bush but underneath grows like a vine it has long broad leaves that reminded me of Polk salad but it grows berry clusters the berri... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Viburnum dilatatum 'Henneke' (Cardinal Candy) toxic to horses? July 01, 2014 Is Viburnum-Cardinal Candy/Viburnum dilatatum 'Henneke' reported to be toxic or non-toxic to horses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of possible toxic plant in Austin, TX June 20, 2014 When we hike with our dogs along Turkey Creek in Austin, they seem to make a bee line to a small green leafy plant when they find it along the trail and eat a few leaves of it. We assume it's not dan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating silverleaf nightshade from Albuquerque NM June 07, 2014 I have silverleaf nightshade in my yard and would like to eradicate it (yeah, I know, good luck!) or at least control it. Do you have any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant ID from San Marcos TX June 07, 2014 My dogs love to eat the leaves of a certain little orange wildflower. It might be Wedelia or Texas creeping oxeye. Have you ever heard of this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Phyla lanceolata (frogfruit) poisonous to dogs fromTitusville FL? June 01, 2014 Is Phyla lanceolata, also called Fogfruit, Lanceleaf Fogfruit, or Northern Fogfruit, toxic to dogs? We have it growing amongst our grass. I can't find it on any toxic plant list. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native astilbe resemblance to non-native poisonous castor bean from Tomslake BC May 21, 2014 I have a plant that looks like a castor bean but it has flowers like a Younique Silvery Pink Astilbe. Need to id because castor bean is poisonous. This plant grows up to 5 feet in height. Thank you ! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will Canada geese eat Asclepias tuberosa from Cape May Court, NJ May 20, 2014 Will Canada geese eat my butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)? I know this plant is deer resistant. I really want to plant some on sandy bank near pond in my back yard, but I fear the geese will ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Muhlenbergia dumosa safe for horses from Austin May 13, 2014 Is Muhlenbergia dumosa safe for horses? Will horses eat it? I have a client who has a mini-horse who visits her property on occasion, and I want to ensure that what I plant is both safe for the hors... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Fern-like Plant with White Flower Poison Hemlock? May 06, 2014 I have a fern-like plant which produces white flowers that uncurl from the stem as the plant starts to grow. Is this poison hemlock? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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