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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| topic | question | |
| Caterpillars feeding on Phacelia congesta May 11, 2014 Can you tell me which caterpillars can be found on Phacelia congesta in Bell County? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Early nectar blooms for Monarch butterflies from Austin May 04, 2014 Could you tell me any early spring blooming nectar plants that monarchs will nectar from. I'm specifically looking for bloom times in March and early April. I have plenty of May blooms but not ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growth rate of non-native Asclepias curassavica April 29, 2014 As a volunteer at the National Butterfly center, I wonder how long from starting the seeds until the plant reaches approximately 20 cm tall does it take a tropical milkweed (asclepias curassavica) to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Availability of Heliotropium angiospermum from Austin April 01, 2014 I have admired the Wildflower Center's Heliotropium angiospermum (Scorpian's Tail) for the great number of butterflies it attracts. I would really love to purchase one on these plants, but don't se... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Butterfly Garden, non-poisonous to Dogs, in Taylor MI March 27, 2014 I have a small fenced yard with a patio that my dogs have free access to. I would like to create a butterfly garden and add other plants that are non toxic to my dachshunds. Any suggestions. I am f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Natives for wet soil in Cincinnati OH March 21, 2014 I live in Cincinnati and the soil in my back yard is wet (soggy) all year round. There are moss and grass growing in the yard. The area is shaded in the afternoon but receives sun earlier in the day. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Butterfly garden from Buffalo, NY February 20, 2014 I'd like to replace the grass in my front yard with a native butterfly garden that will suit the larval and adult stages of butterflies in Western New York. The patch in question faces north and gets... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hardy plants for Oklahoma raised garden at Oklahoma school February 12, 2014 I am planting a raised flower bed with fifth graders. It will have a little shade in the morning and evening possibly. What plants are durable and can withstand OK summer heat. We will be planting ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Getting milkweed seeds into seed mixes from Milwaukee WI February 07, 2014 My husband and I are concerned about the Monarch butterfly migration and have started an effort to get milkweed planted along some bike trails here in Wisconsin. This made me think of Ladybird Johnso... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native annuals for pollinators in King County, Washington February 06, 2014 I live in King County, Washington State, and I have a plot in a community garden. Rather than plant food, I'd like to attract pollinators. I need to use native annuals rather than perennials as the c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for Daisy Girl Scout native plants project December 13, 2013 Hello, I am a daisy Girl Scout leader and we are working on one of our Journeys and Native Plants Patch Program which requires our group of 5-6 year old girls to plant and care for a mini-garden. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why is butterfly weeds blooming in October? November 07, 2013 I live in Horseshoe Bay Texas and have native landscape environment. Last year, in early September, I had a plethora of butterfly weed in bloom and a large variety and quantity of butterflies. This ye... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Winter care of Asclepias tuberosa from Austin October 31, 2013 We have several asclepias tuberosa (Butterflyweed). Monarch caterpillars have found and denuded them. We are excited about all of the Monarch caterpillars, but unsure of what to do next. What do we... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| A Bounty of Edibles for New Braunfels Texas October 25, 2013 I was hoping you could suggest a few plants that would serve several purposes. I live in New Braunfels, TX and would like to incorporate as many drought tolerant plants which would support birds, but... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native nightshade that is a host to hornworm-hawk's eye moth October 03, 2013 Is there a native nightshade that serves as a host to tomato hornworm/hawks eye moth? I like the moth and as a gardener do not like the hornworm. I would like to have a patch of not terribly toxic nig... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Purple Passionflower as a native in Charlottesville VA September 18, 2013 Is it possible to grow purple passion flower as a perennial in zone 7? I am looking for hummers and butterflies to be attracted by the plant. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Maintenance of milkweed from Austin September 12, 2013 I help plant and maintain a Monarch Waystation Garden in San Leanna, Texas (South Austin). Should milkweed plants be cut back during the winter? Last year we cut them back a bit late and some died c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Effects or insecticide on Monarch butterflies July 28, 2013 Thank you for fielding questions about plants!! Our nursery just informed us that their milkweed grower was using imidacloprid in their milkweed production. As a follow up to the question already in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacement for Globe Thistle in Virginia June 15, 2013 Hi, We are trying to get our garden to be 100% North American Native and are at about 90% native to our region. One of the last plants we have to replace is our Globe Thistle. Do you have a good r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of plant with small lilac flowers in Laredo May 14, 2013 Need help identifying the following: small lilac flowers in a cluster with seed pods, unpleasant scent which can be up to 3 feet tall ..wild flower or weed? am interested if it attracts hummingbirds... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Food for butterflies in Austin April 21, 2013 Mr. Smarty Plants, my kids and I are raising Painted Lady butterflies from caterpillars but it's still too cold to release them (oddly cool spring we're having!) If they mate and lay eggs, what loc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Amending soil for butterfly garden in Houston April 01, 2013 My girl scout troop will be planting a butterfly garden at a middle school in Houston. In researching plants to use, we have come across some such as echinacea, rose vervain, galliarda and Texas gay... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Questions about milkweed seeds March 28, 2013 Dear folks, I am trying to locate Nan Hampton from Los Fresnos, Texas who asked about Asclepias texana seeds and other Asclepias seeds on Dec. 10, 2008. I would like to know if she found any and has... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowers for monarch butterflies in Bastrop, Gonzales and Travis Counties of Texas March 05, 2013 Hi Mr./s. Smarty Plants, What are some flowers that grow naturally on a Bastrop, Travis, or Gonzales county riverside that monarch butterflies commonly feed on? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Perennial native plant to attract butterflies/hummingbirds January 24, 2013 Need 3-6 foot perennial native plant to attract butterflies/hummingbirds in Paris Texas...full sun, with sprinkler system View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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