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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Hungry turtles trample pond in Houston Texas October 17, 2011 I have a very large back yard pond (actually, a former swimming pool) that's home to a bullfrog, four Red-eared slider turtles, and scads of gambusia (little mosquito eating fish). I'd like to add n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant for a salt water pool in Australia September 27, 2011 What plant is a perfect plant for small areas around a salt water pool? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wildflowers for a pond in MO September 10, 2011 I have a spring fed pond in Missouri and would like to plant perennial wildflowers in the area around it. Are there any that would do better or others that are not recommended? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with non-native bi-color iris from Spring Branch TX August 18, 2011 Bi colored iris. I have four plants planted around our water feature last fall. Up until recently they all looked very healthy, yet not blooming. Several weeks ago I noticed that two of the plants ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Looking for grasses for slope around retention pond in Florida August 02, 2011 I live in St. Petersburg, FL on a large retention pond. Most of my neighbors on the pond have seawalls. I do not nor do my neighbors to my left and right. I am interested in colorful grasses to put... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Restoring a slope in the Mississippi sandhill region August 01, 2011 We are building on 5 acres (leaving 60% as is, natural). Only building a small (900-1200 sq ft house) & clearing 1 acre of the valley for a pond. There is a steep slope (where we had to put field dra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Erosion prevention on shady Pennsylvania stream July 28, 2011 I'm looking for a few species to plant along a stream channel to help reduce erosion during heavy rains. The soil is moist and in full shade. Ferns and thorny bushes are the only current vegetation... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Water absorbing plant from Surbiton, England May 21, 2011 Ground soggy with rain, is there a plant that will absorb water? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for NY wetland yard April 30, 2011 We have standing water in our yard for the entire spring and sometimes summer if it's a rainy one. We dug a ditch and found that our yard has a natural spring, which explains a lot. I need to know ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need an attractive plant to help stabilize a wet area in East Stroudsburg PA. April 20, 2011 We have a small run off from one pond to another. At the bottom of the slope, the area is always wet--and not from the run off. Is there a low growing plant that would provide a root system to help st... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant to stabilize a stream bank in PA April 02, 2011 Native plants to stabilize steep stream bank in semi shade to full shade. Southeastern PA. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for a pond bank in NE Pennsylvania January 13, 2011 I had a 3/4 acre pond built this fall in Northeastern Pennsylvania (Susquehanna county; zone 4). The pond banks are packed, hard rocky clay. What plants can I plant in the 3 foot bank between pond ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
More than you want to know about planting a pond in Austin Texas December 10, 2010 Winterizing Water Garden QA from Nov 27 Austin American-Statesman: Would the garden (60-gal aluminum) with those plants (papyrus, horsetail, water lily) be placed in the sun, shade, part shade or ? I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Winter tank pond care in Austin Texas November 09, 2010 Suggestions for winterizing a water garden in Austin Texas. Water contained in a 60 gallon aluminum horse tank. Garden contains papyrus, horsetail and water lily. There are no fish in the pond and no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for wet soil in turtle enclosure in Virginia September 03, 2010 We recently installed a turtle pond in our backyard in Arlington, VA. We built an enclosure around the pond to protect the turtle from raccoons and herons, and left some open area for the turtle to g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need water absorbing plants in Syracuse, NY August 18, 2010 I'm Looking for water absorbing plants and shrubs -not so much trees. My rain barrels and downspouts are still creating too much run off. I want to line a walkway and keep rainwater run-off from drai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Can Juncus effusus winter outside in Mountville PA? June 28, 2010 If we have the juncus effusus spiralis outside in a small pond and you say to let it outside in the winter does that mean we should let it in the pond? thanks for your time View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Flowering vine for trellis behind fountain in Anaheim Hills CA June 05, 2010 We are looking for a flowering vine to plant on a trellis surrounding a water fountain. The fountain splashes leaving the soil constantly wet. We have tried numerous vines, but they all die due to t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for edge of a field pond in Missouri June 03, 2010 I have a 25ft x 50ft field pond in Versailles, MO. What do you suggest for the water's edge plantings so that we might fish over them. Weed eating is eating ME up! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for area around a fountain in full sun near Dallas May 19, 2010 I'm seeking advice on what I can plant around the base of a fountain, in full sun, that can tolerate the fountain water splash/spray. I'm seeking something that can be maintained to a maximum h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Remake of church grotto in Highlands, TX April 24, 2010 I'm looking to reform our Church Grado. I would like some beautiful (fitting) flowers that are native to Texas. Low upkeep preferred. Possible some nice water flowers to put into waterways. Plan to a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Best time to plant wetland plants in NY April 19, 2010 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants - I'm working on a fresh water, shoreline wetland creation project in New York State. I've created two zones of native wetland plantings, an emergent shallow marsh zone ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need help replacing a non-functioning pond in Houston, TX. March 30, 2010 I have a non-functioning, shell-shaped, concrete pond in a shaded part of my backyard that has been a great place to grow mosquitoes since I got this place. I have decided that it is time for a chang... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for floodplain in Fairfield, New Jersey March 21, 2010 I have an easy question for you... I hope... We just moved into the floodplains of NJ in Fairfield and are interested in some plants. We would like to know what plants are best suited to grow in flood... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wetland Plants for Michigan March 20, 2010 I have an area on my wooded property with a wetland marsh area that often puddles with water along the perimeter in the spring. It is very shaded and wet but I wanted to camouflage the perimeter of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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