Native Plants
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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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| Getting rid of non-native, invasive English Ivy from Davidsonville MD March 19, 2014 Just moved and need to rid the well established Ivy planted on the steep slope area around the back and side of the house as it is taking over the bushes on the top and trees in forested area at botto... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screen for Pace Florida March 10, 2014 We live in the Florida panhandle and I wondering what we could use as a natural fence line between our property and the neighbor's. I love the look of oleander, but upon research found it to be toxic... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Edible forest garden for northern Minnesota March 07, 2014 I am planning an edible forest garden for northern Minnesota. Can you suggest a list of plants that are native to this area. We are in zone 3a or 3b. Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Plant for a Sunny South-facing House Wall in Tucson March 01, 2014 I have a problematic block wall on the south side of the house and I what a plant to soften the look of the wall. I tried butterfly bush which I'm told died from of bounce-back heat from the wall. I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacement for boxwoods in Ohio February 26, 2014 I want to replace my boxwood plants but I don't know what would be a good replacement. I have a hydrangea plant that is in the middle and I would like something to go on each side of the hydrangea. I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Removing Texas cedar Juniperus ashei from Blanco River banks February 26, 2014 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Should cedar trees be removed from our Blanco River banks to prevent them from sucking too much of our precious water before it makes it into the river system? If so, what s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spring care for Garrya ovata from Pflugerville, TX February 24, 2014 Hello again, Mr. S-P, I planted a Mexican silktassel in April 2012 (purchased at the WFC). It has done well, but the leaves are bronzed and splotchy from this winter's freezes. All the stems are... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Edibility of Washington Hawthorn berries from Williamsport PA February 22, 2014 Please tell me if Washington Hawthorn berries and leaves are edible and if so, how to prepare them. Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrubs for a barrier in Ft. Worth TX February 22, 2014 Hello, I'm looking for a natural barrier as an alternative to a fence in my backyard. I see several other questions answered relating to this but I'm looking for something specifically as a nativ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cenizo dropping leaves from Corpus Christi TX February 20, 2014 Leucophyllum frutescens:I planted a Texas sage hedge in September of 2012. One of the plants is dropping its leaves. It is situated at the corner of an L-shape at the end of drive and corner of road. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Berries on cultivars of Ilex verticillata from Oak Park, IL February 19, 2014 I have three ilex verticillata cultivars (2 Nana, 1 Jim Dandy) planted on the west side of my house in a very shady site (there's a mature over-spreading hackberry on the parkway just to the west and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low-Maintenance Hedge for Massachusetts February 17, 2014 I want to put in a native low-maintenance hedge in a sunny spot with plants that can take dry soil. I would like the plants to grow to less than 4 feet wide. It can be an informal hedge, but I don't ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low Ground Cover for Steep, Shaded PA Site February 17, 2014 I am located in Downingtown, PA, right on the border between Zone 6 and 7. Please provide a recommendation of a native ground cover for the following conditions: steep slope (greater than 45%), full s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Shrubs to Plant with Viburnum in New Jersey February 11, 2014 Please provide me with a list of native shrubs, plants etc. for New Jersey that would work with my existing native viburnum. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screen for Canyon Lake, TX February 07, 2014 I need some help. I live near the Guadalupe River in Canyon Lake, TX and my backyard faces a busy street. I need a fast growing thick shrub for my backyard for privacy since I cannot afford a fence at... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Simsia calva from Albuquerque NM January 27, 2014 Hi - I was given some simsia calva seed from the LBJ wildflower center. It doesn't have a lot of info about starting the seeds, so any help is much appreciated! I tried starting some outdoors last ye... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need plants beneficial or attractive to bees in Dripping Springs, TX January 27, 2014 Can you provide a specific list of plants beneficial or attractive to honey bees in the Texas Hill Country (we raise bees in Dripping Springs, TX.) Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cenizo for border of school garden from Cedar Park TX January 27, 2014 Hi. We're starting a school garden in Central Texas, and instead of building a fence along one side, we'd like to plant a hedge. Ideally, it would grow tall enough to deter deer from jumping over, b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fast-growing privacy shrub for Northern California home January 22, 2014 We have purchased a home in Anderson CA. We want a privacy shrub along the roadside of our home to reduce noise. 60'x 25' of full sun with rocky soil and many Oak trees.We want something that will ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of blackberry from Williamsport PA January 18, 2014 I have been told that if you cut a branch off of a black berry bush and stick it in water for a few days, and then put it in the ground it will grow into another bush. Please tell me if this is true a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native eleagnus from Jesup GA January 17, 2014 An elderly farmer has told me about a plant called Alley Agnes, but I can't find any plant by this name anywhere. He doesn't know another name for it, says it's what everyone has always called it i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for California lilacs from Portland OR January 16, 2014 Hi There, We live in the Portland Oregon area, so temps are moderate and winters are wet. We have several California Lilacs that are about 7ft in height and have created the perfect screen. Love th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer Resistance and Erosion Control for St. Louis County MO January 03, 2014 I am looking for deer and rabbit resistant native plants for erosion control on a steep ravine slope with part sun and part shade in St. Louis County MO. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low evergreen drought-resistant shrubs for area in partial shade January 03, 2014 I promised my mom to help her with some new plants for her house, so here goes. She lives near Waco on Blackland clay soil. The problem area is right in front of the house. It only receives a few hour... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Thoughts on non-native Italian Cypress in Austin January 01, 2014 I would like to know your thoughts on growing Italian Cypress trees in Austin Texas? We are looking to create a privacy screen(and prepared to pay more for mature trees to cut down the wait to grow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| New Jersey Tea shrub wilting and losing leaves December 30, 2013 I have New Jersey Tea shrubs transplanted last spring from nursery stock (18 tall, grown local) I live in SE WI. They are planted in part shade. There has been 6" of snow on the ground for weeks now... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fruiting times of native trees and shrubs in the Pacific Norhwest December 30, 2013 I am looking for information on fruiting/seeds/nuts times of native trees and shrubs in the Pacific Northwest. Obviously they fruit after they bloom but all I can find is very general information such... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Backyard for Lakewood OH December 24, 2013 I would like to do away with the lawn in my backyard in favor of native plants that would require minimal maintenance, including flowering plants that would encourage pollinators. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning buttonbush from Pottsville PA December 10, 2013 In a formally planted park, a small area has become swampy. I have choosen to plant it with wet tolerant native plants. I would appreciate any suggestions on pruning the buttonbush [Cephalanthus occ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrubs not toxic to cattle in NJ December 09, 2013 I am working to rejuvenate the hedgerows on a farm in New Jersey by removing invasive plants and planting native shrubs. How do I find out which native shrubs are toxic to cattle and should not be pl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Understory Shrubs for Pennsylvania Clay December 04, 2013 I want to replace three non-native Euonymus alatus with native shrubs that will serve as host plants for butterfly/moth species and/or attract bumblebees and other native bees. The shrubs I have are ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Dwarf Yaupon Holly in Texas December 04, 2013 We planted 10 extra dwarf yaupons in our Austin front yard. They were identified as 'Gremici' dwarf yaupon. I googled them to get more information about them in order to determine why five have di... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildlife and bird friendly hedgerow for Chicago suburb November 30, 2013 Want to plant a wildlife/bird friendly hedgerow in suburban Chicago. Looking for a recommended mix of understory trees as well a shrubs and grasses. Site is part shade with average to wet soil and tr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will watering before a freeze protect an esperanza from a freeze from San Angelo, TX November 22, 2013 Would it help to lightly water esperanza before I cover it prior to freeze and/or sleet? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sumac Leaves Turning Red November 22, 2013 Hi, Mr. Smarty Plants, I recently planted a flowering sumac bush. Is it normal for that plant to get fall leaf-color? About a week after planting it, the temp reached the mid-30s, and after that, I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Yellowing leaves of Texas Sage (Cenizo) from Las Vegas NV November 21, 2013 Leaves of Texas Sage are turning yellow. Can you tell me why? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Managing a wet area in Austin November 18, 2013 I suspect that my backyard lies at the very top of a creek watershed. However, all of the water flowing through it gets blocked by a solid stone wall. Whenever we get a significant rain event, part ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Suggestions for a Partly Sunny Steep Bank in Illinois November 09, 2013 I am looking to plant something on a steep clay bank on our Illinois property. It is on the edge of our dirt road with trees above the bank and is partly sunny. What would work best for that type of a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Something damages leaves on Tecoma stans from Austin November 08, 2013 Help! Something is chomping my Esperanzas. I thought it was deer but they don't seem to be eating other yellow bells in my neighborhood. I think it's an insect. Something is completely stripping the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Ilex glabra a Good Substitute Hedge for Boxwood? November 08, 2013 I am planning a new garden in my yard (Mercer County, NJ). My site is south-facing, average water and average soil. The aesthetic look that I want is formal; a tightly sheared hedge of small leaves ab... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for church gardens in Ft. Worth TX November 07, 2013 Second attempt. Our church has many gardens in Fort Worth, TX. There are gardens for blue,red,yellow,white,purple,orange,pink,mixed,community garden,roses, and more. I am interested in the la... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Coursetia axillaris from cuttings from Elmendorf TX October 31, 2013 I have been able to propagate the Coursetia axillaris (Texas Babybonnets) from cuttings. Will the plants grown from cuttings bloom faster? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Rose bush varieties and time to plant from Hutto TX October 31, 2013 What rose bush varieties are recommended for the Hutto Texas area and what time of year is the best time to plant into ground? Thank you. 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 |  | |
| Sprout from a non-native sago palm in Poinciana FL October 16, 2013 I have two mature (10 years old)sago palms. One of them sprouted a new "head' at the top of the trunk. It is competing with the original one. It is not a pup coming from the root area. Can I cut it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Juniperus Toxic to Pets? October 15, 2013 Are blue rug juniper plants toxic to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating Pavonia seeds October 10, 2013 Could you please recommend a method for scarifying Pavonia seeds? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Natural Privacy Planting for New Jersey October 09, 2013 I have a question about privacy plantings in New Jersey (Monmouth County). We have a wooden fence around the perimeter of backyard with some various older trees. We wanted to start anew and wanted to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with non-native photinia in Austin October 07, 2013 Hi, I live in Cedar Park, TX (Austin Suburb)and have planted a number of Photinia shrubs in various areas of my property. All about 10 months old. The leaves are curling along their length on many... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification of thorny shrub in Tennessee October 03, 2013 I have a mid to dark green thorny type bush growing on my land in Cosby, Tennessee. I am originaly from NJ and I have never seen it before. The stalk is varigated and the thorns are plentiful and very... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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