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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| Damage to ruellia in Monroe LA October 26, 2009 I have hundreds of Ruellia Brittoniana. Dwarf Katie White, Katie Blue and Katie Pink. I am finding holes in some of the leaves, Some just have notches chewed out of them. Some of the leaves have... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of pecan trees in Las Vegas NV October 11, 2009 In April this year I purchased two 8-foot tall pecan trees in 3-foot square boxes from a local nursery and planted them here in Southern Nevada. I'm sure I dug a large enough hole to provide plenty ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Viburnum insect damage October 08, 2009 I have a highbush cranberry that gets covered in 1/4in black bugs every spring. It makes lots of holes in the leaves. What are they and how can I get rid of this insect.I have tried neem oil but it do... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Purple sage with black residue on leaves in Georgetown TX October 02, 2009 I have 2 very healthy tx. purple sage that have developed a black residue on some leaves, and is a "sticky" substance..any ideas what this is and how to treat??? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Caterpillars attacking mountain laurel in Marble Falls TX August 27, 2009 What are the caterpillars that eat up our mountain laurel? Nothing left but a few stems. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Disappearance of leaves on desert willow in Tucson AZ August 08, 2009 We have a Lois Adams Desert Willow (Tucson, Az). The leaves will pump out and then a day or so later, all of the leaves are gone. The only bugs we've seen on it are very, very small ants. Could this ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with iguanas in Ft. Lauderdale FL August 04, 2009 I live on the intracoastal waterway near Ft. Lauderdale,FL and I am having problems with iguana. They will not eat lantana or buttercups; however is there a poisonous ground cover, preferable with fl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Worms on blackeyed susans and daisies in Tuckerton NJ July 30, 2009 I have black eyed susans and white daisies planted together. Not sure if this makes a difference. Today I noticed that there are tiny worms on both the plants they are almost the size of silk worms. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What causes peach fruit to ooze sap? July 27, 2009 I have a peach tree at our new house. The peaches are small and yellow but appeared healthy. Now it looks like they are oozing or weeping sap out of several places on each one. I dont know if its a di... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why are there gnats in my houseplants? July 22, 2009 I have flying brown gnats in my house plants. Can you tell me why? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fungus gnats on house plant in Edwardsville IL July 16, 2009 I recently purchased a Trailing Perennial Plant, and I am seeing a lot of gnats flying in my house. Could this be the problem? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Food for wild rabbits in Shiro TX July 15, 2009 There are usually 1-2 cottontail rabbits sharing our 4 acre habitat that are suffering due to the lack of new growth caused by drought. Is there anything I can plant after this summer that would provi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can tulip tree sap be used to make syrup in Bunker Hill IN? July 10, 2009 I was just wondering if tulip tree sap could be used to make syrup. I saw the sticky stuff on the leaves and decided to taste test it and it was very sweet, unfortunately I later found out that I was ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tree leaves being chewed in Austin July 04, 2009 We planted a Texas Redbud tree, and Monterey Oak (Mexican White Oak) in the front yard this spring and both have had their leaves eaten or chewed by something I cannot find on their leaves. At first I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Removing yaupon hollies from yard in Austin July 04, 2009 We recently moved into a home w/ way too many and much too large (20-30') yaupon holly's in the back yard. I had some of them cut down, but they keep coming up from the roots of the old trees. How ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Blueberry bushes failing to leaf out in Haines Falls, NY June 25, 2009 Blueberry bushes planted in spring in upstate New York; no leaves, only the stem. How do we know if they are alive? Blueberries do very well in that area known as Haines Falls, New York (mountain a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with beheaded non-native Gerbera daisies in Cooperstown, NY May 31, 2009 I planted my gerberas in my perennial bed - as usual. Something is beheading them and leaving the blooms along side the plant. Some of the bloom is eaten but most of it is right there. I have t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with tomatoes in tubs in Campbellton, TX May 30, 2009 I have my tomatoes planted in big black plastic tubs, they are starting to wilt and dry up. I have put Sevin dust on them for bugs. I haven't been over watering. Could you please tell me why they are... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why are the eastern red cedars in Bastrop/Travis County turning brown? May 11, 2009 I live on the Bastrop/Travis county, TX line and have many eastern red cedars on my property. About 10 of them are dying and it has happened quickly with the onset of the warmer weather. I noticed d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Snails in my flower beds May 06, 2009 I live in Kingwood, Texas (north of Houston). I have been inundated with snails in my flower beds in my front & backyard. I really didn't want to use a pesticide, but they were eating all of my flo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Japanese beetles in Port Monmouth, NJ April 08, 2009 I have searched your web-site in the hopes of not repeating or bothering you with a question not in your field. I am hoping you can help me. I live in Port Monmouth, New Jersey. Last year many of my ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Termites found in dying/dead plants March 19, 2009 Recently I have noticed that when investigating native plants that have passed on, such as my deceased Erythrina herbacea, often times I find termites in the remaining central stem. It has been extre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bare spot in Prairie Phlox in Austin February 25, 2009 I have Prairie Phlox in my garden that I have had for about 4 to 6 years. I got the original plant from the NPSOT at their booth one year at the Wildflower center. It is really lovely in the spring wh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pest on leaves of native Texas persimmon in Laredo, TX February 20, 2009 I have a transplanted a Texas persimmon tree from the wild. It has some globes in the leaves. It seems like some pest injected something from underside of leaves. Any suggestion? What is happening t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mosquito repellant plant? January 18, 2009 Is there such a thing as mosquito repellent plants? If so, what are they? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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