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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Horses exposed to toxic plants in Charles Town WV July 13, 2010 Mr. Smarty Pants, I have a big problem on my hands! Four of my horses have gotten into something toxic, but I must find out what. I found an unusual plant that a mare chased her foal away from. It's ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Chilean Mesquite pods poisonous to dogs? July 12, 2010 Are chilean Mesquite tree pods poisonous to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Poisonous weeds in Bedford County, PA June 21, 2010 I am battling my second bad round of poison in a month, this time on my face and in my left eye. It's awful. Problem is, I have looked and looked for poison ivy, oak and sumac around my neighborhoo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pet-friendly plants for ground cover in Bastrop TX June 21, 2010 Any pet-friendly plants that can be used for ground-cover in Central Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Thorn in the hand in Benton KY June 14, 2010 My husband got stuck by a thorn on a thorn bush and the thorn was a goldish copper color. There is a knot on his hand and pain in his fingers to his elbow. Do you know what kind of bush this could b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is non-native Tillandsia air plant poisonous to cats? June 07, 2010 Are Tillandsia/air plants poisonous to cats? Please help! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are globe mallows (Sphaeralcea spp.) harmful to dogs May 20, 2010 My dogs eat the wild globe mallow plants in my yard. Could that be harmful to them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is arborvitate (Thuja sp.) safe for horses May 16, 2010 Is arborvitae poisonous to horses? I want to plant it along the horse pasture. If it is poisonous, what are similar plants that are not poisonous to horses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Poisonous thorn in Marion NC May 16, 2010 Yesterday my son got a thorn stuck in his foot. I removed it but his foot is still swollen and puffy today. What kind of plants have poisonous thorns? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is the Magnolia 'Ann' safe for horses May 14, 2010 I bought a magnolia "ann". Will it hurt my horses to eat any part of it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Drought-tolerant plants that are non-toxic to dogs May 10, 2010 I am looking for drought-tolerant native plants non-poisonious to dogs. We are putting gardens in an area the dog has access to, and she likes to sample the darndest things. South side of the house,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alternative to Carolina Cherry Laurel in Cedar Park TX May 10, 2010 I love the look of the Carolina Cherry Laurel but hear that its berries are poisonous and can harm my dog if he eats them. What are some other alternatives that have a similar look; I'm looking for ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| New house plant in pot in Chevy Chase MD May 07, 2010 Is it possible for one house plant to eventually die in the pot while a completely different plant grows in its place? The new plant looks similar to the potted plant next to it but it is not quite t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recommended plants for horse farm in Lansford PA April 22, 2010 Recently started a small horse farm in northeast Pennsylvania just east of the Pocono Mountain plateau. Located in a foggy valley adjacent to a lake. Snowy, cold winters; wet springs; dry summers; ni... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Florida anisetree appropriate for school planting in New Orleans? April 22, 2010 Illicium floridanum, Florida anisetree We are considering using this plant for a landscape at a school. I have been informed that it is poisonous, but not by a reliable source. I am otherwise very... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is the California Poppy posionous to dogs? April 16, 2010 Can you tell me if the wild orange-colored California poppy is poisonous to dogs? They grow like weeds in my yard. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen pet-safe shrubs for house and screening in McKinney TX April 15, 2010 Looking for shrub, preferably evergreen, to plant near the house that can handle wet ground and is pet (dog, cat, horse) safe. The area became boggy after we had an underground water leak that is now ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Chanticleer flowering pears toxic to horses? March 28, 2010 Are Chanticleer flowering pears toxic to horses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning the leaves of Sago Palm. March 10, 2010 Is it a cardinal sin to remove all the sago palm branches? This winter they were so badly scorched by the cold that hardly a frond went unaffected. So I cut them all off as I needed to get around the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cutting back non-native oleanders affected by freeze in Austin January 30, 2010 After the last hard freeze makes my oleanders look dead. Can I cut them down to the ground this time of year? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need information about the toxicity of some newly acquired plants in Austin, TX January 04, 2010 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I just got a Carolina Buckthorn tree, a silk tassel, a wafer ash, and an escarpment black cherry tree. I wonder if any of these trees produce berries that would be poisonous to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Could ammonia harm poisonous, non-native oleander in Bay Point CA December 20, 2009 Could ammonia harm my Oleander plant? I have been spraying ammonia under it to keep neighborhood cats from using the soil under the plant as a sand box. If so, do you have any suggestions as to what... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Norfolk pine poisonous to cats? December 11, 2009 Is a northfork pine poisonous to cats? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Injury while pulling weeds in Chandler TX November 18, 2009 I stabbed my self this last weekend when pulling roots from a bed so i'm not sure what it was. At the time it was a sharp pain so I pulled off my glove to look at it,barely scratched the skin so on I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spots on leaves of sevenleaf creeper in Austin November 14, 2009 Have 3 seven leaf creepers that are planted in mostly shade. In Sept & Oct 2009 all 3 plants had dried up leaves which fell off; however, all three plants grew new leaves when we got rain and are com... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |