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 | |
| Plants for a drainage easement in central Texas September 29, 2008 I have a 1/3 acre of drainage easement behind my home. I would like to cover it with wildflowers. It is only wet during or shortly after a rain and otherwise does not have water. I have channelled ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for erosion control September 23, 2008 I live in southern california. What is the best groundcover to plant on a slope to prevent erosion? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control for slope to detention pond August 09, 2008 We have been required by code to build a detention pond for new church buildings in the Webster, TX (Clear Lake) area. There is a serious erosion of soil from water runoff from the building roof need... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion control near creek in Kansas City, MO July 26, 2008 I'm looking for something to plant to help stop erosion on my property. The spot I have in mind is on a slight natural grade heading toward the creek at the back of my property. Any ideas on what t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for erosion control in Missouri July 23, 2008 Can you suggest a ground cover to stop erosion on a slight slope in my backyard? I live in Missouri - the soil is very poor in this area and has lots of rock underneath the soil. The yard drains int... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for erosion control July 22, 2008 I have a sloped area in my back yard where we need to plant some erosion control plants. The area is above a large (100 foot long x 4 foot tall) stone wall and another smaller wall of natural stone. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control in New York July 21, 2008 I am in zone 5/4 New York and I recently purchased a house with two erosion problems- 1. a seasonal stream has cut a gorge about 20 'deep X 40' long.Mature hemlocks are toppling into this hole. it i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grass for erosion control July 19, 2008 I have a very shaded sloped back yard. I have not been able to get grass to grow due to the shade. There are approximately twenty 30-40 ft. Oaks in the yard. The yard slopes toward the house. I wo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen native plants for slope in South Carolina July 14, 2008 We would like to plant an evergreen garden in our backyard, which is on a slope. It receives the sun from approx 9-4. We have an above ground pool, and patio area. Would also like a recommendation of ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low plants to cover bank too steep to mow June 26, 2008 I have a bank along the road that is too steep to mow. This bank faces east and only gets 2 - 4 hours per day of sunlight. I'd like to try ground cover to prevent erosion, however visibility is a p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion on sandy bank in Wisconsin June 24, 2008 I live in Sand Creek Wisconsin. As the name states SAND. I have a problem with rain eroding the sand hill sides. Looking for some type of plant or plants that will help with the erosion problem. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to stop erosion on land near lake June 17, 2008 My back yard runs down to the lake. The water is eroding my land. I want plants & flowers [full sun]that can be planted to stop the erosion and add color. Another question: We have a huge oak tree ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for ditch bank to stop erosion June 13, 2008 I have a huge ditch on my property. The ditch bank is about 5,000 sq ft. There is a lot of erosion and I am looking to correct the problem. Is there any type of SEED, I am not looking to plant mature ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for erosion control on steep bank in Ohio June 10, 2008 Another erosion question: We bought a place a year and a half ago with a stream/road run off at the back of our property. The southern exposure bank is quite high, I'm guessing 12 feet and therefor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscaping on South Padre Island June 07, 2008 I'm in charge of landscaping at my beachfront condo in South Padre Island and find the wind, salt air, and heat challenging for growing almost anything. We would like to incorporate native plants, b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover plants for slope to prevent erosion June 05, 2008 Hi, I have just made a 3/4 acre pond and the south facing slope is too steep to mow.Can you suggest any ground cover plants I could use to look nice and prevent erosion. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants to stop pond bank erosion June 04, 2008 I recently purchased a home with a small pond in which a nearby stream daylights. The former owner placed large field stone around the pond and the small stream; however, the area around the pond and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants of dune erosion control in Michigan May 30, 2008 We care for Lake Michigan dune near our home in New Buffalo and would like to provide erosion control with native species that will also enhance the beauty of the dune with long lasting flowers. The ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to control hillside erosion in Vermont May 23, 2008 Hi, I am trying to do an eagle project that involves putting vegetation onto a hill to prevent erosion. I live in Vermont. What kinds of plants would hold together a hillside and could be planted in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Virginia creeper in trees April 26, 2008 Can Virginia creeper be allowed to climb on trees--specifically Texas ash and live oak--or will it damage them if allowed to attach itself? We are thinking of using it as erosion control in a greenbe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plants to stabilize a steep bank in Pennsylvania April 23, 2008 I would like to use native plantings to stabilize a steep bank of a septic leach field in eastern Pennsylvania. My purpose is to control erosion and to eliminate the need for mowing. What would you r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibilities of plants for bank shale ledge in Johnstown, PA April 20, 2008 We have a mountain that we ripped out to build our house. The remaining ledge is mostly bank shale and everyone is telling us that nothing will grow on the hillside due to it being bank shale and a p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to control hillside erosion in Virginia. November 21, 2007 Good Morning, Mr Smarty Plants, I need your advice and guidance. I live in a condo complex in Virginia and we have a hill/slope that is eroding. It also has two very nice tall trees that partially sh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control plantings in Washington state September 06, 2007 Hi, I am trying to do an eagle project that involves putting vegetation onto a hill to prevent erosion. I live in Washington state where there is plenty of rain so erosion is a big problem. We are t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control after loss of large trees July 19, 2007 Our steep 40' river bank (NY near eastern shore of Lake Ontario - zone 4) has recently lost two 50' oaks, leaving enormous holes in the bank itself where they tore out. What should we do immediately... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion preventing plants for West Virginia July 16, 2007 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and I've got a hillside that's too steep to mow. I'd like to put in plants that other than weeding and regular tending, will... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control blankets for controlling slope in North Carolina April 11, 2007 We live in NC (red clay dirt). We recently/in the process of installing a pool. They contractor has completely unearthed our entire yard - and part of our property is on a substantial hill. Is there... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control plants for steep slope in Austin, TX April 09, 2007 I'm interested in finding native plants, either perennials or grasses, that would help control erosion on a fairly steep slope. These plants would be in a park, and volunteers will be watering the pl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for creekside erosion control December 16, 2006 I need advice on what native plants I can use to slow erosion by my creek. The watershed for a large area ends up at my place, and nothing is growing where most of the runoff flows. I've got braken... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Environmentally friendly native erosion control plants for arid hillside in Austin July 15, 2006 Hi, I'm moving into Agave, the new east side development in Austin. It's currently an arid hill with almost no trees and a steep (by gardening standards) hill. As a community, we'd love to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Use of native grasses as erosion control in Austin, TX June 20, 2006 We're in Austin, TX and trying to keep our neighborhood lot as natural as possible; however, our lot is eroding and depositing mud and dirt onto the sidewalk whenever it rains. We're looking for an ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Economical, low maintenance plants for erosion control on a bank May 29, 2006 Please advise of all species suitable for preventing bank erosion, specifically those that will cover a southern exposure 400 foot long, 15 foot high bank in western North Carolina that grows rapidly ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants to preserve soil on river bank May 28, 2006 I live in eastern Massachusetts. We have a small stream in our backyard and a woodland area on the other side. Japanese Knotweed is pretty well established on the opposite bank of the stream from our ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low maintenance, native plants for sloping drive near Philadelphia October 20, 2004 My cabin is located in the northwest suburbs of Philadelphia. I am looking for low maintenance plants that would look good on the sides of a driveway that slopes upward. This is a potential project fo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |