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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| What flowers will ducks and swans not eat? January 11, 2009 I live by ducks and swans. They love eating my flowers. Any suggestions on what flowering plants they won't eat? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small white bugs on indoor hibiscus in Ohio November 25, 2008 My Hibiscus has small white bugs on the leaves with small white residue. Looks like very small pieces of white rice. This white rice is also covering the UNOPENED buds and making them fall off. It ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Black coloration on Star Magnolia is probably sooty mold. November 21, 2008 I have a star magnolia where 90% of the bark has turned black. It almost looks burned. The tree has decent buds set for next spring. What is causing the bark to turn black? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Topical treatment for poison ivy rash November 12, 2008 I would like to know a topical treatment for the poison ivy rash View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscaping for slope in Kansas City October 08, 2008 We have a down sloping back yard and patio on the lower area. We need some water absorbing plants near the foundation and some in the front of the house, where water isn't a problem. We are allergic ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellow jackets on non-native crape myrtles September 25, 2008 Hey Mr. Smarty Plants I have only 1 question. I have several Crape Myrtles that have numerous amounts (alarming) of yellow jacket bees on them. who what where when why etc? Should I be concerned? tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Webs on trees and porch August 21, 2008 i have webs all over my semi covered porch in my back yard. i have noticed these small webs are also on the trees in my backyard. what are they and are they dangerous to the trees or my family who sit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to keep persimmons from staining patio August 10, 2008 We have approximately 4 female persimmons bearing fruit around our back patio. Birds are carrying the berries to our patio and eating them which leaves a dark stain on our patio. I'm having to go o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Possible webbing bark lice on oak tree August 08, 2008 We live near the Center and have a large live oak tree in our yard. Recently the lower trunk has been covered with thin, white weblike material (not sure if spider web). What could this be and is it d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bugs on yucca plant in New Jersey August 06, 2008 I noticed small bugs ALL OVER 4 established yucca plants all near each other. They may look like Halticotoma valida but I'm not positive. There is no brown on the leaves except for the large amount... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of Lantanas August 06, 2008 Here at work we have 4 beautiful yellow Santanas(should I say had), the leaves have started to turn brown and no longer blooming. Appears to have a fungus or disease. Please help! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| White spots on Hibiscus leaves August 06, 2008 My hibiscus trees have white spots or splotches on the leaves. What is it and what can I do to get rid of it? Also, the birds are eating my tomatoes faster than i can grow them. I've used the owl &... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tulip tree with white spots on leaves in Mississippi July 31, 2008 I have a tulip tree in my yard that blooms in the spring that is about 10-15 years old. However just this past week or so we have noticed that there is lots of white spots on the leaves and the branc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cotton plant for yard in Plano July 27, 2008 I wish to plant a specimen cotton plant in my yard - will it grow in Plano, Texas, do you have any tips for maintaining them, and will they survive freezing temperatures? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Loss of leaves from globe willows in Utah July 26, 2008 I have four globe willows that have been in my back yard for the past 6 years. For the past month they have been losing their leaves from the bottom up. We had aphids in some of our other trees and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Catalpa and maple with dying branches in Wisconsin July 07, 2008 We have a northern catalpa in our front yard. It's been there for about three years now and is probably 25' high. This year it appeared to be doing great. It flowered and then all of sudden last ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mites in soil of house plants June 25, 2008 Hi there! I recently noticed tiny silver mites in the soil of my plants that I only notice after watering. These plants are indoors in on a window ledge (a dwarf palm, aloe plant and Hawaiian Scheffle... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Apparent disease in peach tree in Austin June 12, 2008 I have a peach tree that the leaves are "bleeding" out on. The leaves are continuing to get paler and paler. There are no peaches on the tree this year either. What can I do? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Secretions of fluid from crepe myrtles June 09, 2008 On my crepe myrtle tree I have dozens of 1/2-inch-long narrow bugs that seem to secrete tiny drops of fluid. They appear on the branches of the tree. Are these harmful to the tree? Do I need to do ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cause of yellowing buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides) June 07, 2008 We are getting large yellow areas in our buffalo grass lawn and think this is probably due to grub worms. Are grub worms the likely culprit and if so, what is the best way to get rid of them? We don... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sap drips from Sophora secundiflora May 30, 2008 We have an old Mountain Laurel (sophora secundiflora) about 20 ft tall. It blooms pretty well and seems healthy. We are wondering why it drizzles a non-sticky sap in tiny drops. Hold out your hand and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Asclepias with whitish discoloration May 26, 2008 I have red/scarlett milkweed planted in my yard. The leaves have a whitish discoloration on the top of some of the leaves and it is spreading. What is it? What do I do about it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of red and black insects on Yucca May 10, 2008 I have little red and black insects on my soft leaf yucca and I don't know what they are or how to get rid of them. They make the leaves rusty looking. Do you have any idea what they are or how I can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problem with Eupatorium greggii April 27, 2008 At the Garden's fall plant sale in 2006, I bought some Eupatorium greggii. It did very well last year. Recently, the entire plant looks like it is just wilting from the top down, as if it has some so... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Insect infestation, identification and treatment April 21, 2008 help! I have an infestation of small flies in my flower/vegetable beds. They seem to be eating the leaves of just about everything. I've tried to find out exactly what they are, but haven't had any ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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