Native Plants
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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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| Mystery berries on vine in Montgomery County, TX August 09, 2013 While out in the woods today on Caney Creek near Grangerland, Texas, I found what I thought to be some grapes on a vine hanging down from a tree. I brought the vine down, but when I got it home to pr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification of plant with leaves like poison ivy July 30, 2013 I would like to identify a plant whose leaves look like poison ivy, but the stem is white and has thorns. It is not thready. It was prevalent in overgrown garden beds of a house in Litchfield, CT. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Revegetation with Rosa Woodsii in Heber UT July 26, 2013 I am using Woods Roses for a revegetation project (to stop trail short cutting) in a public picnic area. Growing them from seed was too slow so I am experimenting with transplanting and it is working ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine) known to cause skin irritation July 23, 2013 Is Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata L.) known to cause a rash? We are trying to identify the source of a rash-after-gardening, and have not seen any of the big three (poison ivy, poison oak, poison suma... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of tree with fragrant yellow flowers and thorns June 06, 2013 I'm not sure if this is a native plant. It's a tree, around 15" tall. The leaves are in bunches with 3-4 very sharp small spines at each bunch. Flowers are small, yellow, hang down from the leaf... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of plant with crimson tubular flowers June 06, 2013 I saw this lovely flower in a field in Cleveland Tx. It was growing in a patch with maybe 4 or 5 other of the same yet only in that area. The flower is crimson red, long and tubular that grow on a woo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Getting a senna to fill out from Irvine CA May 30, 2013 I have a Senna of some kind, started from a seed by a friend. I got it as a small,six in high) seedling. After two years it is now blooming beautifully, but is a single thin stem 4 feet tall with ve... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of thorny vine in Michigan May 21, 2013 We have a species growing around our rural SW Michigan property that I'm trying to identify: I either see stalks up to 3 ft tall, or much longer vines if they find anchor. The most notable characte... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for indoor container gardening from Lax Vegas NV May 10, 2013 What is an good flower to grow in a pot? I live in a apt., and like roses,tulips etc. if that helps any. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for non-native Crown of Thorns from Bulverde TX May 04, 2013 Can you please tell me where I can buy a Crown of Thorns plant in or near Bulverde, Tx. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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