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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| Looking for an evergreen vine to grow on trellis as a privacy screen July 11, 2015 Hello, I'm looking for an evergreen vine to grow on a free standing trellis. It is used as a screen on our back porch, so ideally we would not like to use anything that flowers due to the insects ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Does Virginia creeper cause a rash? July 09, 2015 Does Virginia creeper cause a rash to everyone or those who are only allergic as in an allergy like a peanut allergy? Is it something that should be avoided like poison ivy? And does the sap stick to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Red, puffy growths on Concord grape vine July 07, 2015 I have a growth on my grapevine that is red and puffy almost looks like it is full of water. It is a Concord grapevine. I have images I can send to you! It is on the stems. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Safe to plant Wisteria frutescens near a foundation? July 01, 2015 I am interested in planting a Wisteria frutescens 'Nivea'. It will be next to a house foundation wall. Could you tell me what type of root system it has? Would it be a root that would dama... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Discouraging Poison Ivy June 27, 2015 Is there a fern that discourages poison ivy from growing? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine with 5 pointed deep lobed leaves and small white flowers June 21, 2015 I recently happened upon a very peculiar vine. It has 5 pointed very deep lobed leaves, that are semi hairy on both the top and bottom with small white flowers that emerge from the same part of the st... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Invasive vine with yellow flowers in Austin June 21, 2015 What is the invasive vine in Austin that has wire like stems and small leaves. It just blossomed huge yellow flowers this spring. It climbs cliff, trees, bldgs., etc. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of fleshy three-leaved vine in Central Texas June 20, 2015 I have a 3 leaved evergreen vine, that I assume is a central Texas native, growing in my yard in a non irrigated mostly shady spot. It has a strong odor when touched and looks and feels like a succule... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will Crossvine damage stucco walls? June 17, 2015 The Crossvine I planted about a month ago is doing well. It is growing up a stucco wall and its little tendrils are sticking to (or into?) the stucco. Is this going to grow into the stucco and damage ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native vine for a privacy fence in Austin, TX. June 16, 2015 I have a vacant lot in Greenshores that has two 6' iron fences. Neighbor planted some sort of vine that grows up and along fence for privacy, white flowers when in bloom, I assume its Jasmine? On ne... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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