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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| Growing Green milkweed vine from seed July 29, 2015 I was given some seed for the pearl milkweed vine which I intend to plant, but I can find no information on whether to stratify or scarify them or just plant them. I know some milkweeds require strati... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| White spotting on prickly pear cactus July 28, 2015 Hello- I have large prickly pear cacti and just noticed large white spotting on some of the leaves. I also see some black bugs and apparently they are the problem.They are about 1/4" long. How can I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacement for Love Grass in Michigan July 27, 2015 need a replacement for Love Grass at Shops of Willow Bend in Plano. The entire perimeter of this mall has Bermuda and Love Grass. The Elms and Oaks have grown so the Love Grass is mostly gone. Ther... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
July 27, 2015 Hi, thanks for all your help in the past! I have a generous spot in my spacious back yard that is begging to be filled. The top soil is 4" sandy loam, below which is black clay.With frog strangler r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hydrangea with Pest and Sun Issues July 26, 2015 My hydrangea is in trouble. Something is eating holes in the leaves which then turn brown on the edges (the holes and the tips of the leaves are also burned). It looks like someone burned them with ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why Don't Phlox Bloom? July 26, 2015 My summer phlox only bush up but never bloom. They are in full sun. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought and Shade tolerant plants for Wichita Falls, TX July 24, 2015 I can find lots of information about planting drought tolerant, sun loving native plants, a number of which I've planted over the years. But I can find very little information about drought tolerant ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why is my Texas mountain laurel growing so slowly? July 22, 2015 I have a Mountain Laurel, Anacacho Orchid Tree and Desert Willow on the northern side of our yard - all three get full sun most of the day. The Mountain Laurel is closer to the east side. The other... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower planting times for Little Rock, AR July 22, 2015 When is the best time to plant wildflowers in Little Rock,Ar View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lawn for a Shady & Wet area in Austin, TX July 22, 2015 We have a drainage area that has appeared in our back yard since the neighbors’ homes were built. When we get heavy rains (like this year) all their drainage flows into our back yard and forms a river... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Stopping erosion on bank of a Florida retention pond July 21, 2015 I live on a retention pond, which has had all vegetation killed by the lake doctor. As a result the bank has eroded so there is a drop off directly to the water rather than a sloping bank. What plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Blackfoot daisy seed July 21, 2015 I have a three yr old Blackfoot daisy. How do you root Blackfoot daisy seeds? When is the best month to grow these seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Ohio Shubs for Wildlife July 20, 2015 Hi, I'm looking to plant shrubs and bushes for in front of our home this week but would like to plant some that are good for wildlife including bees and birds. Do you have any suggestions for norther... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Crape Myrtle Native? July 20, 2015 Hello, I live in Frisco, TX. Can you tell me is there any Crape Myrtle which is native to Frisco, TX. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hillside Erosion in Pace FL July 17, 2015 I have a hillside that slopes down about 10 feet to a spring fed pond. The pond drains into Escambia Bay. We have 2 dams with culverts to control the flow of water. Last year during a torrential ra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Drought-Tolerant Plants for Arizona July 16, 2015 Slowly turning south-facing lawn to drought-tolerant plantings with gravel paths. Mature Ponderosa and several blue spruce and junipers surround area. Grass area I'm converting with a few larger tr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Butterfly Plants for D.C. Garden July 16, 2015 I have one half of the side of the house face NE and the other half faces NW. The front of the house faces east. The back of the house faces west which is woody with native trees of Rock Creek Park of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Getting Rid of Firecracker Flower July 16, 2015 We live in the Tampa area of Florida. We planted Russelia equisetiformis under some palm trees 10 years ago. It has grown deep among the palm tree roots. We want to kill the Russelia without harming ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can the non-native ylang ylang tree grow outdoors in Arizona July 14, 2015 Can the ylang ylang tree grow outdoors in Casa Grande, Arizona? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of tiny green spiders found in Sego lilies July 14, 2015 Hi - I'm wondering if you can identify for me the name of the tiny green spiders that can be found inside Sego Lilies (Calochortus nuttallii). I have a photo if that would be helpful. Thanks!! Ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of ball-shaped purple flower in Connecticut July 13, 2015 I am trying to identify a ball shaped purple/light purple flower with opposite leaves that look fern like. It has been in bloom since late May or early June. I have found it growing with what appear... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Barrier Shrubs for North Carolina July 11, 2015 Need a spiny barrier shrub that will grow in North Carolina shady rain forest (4,000 feet elevation) to deter trespassers wading down a creek from climbing on a private nature path that we constructed... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need plants to fill in spaces where wooden expansion joints were removed in a patio in Seguin, TX July 11, 2015 I have removed the rotted wood in the expansion joints in my patio. I would prefer replacing them with some sort of plant. The patio gets partial sunlight. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| 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 | ||
| Where to find nursery type containers in Austin TX July 10, 2015 Where in Austin TX can I purchase nursery type containers to transplant my seedling View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover Planting in Shiro TX July 09, 2015 I have been collecting seeds from White Avens and Texas Sedge to use as ground covers. What is the optimal time to plant these seeds? We have been experiencing heavy rains in our area lately, so I am ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Alopia drummondii from Seed July 09, 2015 Can you give me information about, or a resource for, growing Alophia drummondii (propeller plant) from seed? I have the seed but don't know when & the best method for planting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Pyrus ioensis var. Texana July 09, 2015 Any idea where I can find Pyrus (now Malus) ioensis var. texana for sale around the Austin area? 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 |  | |
| Draought-tolerant screening shrub for Shasta County, California July 08, 2015 It has been suggested to me that I plant phodocarpus 'maki' along my fence for needed privacy due to it's dimensions. I need something that does not grow too wide. I would not be pruning them as I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Magnolia in West Virginia ? July 07, 2015 Hello, is the Dwarf sweet magnolia a native shrub to WV? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Yucca Blossoming in Minneapolis MN July 07, 2015 I have 4 yr old yucca that sent out a five foot spike with flowers! I live in Minneapolis; is this unusual ? 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 | ||
| Dead, brown Habiturf lawn July 07, 2015 I planted Habiturf seeds last fall and had a good lawn all winter. Now the grass is brown and dead. Did it drown with all the rain we have had? If so, what should I do now? If not, what should I do... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pollinator friendly lawn for Longmont CO July 06, 2015 I have a sunny, treeless, South-facing yard, with a slight South-facing slope in Boulder County, CO. It has one patch of buffalo grass, but is more then half some other type of grass. I would like t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wedding Flowers for Alabama July 03, 2015 I am considering planting wildflowers for my wedding in early/middle May of 2016. Could I plant seed this fall and have bloom by late April in time for my May wedding? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Rocky Stream Bank Plants for Dallas, TX July 02, 2015 Need live stake shrubbery or tree ideas for a rocky stream bank prone to high water. Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native orchids in Bowie and Harris Counties July 02, 2015 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I was wondering what types of orchids are native to Bowie County and Harris County. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need to have an Agave plant removed in Austin, TX. July 01, 2015 I was wondering where or who could I have come to my business and buy my century agave plant. As it is growing crazy and we would like it removed. 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 | ||
| Seep Muhly in limited sunlight. July 01, 2015 Can Seep Muhly withstand just 3 or 4 hours of direct sunlight in an urban setting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Horsemint for Connecticut July 01, 2015 Will horsemint grow in Connecticut? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Best grass for the shade in Austin, TX. July 01, 2015 What is the best grass seed for shade in Austin? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Protecting storm-damaged pecan and black walnut trees in TX June 29, 2015 Several trees on our property in northeast Texas were uprooted by a tornado. A pecan tree with a circumference greater than 93 inches was carried to the ground. Although it is completely horizontal,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Keeping bugs out of a Texas home June 29, 2015 I'm slowly growing my gardens into natural habitats for birds, bees, butterflies and other little critters but would like to keep them outside of my house. Being in central Texas it is difficult to ... 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 |  | |
| Turk's Cap and Pavonia insect problems June 27, 2015 My Turk's cap and Pavonia lasiopetala (rock rose) plants both have quite a few leaves that are skeletonized in appearance. I do not see any insects on the underside of the leaves. What could be cau... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Male and Female Rhus virens Differences? June 27, 2015 I would like to plant a Rhus virens in my yard to attract birds. I want to make sure I get a female plant so there will be berries. How can I tell a male from a female plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pollinators for Washington State June 26, 2015 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I am removing invasive knotweed in the Pacific Northwest and I would like to provide native plant alternatives that would flower and provide pollen in the late summer/fall f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Milky Substance on Salvia greggii June 26, 2015 The Salvia greggii that I have in the front yard has a milky substance on it ... and the plants are not doing well. Is this some kind of fungi or disease? What can I do to "cure" it? Thank you! Lia... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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