Native Plants
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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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| topic | question | |
| Identification of invasive plant March 26, 2010 I have found an invasive plant species in Martindale, Texas that I would like to identify for family members. It is taking over their pasture and is difficult to eliminate. It has not bloomed yet but... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants to go between patio stones in Oceanside CA February 24, 2010 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants! I live in Oceanside CA about 5 mi from the coast and have an about 20' sq private patio with "issues". Patio has with flagstones, one side all sun all day, middle area part... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When should I plant bermuda grass seeds? February 10, 2010 When should I plant bermuda grass seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) roots cause problems in a leach field? January 14, 2010 A new neighbor is concerned my Arbovitae's root system will go into his leach field. His house has been there also for the same amount of time as the tree and the field. The tree is 45 years old. Do... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Killing mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) with propane torch January 14, 2010 Can I kill mesquite with intense fire, such as a 1.2 million BTU propane torch? I know mesquite bounces back from cutting at the soil line. The trees are in Elgin. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating bamboo in Austin December 07, 2009 Everyone should be warned about bamboo and how invasive it is. My neighbor planted it in his back yard and it's now taking over my back yard and all the surrounding yards. He installed a barrier but ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information on various plants from Alamo TX November 15, 2009 Have you heard of the following plants: Butterfly Iris,Compact Nanpina, Red Dwarf Turks? I would like to know some details on the above plant: size, flowers?, drought tolerant, where to plant Thanki... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing three-seeded mercury in Austin November 09, 2009 How can I get rid of Three Seeded Mercury (Acalypha phleoides)? Even if I try to dig it up, the roots go down forever and it ends up just breaking at 6-8" down. Just breaking it off at the surface,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can a mustang grape and an oak coexist in Austin November 04, 2009 I have a healthy mustang grape vine growing on an oak in my yard. While the vine provides plenty of good food and a pleasant environment for many birds throughout the year, I feel it is overtaking the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Damage to ruellia in Monroe LA October 26, 2009 I have hundreds of Ruellia Brittoniana. Dwarf Katie White, Katie Blue and Katie Pink. I am finding holes in some of the leaves, Some just have notches chewed out of them. Some of the leaves have... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Containing roots in Kaysville UT October 26, 2009 I'm planting my yard in all native Rocky Mountain and Great Basin plants. Is there a way to halt or contain the root propagation of Smooth Leaf Sumac and Quaking Aspen? I've considered digging dow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why isn't Lantana camara in NPIN? October 16, 2009 Why don't you have Lantana camara in your data base? It is very common here, and is in the USDA database. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cleaning up neglected yard after construction in Austin October 07, 2009 We have just finished an extreme makeover on the inside of our house, but all the heavy equipment in the yard left us needing a complete makeover of the outside. The property was previously neglected... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing invasives plants in Adairsville GA September 29, 2009 We just moved into a new house and kudzu, greenbriar and poison ivy are trying to take over. I pulled what I could out of the trees, cut everything off at the base of the vine. I even tried digging ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling vegetation around retention pond in Williamsburg, VA September 21, 2009 We planted Juncus effusus around a retention pond and various native shrubs last year. We are having a problem controlling bramble,lespedeza and broadleaf natives from taking over and native trees(wil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Skunk cabbage for Houston TX September 19, 2009 Can you find skunk cabbage in the Houston, Texas area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant around Pittsburg from Weirton WV September 19, 2009 I have seen this plant outside of the Pittsburgh,PA area and was told it is called Midnight Cowboy. It has bright yellow flowers and long green leaves that only comes out at night(so I am told). Ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is conium maculatum safe for cataracts from Wewoka OK September 12, 2009 My doctor has prescribed conium maculatum for my cataract problems. Is this safe to use in the eyes? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Distinguishing wax myrtle from Daphne laureola in Tofino BC September 02, 2009 I am wondering how to distinguish California Wax Myrtle from Daphne Laurel, the latter which I would prefer to eradicate from my property. If it is wax myrtle, it gets to live.. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating smartweed from pasture in Oswego NY August 28, 2009 How do I get rid of smartweed in my pasture? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive horesetail in Belvedere CA August 23, 2009 Can I ever get rid of horsetail? It was planted without a barrier and is now in my garden, not quite everywhere yet. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive native mint in Tippecanoe OH August 23, 2009 I have a problem with Mentha Arvensis, I raise sheep and goats and they will not eat this. The mint is starting to take over my 65 acre farm,Q.What is best way to rid this plant so I do not lose my gr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification, Cuscuta sp., Dodder August 18, 2009 A neighbor of mine has a vine with no leaves that is attaching itself to her flowering plants. It is yellow in color, just larger than fishing line and has no leaves. It corkscrews itself around the p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blackeyed Susans becoming invasive in Fredericksburg VA August 10, 2009 Are the roots of the Blackeyed Susan (BES) invasive enough to actually destroy bulbs. BES have moved into a bed exactly where my oriental lilies were..this year the whole row of red lilies (which had... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ivy for wall cover in Dallas August 03, 2009 I am trying to cover older apartments with Ivy to create a beautiful exterior look, but after reading several articles on how the Texas Sun kills Ivy, I would like to know what plant can I use to crea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More information on coltsfoot in Rindge NH July 28, 2009 I wanted to give input regarding the query from Barbara Medford about: Coltsfoot invasive in Rindge NH Tuesday - July 21, 2009. I think it likely that the coltsfoot she described is Tussilago farfara... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive horsetail in Etna NH July 27, 2009 I seem to have an increasingly "healthy" supply of Equisetum in ALL of my many gardens over the years .. it is not easy to get all the rhizomes (what is?) is it possible to control it some other way... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen replacement for bamboo in Redding CA July 27, 2009 We have just removed bamboo from our backyard and need to replace it with a plant that will give us the same type of privacy. What plant would you suggest to plant along a fence line that will surviv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Coltsfoot invasive in Rindge NH July 21, 2009 I live in Rindge NH. My question is how do I stop colts foot from taking over my land? It is getting out of hand. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How do you get rid of Mexican Petunia? July 21, 2009 How do you get rid of Mexican Petunia? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Jerusalem thorn native to Central Texas? July 17, 2009 I was reading about Retama (Parkinsonia aculeata) which is native to South America and naturalized throughout Texas and the southern US. I also read that it is considered an invasive plant species in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating suckers from roots of Moraine locust in Hilliard, OH July 07, 2009 We removed a large Moraine Locust tree and also the stump. Now little trees from the roots are coming up. How do we get rid of these so something else can be planted? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Understory planting in Virginia July 03, 2009 We have some 10 mature tulip and sycamore trees in our No. VA property. The previous home owners were fond of English Ivy and Japanese pachysandra. We are working hard at replacing these invasives to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How can I eradicate Mexican Petunia from my garden in Vacaville CA? July 02, 2009 Can you tell me the best way to eradicate the plant Ruellia, commonly known as Mexican Petunia, from my garden? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating crabgrass in a newly mulched area in Austin June 26, 2009 We just had our whole front lawn taken out. We are starting to plant native plants in its place. The idea was to do what’s best for the environment and reduce maintenance. At this point I’m beginni... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How would chocolate mimosa tree do in Salt Lake City June 23, 2009 How would the chocolate Mimosa Tree do here in Salt Lake City, zone 5. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of invasive horsetail in Shelby Township, MI June 19, 2009 Please help me or direct me to who may be able to help. I have horsetail (Equisetum) invading my Blue Rug Juniper. Please tell me what I can use to get rid of the horsetail (Equisetum) without killi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is it OK to plant Huisache in southern California? June 15, 2009 We have a wonderful huisache growing on a very dry rocky/dusty slope. It has now sprouted babies and we are delighted because we have room for several more on this slope. I have some room on our front... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How do I get rid of Smilax bona-nox? June 09, 2009 Hi, we live in Circle C and our home backs to an easment area which has become overrun with what some are calling wild grapevine. Recently we noticed a different vine coming up in our backyard throug... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of Dwarf Oyster Plant. June 02, 2009 I purchased a plant from the local Home Depot, and it said on the sticker in was a Dwarf Oyster Plant. I can't seem to find any information on that name, so maybe it was marked wrong. See if you ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of poison ivy by goat in Lone Jack MO May 29, 2009 Easy organic removal of poison ivy?? I bought a goat, but you can borrow a neighbors. Always get 2 as they get lonely. They love to eat poison ivy, pull up vine roots and all, and leave the grass. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a supplier of Commelina erecta. May 29, 2009 I'm looking for a nursery that sells Commelina erecta? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is wrong with cultivars of native plants? May 26, 2009 What is wrong with cultivars of native plants? My state native plant society won't allow cultivars at their annual sale, and the native plant nursery from which I order only offers the species. But a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling Thermopsis rhombifolia (buffalo bean) in Mozambique May 19, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty, Please,can you assist. We have a plot on a dam in Mozambique. It has been invaded with Thermopsis rhombifolia (we call it buffalo bean), it is very hardy and if you fall in it or j... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why is Asphodelus fistulosus (onionweed) forbidden by property owners assoications? May 14, 2009 Our local property owners association is imploring us to remove all onionweed (Asphodelus fistulosus L.). The USDA lists it as a noxious weed. Why? I think it is pretty and flowery. Is it poison... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Getting rid of poison ivy May 08, 2009 Dear Mr Smarty Plants, Likewise I also have a shady area in my yard with overgrowth of poison ivy. It borders a small duck pond and we have a Golden Retriever. I too would like to plant soon afterward... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive plant in pond in Kenai, AK May 02, 2009 We built a pond in our back yard with materials from the beach. Including some plants. Didn't investigate the plants(our mistake). Well now it has taken over all of our landscape. It looks like ext... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dead-appearing Royal Paulownia trees in Manteno, IL May 02, 2009 Have two Royal Paulownia trees two years old.Last fall all leaves fell off. Have two eight foot toothpicks. This spring, nothing happening.Are they dead or will they come back? If they come back what ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification of tall stalk with many thorns April 17, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants: After we raked all the leaves, I found three or four plants on my property that are thin tall stalks with many thorns. Leaves are just growing, so I cannot describe them. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How can I control field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)? April 12, 2009 I have identified my invasive as field bindweed. Your answer in FAQs has websites that are moving and I am unable to find out how to control this major problem. I use organics to garden. The recommend... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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