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 | |
| Trimming a rock rose in Richardson TX March 11, 2009 I have a Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala)in my garden. I cannot find any information on how to trim or whether I should trim this plant. If so when? Mine is pretty much growing all over the place and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can Calycanthus floridus survive in South Dakota? March 06, 2009 Calycanthus in South Dakota? I've recently purchased some seeds for a calycanthus plant (floridus I think). I'm going to start them indoors but am wondering if this can survive a South Dakota winter... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Live oak roots and house foundation in Austin March 01, 2009 Our builder left a live oak on our lot that is 7' from our foundation. The tree is now around 18' tall with a 20" circumference. Will this tree eventually cause damage to our foundation and is th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yuccas and prickly pears for Warren MI February 11, 2009 What type of yuccas and prickly pears will survive in the Detroit, Michigan area? Also, can I grow Santa Rita prickly pear in a pot? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning an oak tree in Missouri in February February 09, 2009 Can I prune an oak tree in Missouri in February? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recently planted live oak tree in Boerne, TX February 07, 2009 My brother planted a live oak in August. It was from a nursery and had a root ball. It looks dead but I keep watering it. The trunk is about 6 inches around. The leaves died but when the winds came th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming a bur oak in Llano, TX February 06, 2009 We have a beautiful, large Burr Oak next to our house. This tree has many large lateral branches. I have trimmed dead branches, but no other trimming. It grows a lot of "suckers" during growing sea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of native wild grass in Austin February 01, 2009 I had some landscaping done in my yard in Austin. My aim was minimal care so I requested native Texas plants. I am plant illiterate and just now looking in the City of Austin "grow green guide" to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Bradford pear fruits poisonous to dogs? January 25, 2009 Are Bradford pear fruits poisonous to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to prevent bank erosion in Georgia January 20, 2009 I NEED LIST OF PLANTS TO HELP PREVENT BANK EROSION. WE LIVE AT BOTTOM OF HILL THAT FURTHER SLOPES TO A POND. THE AREA IS SHADY AND WET FACING NORTHEAST. ANY RAIN CAUSES THE POND TO MUD UP. WE HAVE... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Floristic Quality Assessment program in Texas? January 19, 2009 Do you have knowledge of a Floristic Quality Assessment program for Texas such as the ones used in Indiana and Illinois? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will lead accumulate in the flower nectar of plants used for phytoremediation January 16, 2009 I'm attempting to phytoremediate lead in my garden with mustard and/or sunflowers. I also keep bees. I understand that lead is sequestered in roots and stalks. Would the nectar also be contaminate... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Starting transplants of native Pleopeltis polypodioides January 15, 2009 I would like to know how to start Pleopeltis polypodioides (resurrection fern) growing in my oak trees. I have a source for the plants but do not know how to start the transplants on the limbs of the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Timing for transplanting a yaupon in Louisiana January 01, 2009 I found a female yaupon growing wild at the back of my property and would like to move it to the front. When should I do this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Strange form of Dasylirion sp. (sotol) December 27, 2008 Mr. Smarty: I have a client with a huge (2 ft. diameter trunk), multi-headed dasylirion. On one or more of the heads, the leaves arch inward instead of outward. Someone said this is because of an inju... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for pavilion over fountain in Washington State December 26, 2008 I have a tall fountain in a 7 foot square which is surrounded by pavers. Inside the 7' square there is about a 2' mulched soil bed around the center fountain and an iron type pavilion that goes up h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grass to grow in the shade of pecan tree December 10, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, We have an enormous pecan tree in our backyard that had grass underneath the breadth of the branches, but not around the trunk. The grass isn't doing well (though we did fai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Berms to hold water around roots December 05, 2008 I planted new flower beds this November. There are currently dirt 'berms' around each plant - creating a well for water to seep into the immediate plant area. How can I keep these berms from erodi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants native to Galveston that would survive in Austin December 01, 2008 What plants are native to the Galveston, Texas region? Can any of those plants survive in the Austin area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cross pollination of non-native poinsettia December 01, 2008 I have a poinsettia that I have had for about 5 yrs. that has always flowered red. Last Christmas I was given one that was white. During the summer I put both plants in my green house side by side. Th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why is my Mountain Laurel in distress? November 26, 2008 We have planted our 2nd Texas Mountain Laurel in the same spot (after fresh berm built with sandy loam) and it is not looking good in less than 2 weeks. We have an identical berm on the other end of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Watering schedule for sod lawn November 23, 2008 We just moved to Georgetown, TX, where we have a 2-month old sod lawn (NOT Zoysia) that appears to becoming fairly well-established. We want to conserve water for environmental and financial reasons.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to plant a gooseberry bush November 22, 2008 Please, if somebody can help, I need to know how to plant the gooseberry bush. Thanks, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tropical looking plants for pool area in California November 14, 2008 I am looking for small tropical looking plants, groundcover, and 2-small trees for around my pool. They have to be non-toxic to dogs,cats, and people. They can't attract bees/wasps, or have a root ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| USDA Plant Hardiness Zone of Worcester, Massachusetts November 11, 2008 What zone is Worcester, Massachusetts? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Assuring berries on Viburnum dentatum October 27, 2008 I just purchased 2 blue muffin viburnum bushes-I live in Kansas-How many years will it be before they get berries? They are full size(3-4 ft) Do I need to trim them down for winter or just mulch the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will non-native Star Jasmine survive outside in winter in Ohio October 27, 2008 Hi! I have two Star Jasmine in pots (we brought them back to southern Ohio from CA this year). Should we bring them inside for the winter? Would they do okay outside next winter if we plant them in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting Tecoma stans in Texas October 26, 2008 I have a pair of Tecoma stans planted too near the house. They're in shade most of the day. The branches that can reach a little sun are blooming nicely. Would they survive being transplanted fart... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with non-native Ficus Pumila October 23, 2008 I have successfully maintained Ficus Pumila trees indoors for many years. Over the last year my two indoor,5' (in container) ficus trees have developed large brown lesions that turn "papery" befor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Overwintering a Juncus effusus in Great Neck, NY October 23, 2008 Can I over winter a juncus effusus spiralis indoors or must it be kept outdoors? Whether indoors or outdoors, what is the proper way to keep it alive during the winter months? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of wild shrub in Michigan October 22, 2008 I have what appears to be a wild shrub that I want to identify. It has green foliage and is bush-like. It is about 10' tall. This fall I noticed light red berries and thorns..after cutting it down... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting a native Texas Persimmon in Austin October 18, 2008 I have a Texas Persimmon, approx. 2.5 feet tall, growing in a 5 gal. pot. When should it be transplanted and where? How much sun? Could it grow in a larger pot for a time> Do deer like it? Thank ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Survival of non-native Cape Plumbago in Delaware October 18, 2008 I have a cape plumbago shrub growing in a large pot outdoors - but we are in Delaware - where it won't apparently survive the winter. How can I keep my plumbago safe over the winter? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Watering needs for a new landscape October 11, 2008 How much and how frequently are you supposed to water after implementing a new landscape? For example, perennials and succulents that are drought tolerant. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Holding an Acer rubrum in a container for two years October 10, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I am thinking about ordering a Red Maple tree that is cultivated from Mount Vernon. I appreciate the historic nature of such a tree. The tree will be shipped to me and is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Freeze-back of Hamelia patens in winter in Texas October 03, 2008 Will the hamelia patens freeze back in the winter ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for pots outdoors in winter in Virginia October 02, 2008 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I was wondering what plants would be best to grow outdoors, in pots, in Virginia, in the winter? This is a lot of restrictions but we just need 2-3 plants for our office pati... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants native to Central New Jersey September 28, 2008 What trees are native to Central New Jersey? Also, can you give me a website or information on plant life and tree life in Central New Jersey? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Senna corymbosa September 28, 2008 I have a large Texas Senna tree - at least 7'x8'. It is covered in beautiful yellow blooms; however, it will need to be pruned in the winter. Please let me know how much to prune it and when is th... 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 | ||
| Survival of native yaupon in The Woodlands, TX after hurricane September 25, 2008 One of my large native yaupons trees (8ft) fell away from a group during the hurricane. I have uprighted and tied it off for stability. Now the leaves are all brown and falling. Is the tree dead or... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Leaves dropping on native Texas Mountain Laurel in San Antonio September 20, 2008 Please help. We have a beautiful TX Mountain Laurel in our front yard. This year the leaves are dropping like snow in the north. What do you think is wrong with our tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Relocating native oak trees in compacted soil September 14, 2008 Can you replant and relocate small oak trees in compacted soil and will they grow or go into shock? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bulbs named exotica September 01, 2008 When I purchased some seed from a catalog I received some free bulbs called exotica which I planted.They have long green stems. I don't know what they are or what to do with them. Can I plant them ou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification August 28, 2008 Hello. There is a plant growing next to my 4 o'clocks that I didn't plant which is almost the same height as them, but has different leaves and it grows wider. It has these huge light green upside d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pecan tree transplant in Elgin, TX August 26, 2008 Hello, Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a question about how to encourage a very young pecan sapling to grow, and whether I should use mulch to do so. I live in Elgin (Bastrop County) and the soil is extr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Insect pests in Gaillardia aristata in Tennessee August 22, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a couple of 'Oranges and Lemons' blanketflower plants in a butterfly and hummingbird native flower garden that is the foundation planting of my house. They bloom prol... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Browning leaves on non-native Burford holly August 22, 2008 I have several dwarf Burford hollies whose leaves are browning. The individual leaves have colors of green, dark brown to light brown extending from the stem. Any ideas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fungus on trunk of non-native weeping willow in California August 21, 2008 I live in Palo Cedro, CA and have a weeping willow tree with with what appears to be be some type of fungus growing all over the trunk of the tree. It is a brown color and can be broken off in big ch... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for xeriscape and shade August 20, 2008 I live in Jones county, Texas. I would like to xeriscape portions of my lawn. The soil is sandy, I have a lot of shaded lawn area. What plants do you recommend that would be low maintenace, low water ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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