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 | |
| Vine like blackberry with 3 leaves & thorns in Florida July 08, 2009 What vine looks like a blackberry vine but has three leaves and thorns? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Climbing vines non-damaging to walls in Round Rock, TX July 07, 2009 Will fig vine tendrils grow into a stucco wall? Is there any climbing vine that won't damage a stucco wall over time? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen vine for Austin June 21, 2009 In addition to coral honeysuckle, carolina jasmine, and crossvine can you recommend any other fairly hardy, evergreen vines that will do well draping from the top of a wall in Austin, Texas. Exposure ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification of large hairy vine in Salem, OH June 19, 2009 We have large hairy vines that grow up the side of several of the trees on the edge of the woods beside our home. The leaves color resembles that of the poisonous sumac but the leaves shape do not. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-poisonous, fragrant flowering plant and vine for Arkansas June 17, 2009 I would like to find a non poisonous flowering plant that smells good, that has small to moderate plant growth, that will do well in sandy soil area, shade to full sun either way. Also would like to f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for limited space, part-shade fence in N. Texas June 14, 2009 I have a narrow strip of yard (about 3ft) between my covered patio and privacy fence. Since the fence itself lacks visual interest, I'd like to find a vine to grow on the fence to give the backgroun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Honeysuckle bush for San Antonio, Tx June 14, 2009 I'm looking for a gift for my brother, living in San Antonio. He loves the native honeysuckle that we both remember from our childhoods. I think I'd like to get him a honeysuckle bush rather than ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen vine or plant that is non-toxic for horses in Pennsylvania June 12, 2009 I am looking for an evergreen vine or plant that can grow in shade and is not toxic to horses. I live 30 miles west of Philadephia. Can you help me? I would like to camouflage a wire horse fence. It ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is the fast-growing vine with white flowers growing in my yard? Field bindweed perhaps. June 09, 2009 We moved into an existing home with some plants growing that grow very quickly, 1ft. per week, they flower a white to cream colored bloom and when the bloom falls it leaves a olive looking ball. In th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with morning glory in Tennessee. June 09, 2009 I recently moved to Tennessee from Michigan. On my property I have a perennial morning glory. This year the leaves are all bubbly, the stems have white hard stuff on them and there is a brown hard t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen vine for Wimberley, Texas June 02, 2009 I live in the hill country in Wimberley Texas. I am looking for a fast growing, blooming evergreen vine for a privacy lattice wall between small houses. Can you recommend one of several plants? Thank ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of a thorny vine in Florida June 02, 2009 Area: panhandle of FL Problem: thorny vine with large potato like roots, rapid growing and very invasive. grows in summer time. thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can you root a crossvine? May 31, 2009 Can you root a crossvine? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine in Stony Brook NY May 29, 2009 Identify- vine type, Thorny stem, medium size leaves, color medium green with a jagged-reddish edge, leaf shape oblong, small white flowers. Growing in a patch of English green ivy. Looks invasive. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Which Aristolochia species are toxic to pipevine swallowtail larvae May 27, 2009 In a May 30, 2008 question regarding the toxicity of certain Aristolochia species to pipevine swallowtail larvae, I had heard the same from at a talk from the curator of the Cockrell Butterfly Center ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing spent flowers from passion flower in Garland TX May 26, 2009 To encourage more blooms, should I remove spent flowers on my passion flower vine? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for area near saltwater pool near Dallas May 25, 2009 Could you recommend perennial plants that would do well next to my saltwater pool just north of Dallas (Corinth) Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting a grapevine in San Antonio May 20, 2009 I planted a small grapevine that is growing well. I want to move it, (only tiny green grapes now, should be merlot) and wondering if I can do it now, mid May, or do I have to wait until fall? Not real... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Thorny vine growing through hedge May 16, 2009 In my hedge, a vine grows that has a bulbous root. It has large thorns up and down the vine. The leaves are shiny and grow all along the vine that is exposed to the sun. the vine grows up thru hedg... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for arbor in Eugene, OR May 01, 2009 We have an arbor that is partial shade and stays fairly wet and want to plant a climbing plant on it with shallow roots, preferably with flowers. We had a wisteria but got roots and shooters everywher... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bignonia capreolata with brown leaves in Pennsylvania April 24, 2009 3 year old crossvine leaves brown and dead looking. Will it come back and bud out? Crossvine on fence southern exposure. Crossvine on fence in another area has leaves and are dark green/purple - sa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting honeysuckle bush in Illinois April 18, 2009 Want to transplant 3 honeysuckle shrubs 10 to 12' tall this month, although not the best time. Please advise. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Stabilizing a shale slope in Virginia April 08, 2009 I have family members who recently built a new home in Virginia. The site required extensive excavation resulting in a large 30 foot, nearly vertical, shale wall behind the house. They now want to r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identify red-flowering vine in E. Texas April 03, 2009 Beside a well on an old homestead in Deep East Texas, there is a delicate vine. The leaves are heart shaped with points all the way around. The flower is a bright red trumpet shaped. I saw an angel ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will an ivy vine growing up my maple kill it? March 23, 2009 I have a ground cover ivy vine that has grown up my big maple tree. I would like to know if this will kill the tree if left, or will I kill the tree if I take it off? What should I do with it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vines for pergola in Fort Worth March 10, 2009 I just bought a pergola for back porch 12 x 10 that faces east so gets full morning sun, looking to plant vines for looks and help with shade. Would obviously like something that complements the pergo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is wrong with my cross vine (Bignonia capreolata? March 08, 2009 I have a crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) that has grown and bloomed beautifully for about 7 years. Then last year the bloom was significantly less and the bottom growth almost nonexistant. The leaves ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen vine for Lake Jackson, Texas March 06, 2009 I have some lattice for privacy that I would like to cover with an evergreen vine or ivy. One is facing to the west, the other to the east. What would you suggest? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine with dangling fruit March 03, 2009 I live in a hollow with rolling hills all around. there are wild grape vines, wild cherry trees, walnut trees, rasberry canes, black berry canes, a persimmon tree,(the asgtringent kind), maples, hicor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| I need an evergreen vine to hide an ugly fence. February 24, 2009 I am looking to find a vine that will be on my south facing fence. I would like it to be evergreen as to hide my ugly fence. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a vine to grow on limestone pillars. February 24, 2009 Could you please suggest a vine which would grow on the limestone pillars at the front of our home near New Braunfels? We would like something that is attractive but does not harm our home. The pill... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native vines for pergola in Denton, Texas January 28, 2009 We ve built a pergola under our Post Oaks and Winged Elms. The soil is sandy, as you would expect with post oaks. Are there any native vines, hopefully with a pretty flower, that I might coax into g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for pergola in Kilgore, Texas January 21, 2009 Have recently constructed a 10'X 20' free standing pergola with a 14' X 24' treated wood deck surround. The support posts are inset 14" from the outside edge. I want to grow greenery on the per... 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 | ||
| Climbing plant for Maryland December 09, 2008 Hi I am looking for a climbing plant which is native to Maryland. I want the plant to climb up the front of the house to assist with cooling in summer and to make the house look more attractive. I wou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for planters in Houston, Texas October 31, 2008 i'm looking for a native climber/vine that would be suitable for a south facing facade that doesn't have a deep root system..to create a sort of green screen using planters sitting on the second lev... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Support for Climbing Hydrangea October 28, 2008 This past spring I planted a large climbing hydrangea at the base of a walnut tree which we have had to cut down this fall. The plant was very happy there and I'd like to keep it where it is but don... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering vine that will bloom in East Texas in March October 08, 2008 What kind of flowering vine will bloom at the end of March in New Caney, Tex. 77357? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for a Campsis radicans in Yakima, WA October 08, 2008 I have a Campsis radicans it is in a 7" pot and the plant is 20" tall. It was a clipping given to me by a lady that is now out of town. My question is: I live in zone 6a so do I leave it in the p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native vine for privacy fence in Tennessee September 29, 2008 I am looking for a vine for privacy that grows in width not up; thru a standard 4' chain link fence. Colorfull. Can you help? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification of vine with purple fruit September 21, 2008 Illinois: I have a vine, red stems purple fruit with grape like clusters (sweet.hope it wasn't poisonous)What is it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vines for arbor in North Carolina September 14, 2008 Please identify vines that can be used for an arbor that fronts my garage and a portion of the house. Living in Zone 6, the arbor faces southwest. My interest is that the vine be non-invasive because... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of trumpet vine September 07, 2008 We have a trumpet vine growing in our yard and a friend wants to grow one in her yard. Can we dry the seed pod out and use it to start a plant for next spring? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting Virginia creeper September 02, 2008 I have a large Virginia creeper plant approximately 15 feet in length. Is it possible to transplant the whole thing without killing it? If so how do I care for it after it has been moved? Thank yo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Niagara and Concord grape crop failure September 01, 2008 Hi, I have been growing niagara grapes and concord grapes for 3 years now and this year I found myself without any fruits. The plant itself if full of leaves and is healthy. I was wondering why this w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Inducing flowering on vines August 27, 2008 My daughter presented me with a lovely Passiflora coccinea a few months ago. It is growing marvelously in full sun at the base of a pine tree. I'm wondering, though, if I were to limit the amount o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native flowering vine for Central Texas August 25, 2008 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I need a Texas native, flowering, climbing plant to climb up a post or trellis. Any suggestions? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for trellis in California August 15, 2008 What type of climbing flower/plant would grow best on a trellis in an alcove that receives morning sun from a south eastern direction? I live in San Luis Obispo, CA. I have had good luck with jasmine ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for house in partial sun in Vermont July 27, 2008 we are looking for a climbing vine against the east side of our house, partial sun but need at least 20 feet tall, in zone 4, vermont View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to get rid of invasive wild bean vine July 27, 2008 An invasive vine has taken over our beds, mostly wherever we have asiatic jasmine ground cover. We seem to be the only people nearby with this problem, and the volunteers with our local master gardene... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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