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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| Planting instructions for Ilex verticillata in Wisconsin September 02, 2008 We have a winterberry tree and we would like to grow another one in a different area. Can we transplant part of that or do we need to start from scratch? How would we know what the male plant looks li... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of native American beautyberry in North Carolina August 31, 2008 I have found a beauty berry bush growing wild in the woods. It is huge! I broke off a couple of branches (1/4 " in diameter) and wonder if it will root if I just stick it in good moist soil. I alr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When to plant Indian paintbrush seeds August 25, 2008 I live in Santa Fe, Texas and I've been trying to find the right date to plant Indian Paintbrush seeds but so far have been unsuccessful. I know it says in the fall but that seems to be a broad rang... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Getting rid of rain lilies in Aledo, TX August 24, 2008 How do I get rain lilies to stop growing in my yard? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating Indian Paintbrush August 17, 2008 I live in Pecos, NM and have a lot of Indian Paintbrush plants growing wild on my road. I wonder if you can tell me how I can propagate this plant. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting yucca seeds in Illinois August 17, 2008 My neighbor gave me a few pods (5) off of her Yucca plant which have lost its bloom for the year, how do I transplant them, in the ground or root them in water first? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting time for native yucca seeds August 11, 2008 When and how do you plant yucca plant seeds and or/pods ? I took them off of the stalks when I cut the stalks today . View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hollies not retaining leaves in Tulsa August 10, 2008 I have Little Red Hollies that have lost their leaves, some areas being bald. They are also not full - you can see through them. These were planted in this condition Spring of '08 and have been wat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trillium seed collection August 08, 2008 I am interested in propagating trillium from seeds. When are the seeds ready to be harvested? I removed day lily pods prom the plants and then found out I had picked them too early View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating Dakota vervain (Glandularia binpinnatifida) August 07, 2008 Dakota Vervain. We recently moved into a new house in Henly--Hays/Blanco county line. Mother nature was kind enough to provide us w/Dakota Vervain in some of our planting beds while we are getting... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Texas bluebells from seed July 29, 2008 I have a few Texas Bluebell seeds. I would like to grow these in my yard. What would be the best place..pot or flower bed? When should I plant? How to maintain? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting bamboo July 29, 2008 To transplant bamboo from one place to another, do you dig the plant up or do you get a cutting, put it in water and then root the plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting a Texas redbud sapling July 27, 2008 I've just discovered a Texas red bud sapling (baby tree)that decided to grow next to our fire pit. Although there's no reason for us to sit around the campfire in 100 degree weather, I would like to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis) survive planting in July July 14, 2008 I live in Southwest Austin and I am planting horseherb groundcover in my back yard that is part-shade. Can I plant this right now (July) or is it too hot to plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deadheading a petunia and why July 13, 2008 Can you please tell me the correct way to de-head a petunia and why? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation bluebells by gathering seed July 10, 2008 Following up your suggestion on propagating Bluebells by seed..Is it possible that I can gather seed from the bluebells in my pasture? How does that work? Would I have to wait until the wildflowers a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with philodendron bipinnatifidum July 08, 2008 I have a philodendron bipinnatifidum (selloum) that is now over 20 years old. It has been growing like crazy for the past 2 months, but has been inundated with pests since January, when I repotted it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting a Century Plant in Pennsylvania July 08, 2008 When is the best time to transplant a Century Plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How can I propagate Magnolia trees? Airlayeringg, semi-hardwood cuttings, and seeds. July 01, 2008 Hi. My grandmother recently passed away. One of her most prized possessions was her magnolia tree. She absolutely loved that tree. I, along with other members of the family each want to take a pie... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Possibility of propagating buckeye from basal shoots June 25, 2008 I have a beautiful red buckeye tree that has small shoots coming up at the base. I would love to share these with my friends. How do I do this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Buffaloberry from Grandma June 25, 2008 I have a "BUFFALO BERRY" that my Grandma brought back from South Dakota.It is approx.8yrs.old.All was well until this spring.It was budding out when we had a very hard freeze and got 3" of snow.Now... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of mountain laurel seeds June 20, 2008 My Texas Mountain Laurel this year finally produced seed pods. How do I go about planting the seeds for a new tree? A few of my co-workers love my tree and I would like to give them either the seeds ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can Gaura coccinea be transplanted June 14, 2008 Hello, I had Gaura coccinea growing on my property when I lived in Albuquerque. I have been looking for it for years to plant in my xeric aroma garden. Taking a walk yesterday I found some in a ditch ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Ashe junipers June 04, 2008 I am trying to re-build what man has destroyed in the Kingsland/Marble Falls area on a property we own out there. I would LOVE to plant a couple ashe junipers for several reasons, a couple being: 1. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Arisaema dracontium May 25, 2008 We are fortunate enough to own an 8-acre drainage next to Bull Creek preserve, and it has several stands of Green Dragon (Arisaema Dracontium) growing in it. How can we propagate this plant and share... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting time for California poppies in Colorado May 25, 2008 I live in Colorado and planted California Poppies in my front yard at the end of April. I read that I probably should have planted them in the fall. There have sprouted a little but they don't seem t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recommended distance between blueberry plants May 21, 2008 How far apart do I need to plant blueberry bushes? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Gaillardia suavis and salvia penstemonoides propagation May 19, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, if that is your real name, How long, if at all, will I need to stratify my gaillardia suavis and salvia penstemonoides seeds to have them come up this summer? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| My Niagara grape cutting is not growing; be patient May 19, 2008 Hello. I live in a city about 10 miles from Chicago IL. I like grapes they are my favorate fruit to just eat. I bought a niagara grape plant that was a cutting (it looked like nothing more then a st... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will potted tulip rebloom next year May 18, 2008 We bought tulips that were in bloom in small pots in May, and planted them in the back yard. Now my friend tells me they will not come up and bloom next spring, that you must only plant tulips as bul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seed collection from rain lilies May 14, 2008 Hello, I have some rain lilies growing in our yard. I've collected some seed heads, but am not sure what steps to take now. They were all off of broken stems (the dogs are not as cautious as I am... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Reproduction of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) May 06, 2008 What is the reproduction of a Purple Coneflower? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting bluebonnets near pond area April 26, 2008 We want to scatter bluebonnet seeds on the banks of a pond area in a housing addition. Do we have to do anything special? How do they do it along highways? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Sophora gypsophila from seed April 23, 2008 Sophora gypsophila B.L. Turner & Powell Do you have any information on growing this small tree from seed? I have a few seeds and would like to try. What conditions break seed dormancy? I have grown ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing grapes from seed in California April 22, 2008 Can I grow grapes from seed? If so, what is procedure? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about Lady Lupine (Lupinus villosus) April 20, 2008 Dear Mr.Smarty Plants, Lady Lupine grows in our yard in northeast Florida, and I would like to learn more about it, especially the stages it goes through, like now the purple petals themselves are c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure of hybridized red hollies to grow April 17, 2008 I have 2 red hollies planted in my yard about 20' apart, 3 years now. They won't grow. Do I need to have a male with them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming bloom stalks of iris April 15, 2008 Mr. Smarty: I live in Nevada, and have some very beautiful Iris plants. They have all blossomed and now I am left with stems. Is there any way I can cut them back so they blossom again? If so how shou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| I have a plant with plantlets on its leaves. What is it? April 14, 2008 Pardon my inexperience. I received a plant as a gift, that is quite similar to aloe, yet smaller. It "bloomed" with tiny paired leaves sprouting from each of the serrations along the larger leav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of leaves before transplanting April 05, 2008 Before transplanting a plant, is it a good idea to remove leaves? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Germination of bluebonnet seeds in Hempstead, TX April 01, 2008 We scattered 20 lbs of bluebonnet seeds on our property near Hempstead. Only about 10 plants have come up even though on another part of the property we have thousands. It is well drained and in sun.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vehicle friendly oak trees for Austin March 30, 2008 Do Chinquapins, Shumards or Live Oaks produce lots of tree sap? I'm looking for a vehicle friendly Oak tree to be installed in parking areas in Austin, Texas. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Eves necklacepods (Styphnolobium affine) March 25, 2008 Mr. S-P, I urgently need your advice regarding two Eve's necklacepods that appear to be dying. They are in two completely different areas of my yard. One began leafing out and then the leaves sh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Germination period for Snow Mountain beardtongue (Penstemon purpusii) March 12, 2008 Why is the germination period for the Snowmountain Beardtongue so long?. I understand it to be approximately 690 days. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Does Monarda citriodora, lemon beebalm, self-fertilize? March 09, 2008 Does Monarda citriodora produce its seeds from cleistogamous flowers? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of growing Buckleys yucca in South Carolina February 03, 2008 I live in Lexington, SC. I am wondering if I can grow Buckley's yucca (yucca constricta) here and if so, where can I purchase the seeds or plants? I am from Texas and we are trying to create a "we... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of indoor plants for school project January 28, 2008 I have an assignment for school that requires that I get two indoor plants. One has to grow in water and one has to grow in soil. Each plant needs to grow at a fast pace, and at about the same pace.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation by seed of Scutellaria ovata ssp. bracteata (heartleaf skullcap) January 15, 2008 Scutellaria ovata ssp. bracteata-- Hi Mr. Smarty Plants! How do I grow this from seed?! I'm trying to propagate for a native plants garden (zone 7B). Thanks for the info! Cheers! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Panels for greenhouse in Austin January 09, 2008 I am building a greenhouse for my plants here in Austin and and will be using PVC panels for the roof. Which would be better for starting and growing plants the clear or the white panels? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Time of year to plant Tecoma stans December 16, 2007 I wanted to know when the best time to plant the Esperanza flower (Tecoma stans) was. The information on the website did not give planting dates or soil conditions for this plant. Can you please help?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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