Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty 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 | |
| Spring sowing of wildflower seeds in pots May 11, 2015 Is it possible to start wildflower seeds in pots in the spring and then transplant them to the yard? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can a Texas Mountain Laurel grow in Northeast Oklahoma? May 09, 2015 I was born and raised in Texas but am now living in Northeast Oklahoma. I miss the smell of Texas mountain laurels in the spring. Is there any way of getting one to grow here? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting Garry Oak in Kinnikinnick in WA May 09, 2015 I want to plant a Garry Oak tree in my backyard in an area currently covered in kinnikinnick planted by the previous homeowner. The kinnikinnick covers a large area - about 10 feet in diameter. Even... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will Mexican Buckeye Survive in SC? May 09, 2015 I have grown a Mexican Buckeye indoors from seed in Greenville, SC. Will it survive the colder climates here if transplanted out of doors? Thanks for your advice! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen Conifer for Moist, Full Sun Site in Ohio May 09, 2015 We need to find an evergreen conifer, classic holiday-shaped tree that will tolerate a very moist, but not soaking wet, site in full sun. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade Loving Plants for Under a Black Walnut Tree in Rochester, NY. May 09, 2015 Please advise on plants that will grow in the shade under a black walnut tree in Rochester, NY. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Repairing Previous Silver Maple Pruning Damage May 09, 2015 I cut a limb off my silver maple wrong and now the trunk is developing a hole. What is the best treatment? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bleeding Heart-Like Plant Identification in PA May 09, 2015 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants. We have a plant that looks almost like the bleeding heart, as in the way the bell shaped (not heart) white flowers hang downward on the stem. However, the leaves are broader and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What to do about bastard cabbage in the Austin area? May 08, 2015 I am noticing bastard cabbage taking over roadsides and medians at an alarming rate where a mixture of native flowers used to bloom. Is it allowable to organize efforts to pull the invasive plants ou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of vining plants in yard in Texas May 08, 2015 I have vining plants in my back-yard, here when I bought the house, that, from what I have been able to find on-line, look like poison sumac, however, I know they are not. Leaf shape, color, and appe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of potentially toxic weed in California May 08, 2015 Hi! Sorry about the error, I'm not very computer savvy! I have a weed that grows on my land; about 1 foot tall its flower looks like a Q-tip. My neighbor says it killed her horse! I can't find i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Brownish-gold worm-looking things on loblolly pines May 08, 2015 We have a large loblolly pine that each spring drops thousands of brownish-gold "worm" looking things (about 1/2 to 1" long). Do they have a name and what is their purpose? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Stressed Ashe juniper is dropping needles May 07, 2015 We have a large Ashe juniper tree in our backyard, at least 20 ft tall. This past winter/spring, several limbs have died and it's dropped a ton of leaves (clumps of "needles" really). Is it slowly ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Effect of heavy rains on Lindheimer Muhly May 04, 2015 It is April 2015, in San Antonio we've had very heavy rains recently. My Lindheimer muhly, which was looking beautiful, has now turned brown all over. Is this normal or is this a problem? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can bluebonnet pods be gathered when green in Lockhart, TX May 02, 2015 Can bluebonnet seed pods be gathered when green? Will the seed be capable of germinating next season? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oak Sucker Reprise May 02, 2015 ----Original Question---- SUNDAY - JULY 06, 2014 Title: Live Oak Suckers Reprise, Austin TX QUESTION: Referring to an entry dated March 11, 2011 about Live Oak suckers - what happened to the su... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need an inexpensive blooming tree in Venus, TX May 02, 2015 I need a non expensive booming tree for our yard. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
May 01, 2015 Greetings! I am hoping to gain privacy on a 30' swath with existing 6' privacy fence, I need about 14' of height to hide unsightly apartments. Location is full sun without a nearby spigot, I can ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower Seed Planting in Austin in April April 30, 2015 What wildflower seeds can I plant in April? Is there a schedule? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will Hellebores planted in the soil near vegetables transfer poisons to them? April 29, 2015 I just planted helleborus in my garden and have now read that they are toxic. They are planted near vegetable plants, will they affect the vegetables and leave them inedible? Also, are they toxic to d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Finding a manzanita species suitable for Fort Worth, TX April 28, 2015 Which manzanita shrub would thrive best in the Fort Worth, Tx. area? I was thinking of planting it in a large pot. Thank You! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can oak pollen be composted? April 28, 2015 I have quite a few live oaks in my backyard and my flower beds are filled with pollen stuff. Can I compost and mulch over this or is it a good idea to rake as much as I can out first? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What about the Bluebonnets at Muleshoe Bend Recreational Area in Spicewood, TX ? April 27, 2015 We had heard about vast field of bluebonnets out at Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area - an LCRA park in Spicewood. We went out today and there are indeed vast fields . . . all where Lake Travis would be ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fastest growing shade tree for Austin. April 27, 2015 What is the fastest growing shade tree suitable for Austin? We are anticipating selling or renting our house in two to three years and want a shade tree for a baked full sun area of the yard that will... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Carolina buckthorn and Neem Oil Spray Damage April 27, 2015 It's April, I have a Carolina buckthorn that seemed to be doing well, about 8 feet tall, about 2 years old in part shade. It was putting out new leaves about a month ago and seemed to have infestati... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vines for a backyard pergola not toxic to dogs and cats April 26, 2015 We have just built a pergola in out backyard and are wanting a vine to grow up and around the posts. We have 3 dogs and also have a cat that loves to go outside. We are really looking for something th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Tropical Milkweed Harmful to Monarchs? April 24, 2015 I believe I recently read that the orange flowering Mexican milkweed carries a virus(?) or something that harms monarch butterflies. What are recommendations if I use this plant in my northern CA yar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover Suggestion for OK April 24, 2015 I need your suggestion for a groundcover for a flower bed in the sun and in the shade in Oklahoma. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Arctostaphylos Hanging Basket for Texas April 24, 2015 I would like to plant an Arctostaphylos uva-ursi in a hanging basket with a coco liner. Will this work, or will the roots grow too long? it's the 'Massachusetts' cultivar. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Avocados in South Texas April 24, 2015 What types of avocados can be grown in South Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native ground cover for bare ground April 24, 2015 I have a 20 x 40 foot partly sunny area that has only leaves covering the bare ground. I want to replace the leaves with ground cover. Can I mix ground covers like clover, asian jasmine, etc? I would ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought-tolerant turf for Southern California April 23, 2015 Is it possible to grow Habiturf in Riverside, California, in the area of UC Riverside? The climate is similar to the desert areas or Arizona, just slightly cooler in the Summer. If not, is there a d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for non-native Chinese Pistache tree April 23, 2015 Where in the Austin area would be a good place to find a nice sized Chinese Pistache to plant in my yard? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-Blooming Bridal Wreath Spirea in PA April 23, 2015 We have 12 - 15 Bridal Wreath Spirea across our backyard. We have lived here for about 10 years (the plants longer). They have always bloomed except last year (2014) several didn't bloom and this y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shady Groundcovers for NC April 23, 2015 I have a side yard that gets very little sun during the day and have tried St. Augustine grass unsuccessfully. Can you recommend a groundcover? We live close to the coast in Southeastern N. Carolina... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Passiflora and Leucophyllum together in Texas April 23, 2015 I've got a Passiflora incarnata that has self-propagated around a cenizo sage. My question is, will the passionflower vine choke out or otherwise damage the cenizo? Do I need to cut back the vine? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground Arizona ash wood suitable for mulch? April 23, 2015 We cut down a 40 year old Arizona ash tree and had the stump ground into mulch. Can we use this mulch in our vegetable garden and flower beds View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| sources of milkweed in Bastrop, Texas April 22, 2015 Where can I buy milkweed in Bastrop County? Can I plant in containers in garden soil? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Straggler daisy as a ground cover in Florida April 21, 2015 I live in Hillsborough county,FL. My yard has two large oak trees and is very shady. I am looking for a shade resistant ground cover that will do well for a yard used by children to play. I was told... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seed Library in Hill Country, Texas? April 21, 2015 Hello, I was wondering if there is a seed bank or library here in the Texas Hill Country? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a children's playground April 20, 2015 We have extensive native gardens on our 2 acre property, but my children want a garden of their own with plants they can hide under and that are good for imaginative play. Are there any native plants... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer Resistant Roses and Fruit Trees in NC April 20, 2015 Hello, I am planning a house on Lake Gaston in North Carolina (to be built) and will need to establish a new garden on the cleared lot. I would like to focus on native plants, but I love a cutting ga... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Black Sap from Live Oak in Austin, Texas April 20, 2015 We live in South Austin and our neighbor has several beautiful, enormous Live Oak trees whose canopies hang over into our yard. This past week, they've begun dripping some sort of black sap all over ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for Slope in NC under Black Walnut April 20, 2015 Please advise on some plants for a difficult to mow 30% slope, near Asheville, NC. We have partial sun, plenty of good rich topsoil, and plenty of rain. The key issue is that it is under and near the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Teucrium resistant to Verticillium Wilt? April 20, 2015 Is Teucrium frutescans, or Bush Germander resistant to Verticillium Wilt? I cannot find it on a list anywhere. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen groundcovers for NE NC April 20, 2015 Can you please provide a list of evergreen native groundcovers for Northeastern NC? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bees and Bulbs April 20, 2015 Are any of the Non-Native bulbs beneficial to bees of any kind? My Dutch hyacinths, and daffodils are so prolific; they are both single, but I can't find any information about them as sources of nect... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of Ashe juniper trees April 19, 2015 I have 15 acres with scattered huge oak and elm trees with tens of thousands of Ashe Juniper (cedar) trees 2” to 10” in diameter growing within the drip zone of the hardwoods. How do I take out the c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Orange-flowered bush on Wildflower Center grounds April 19, 2015 What is the orange colored bush like Sphaeralcea blooming right now. It is in one of the planted gardens. I could find no name plate. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen Trees for Low Maintenance Screen April 18, 2015 We live in Pacifica, CA and are looking to plant a row of low maintenance trees in our back yard along our fence, that grow to be a maximum of 15' high, that stay green year round. What do you recomm... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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