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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| Controlling pumpkin vine in British Columbia July 15, 2008 I have never grown pumpkins before but decided to try one plant this year. It seems to be taking over my small garden space. Can I prune it back? I only want one or two pumpkins for my grandchildre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vines for side of home July 14, 2008 Can you suggest a native vine for Central Maryland? The intent is for the vine to grow up the southern face of a vinyl sided home to make the home more attractive but also to provide some reduction o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to cover rock wall in Pennsylvania July 10, 2008 Please recommend plants that I could use to plant on the (full sun) slightly sloped ground space above a 3 foot high, 20 foot long unattractive stone wall that would grow over and down to cover the wa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of prickly vine in north Texas July 07, 2008 While trimming the shrubs around my suburban house I noticed (and my legs were torn up by!) a vine-like plant with small green serrated leaves and millions of small, very sharp thorns. I search Invasi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive vines in azaleas in South Carolina July 07, 2008 I have saw briars and wild jasmine, and cow itch vine that has invaded my azaleas, and would like your input on how to get rid of them without completely destroying my azaleas. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for wall with afternoon sun in Oregon July 03, 2008 Portland, Or. We have a stacked cement wall about 30 feet long that receives afternoon sun from the west. we would like to plant something edible along that wall that can tolerate afternoon sun. G... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Regenerating old cross-vines in Richardson, TX June 26, 2008 I have been asked to landscape a memorial garden at church. The garden is small and has a 10x 15-foot brick wall around the back in a c-shape in full sun. Planted on the wall are several very overgro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-blooming wisteria in Oklahoma June 24, 2008 I have a wisteria bush that doesn't bloom. It's two years old. What should I do? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for a trellis in Illinois June 21, 2008 I live in Nortrhern Illinois and am trying to keep my garden as native as possible. I would like to grow something on a trellis in part sun. It looks like a regional clematis is a possibility, but d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| California native vine June 21, 2008 Hello, I am looking for a california native vine that can "cover" a wrought iron fence. I would like a vine that does not require too much care and can handle a fair amount of sun exposure. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Hyacinth Bean vine dying June 17, 2008 I live in Missouri and have tried to grow hyacinth bean. Mine drop leaves (after some yellow appears on on them)and the vine turns yellow, then withers to brown. Other places near me grow them beautif... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identifying vine in Alabama June 16, 2008 I have a vine growing on my fence and I need help identifying it. The leaves are a large and medium green oval shaped and along the vine there are clusters of tiny(really tiny) flowers.They are a pale... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for hanging baskets in Abilene June 10, 2008 I live in the DRY West Texas heat in Abilene. I'd like to put some hanging plants along my back fence. Preferably something that would attract butterflies. We have a pool in our back yard and almost ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A Pipevine poisonous to Pipevine Swallowtails May 30, 2008 I have heard that a specific Pipevine is poisonous to the larva of Pipevine Swallowtails. Is this true? If so, what is the poisonous species of Pipevine, and what other types can I plant that will not... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen vine for New York May 27, 2008 I live on long island. I live on a corner piece of property and we have a 4 foot picket fence. We have some deciduous bushes planted along the fence, but would like a little more privacy because we ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast growing, evergreen vine for deck May 14, 2008 Hi, I hope you might help me select the most appropriate flowering vine for my situation. I am looking for a fast growing, mostly evergreen, and long blooming flowering vine for a large container (pro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine with white flower and \ May 02, 2008 I have a vine intruding from my neighbors yard that has small white blooms on them (similar to morning glories) and on the stem of the flower below the bloom, a "tiny watermelon" is growing..... It ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native vines to cover limestone walls in Austin April 28, 2008 We are moving into a house in Austin that has three tiered 5'- 6' retaining walls in the back yard. They are huge and somewhat of an eye sore. We have some cool landscaping ideas to make the most ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Virginia creeper in trees April 26, 2008 Can Virginia creeper be allowed to climb on trees--specifically Texas ash and live oak--or will it damage them if allowed to attach itself? We are thinking of using it as erosion control in a greenbe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of a vine with thorns and blue berries. April 22, 2008 > Hello, > We have acreage in Butler County, PA. I recently discovered a vine that I can't identify. It's has many small spines all over the stem, then very large and stiff thorns. It has dark gr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Red blister-like bumps on grapevine April 17, 2008 I have just discovered red blister like bumps on a grapevine. It is on the leaves as well as the stems. What could this be? Will it harm only the grapevine or other plants as well? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Protection from native invasive trumpet vines April 17, 2008 Mr. SP: I have invaders! Trumpet vines from a neighbor's yard, two doors away have taken over and are eating my garage and trying to steal all the sun from my clematis vines. How do I get rid of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine with red flower April 14, 2008 I have a "vine" that flowers. When it "blooms", it begins with a reddish/yellowish/orange ball about the side of a dime. The ball bursts open and a small red bloom emerges. It looks like a carn... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Few blooms on native Bignonia capriolata (cross-vine) March 25, 2008 I have an 8-year-old crossvine that has grown and bloomed beautifully until this year. During the winter it lost all of its lower leaves. What leaves were left had brownish-red splotches on them. It h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native vine to cover chain link fence in Massachusetts March 21, 2008 I have a chain link fence I don't want to bother taking down, any suggestions on a clinging vine that will rapidly attach itself to the links and eventually cover it with a green "blanket"? thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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