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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Germination of bluebonnets from seed December 16, 2007 I am having problems getting my bluebonnet (Alamo Fire and regular bluebonnets to germinate from seed). Usually I soak them in lukewarm water overnight then plant in a potting mix. I am only getting... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Division of impatiens grown in a pot December 08, 2007 I have an impatient and it is growing out of the pot. I was wondering if it were possible to divide it somehow and have two medium size plants. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating yaupons (Ilex vomitoria) November 30, 2007 Dear Mr. Smarty, I enjoy your weekly tips printed in the Austin Statesman. We live in the Texas hill country where the soil is essentially rock. One of the nice benefits of our yard and the are... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native bulbs for the northeastern U. S. November 23, 2007 What native bulbs could we plant in the Northeast? Can they only be planted in the fall as Dutch bulbs are? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Chisos Rosewood Propagation November 22, 2007 Can you tell me how to propagate seed for the Chisos Rosewood Tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Kalmia latifolia November 19, 2007 How easy is it to propagate Kalmia latifolia from seed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of lilies by seed November 02, 2007 I have collected a large number of lily seeds. How can I get them to grow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growth process of plants November 01, 2007 How does a plant grow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eupatorium serotinum (late boneset) for garden setting, care and propagation October 27, 2007 What are the prospects for Eupatorium serotinum in a garden setting? What requirements does the plant have? How large does it grow, etc. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating redbud (Cercis canadensis) seeds October 24, 2007 Our Red Bud tree is full of bean shaped seed pods. Can those be planted and if so how? I enjoy puttering in the yard. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When to plant bluebonnet seed October 16, 2007 When do I put out Bluebonnet seed? Do I soak them first? Thank You. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) frost tolerance, making cuttings October 08, 2007 Dear Madam or Sir, It would be very kind, if you could answer my questions about the “Thuja Plicata atrovirens” alias “Western Red Cedar”. I need the information because a good friend of mine ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting and growing bluebonnets October 06, 2007 I am looking for bluebonnet seed planting suggestions. when? How? I found a source for seed. I want to plant about 2500 sq foot area. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting Purple Threeawn (Aristida purpurea) and Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) October 05, 2007 Do you have information on planting Purple Threeawn and Little Bluestem? Also are there any inherent problems when planting…things to avoid, etc. Wanting to plant as ornamentals in the North Texas D... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to sow Eves Necklace seeds. October 03, 2007 I have recently acquired some Eve's Necklace seed pods. In order to plant them, do I need to open the pod to get to the seed, or do I just plant the pod? Should I soak or scarify the pod/seed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Prosopsis velutina (velvet mesquite), Larrea tridentata (creosote bush), rain smell October 02, 2007 I am an El Paso native living in Plano TX. I terribly miss the smell of rain in El Paso and have learned that this smell is due to the velvet mesquite tree and also the creosote bush, among other thi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Encouraging Daisies to Reappear September 16, 2007 Having moved into our home in the early spring of the year we hadn't seen any of the flowering plants around the place until we were living here and we were not given any info on care for them. So ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting Turks Cap, when and how September 10, 2007 Mr. Smarty Pants - We have an enormous healthy Turk's Cap - not the lily, but the one with red flowers(Malvaviscus arboreus v. drummondii) It has also produced a new plant nearby. Please tell us how... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Harvest dates-eastern Oregon September 07, 2007 I am looking for a source to provide me with harvest dates for seed of shrubs, grasses and wild flowers native to eastern Oregon. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grow bluebonnets in Virginia September 04, 2007 I want to ATTEMPT to grow some Texas Bluebonnets in VA because I am homesick and both our kids are back in Austin. That said, the site says " it may be necessary to inoculate the soil with a rhizobiu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Germination and propagation of Carolina larkspur September 02, 2007 I have some Delphinium carolinianum seeds and I am looking to germinate and propagate them. I threw some out on my caliche rubble Four years ago,and got one to germinate four years later. What time o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grooming and propagation of Bee Balm August 28, 2007 I planted our first Bee Balm [Mornarda didyma] bush a month ago. I`ve watered it daily and it is growing well with many runners apparent. Should I be deheading or pinching regularly? Should I cut it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Germination of golden dalea seeds August 23, 2007 I have collected some golden dalea seeds. I live west of Austin in caliche soil. How would one germinate these seeds? What time of year should I plant them? What kind of seed treatment? Should I scari... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of century plants from "pups" August 10, 2007 I have two small century plants...about 10 inches tall...they are "pups" from an older one. one of them has three or four very small roots and the other looks like it was pulled up out of the ground... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of yucca by seed August 03, 2007 I'm just wondering, the yuccas in town are starting to drop their seed pods. How easy is it to start from their little black seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |