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?
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 | |
Identification of vine with translucent red berries in Tennessee. November 30, 2007 During the month of November I have seem in Nashville, TN a vine which appears to be native or a handed-down plant growing behind a restaurant site on a chain link fence. It was loaded with cluster... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Information about the wormvine orchid, Vanilla barbellata November 27, 2007 Hi My name is Santiago I'm from Puerto Rico and discover this Vanilla orchid in the forest, this orchid is V. barbellata var. alba? You have some information of how identify the V. barbe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
How to get rid of invasive vine November 14, 2007 We moved into our very old (300+ year house) several years ago and I am slowly getting round to cleaning up and replanting flower beds. When I cleared the space to grow clematis along a fence in the b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Culture of a potato vine November 11, 2007 This spring I was given a potato to grow. The lady called it a potato vine. Do you know anything about this vine? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Non-blossoming trumpet vine November 05, 2007 About 9 years ago I started a trumpet vine, from seeds that I got from plants that were invading an empty home. I saw how invasive it was. It had worked its way into the windows and front porch and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Trumpet vine care October 31, 2007 I planted a trumpet vine in the early summer of this year. It grew about 3-4 ft. and seemed healthy. It is now Oct. 25th, and I just noticed that all the leaves seem to have shrivelled up and gone b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Care and fruiting time of pumpkins October 06, 2007 This is my first year growing pumpkin. I have a good vine with flowers now & then, but I still don't see a little pumpkin forming. What am I doing wrong? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
American Bittersweet in east Texas September 24, 2007 Does American Bittersweet vine grow in east Texas? It grows wild in Indiana and want to find it in our new location, Longview, Texas View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant identification request for a vine September 19, 2007 I would like to identify a wild vine that I have just discovered in our bush. It has leaves similar in shape to a maple leaf,approx.4"wide, has white flower spikes, and some kind of a fruit or pod t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Control of out-of-bounds Virginia creeper September 16, 2007 Our Virginia creeper (Woodbine) has outgrown its planned location this past summer. What is the best way to prune ivy stems for next years controlled growth? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
topic | question |