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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| Plant identification August 04, 2012 We found a bush on our ranch in southern Gonzales County. It has oval shaped leaves about an inch long. There are no thorns on the branches. Fruit is round and smooth, the size of a small cherry to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-toxic plants for dog yard from Freeport PA June 24, 2012 I'm looking for wildlife-friendly native plants that aren't toxic to dogs. I have a place for some small shrubs and/or flowers. And a climbing vine that I could train on a trellis would work espec... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of poisonous thorn bush in Montgomery Texas May 29, 2012 What is the name of a poisonous thorn bush in Montgomery Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need options for smaller trees in neighborhoods in Austin, TX. May 25, 2012 Please discuss smaller tree options for typical Austin neighborhood yards. These houses are built close together on the sides, and only have smallish back yards. They just don't have space for big 50... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of a plant that looks like a watermelon. May 21, 2012 A wild plant came up in my bed that looked like a watermelon plant. It had small yellow blooms and then marble balls formed with prickly thorns. The balls were in clusters. What kind of plant is i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Huisaches in pots from Houston TX May 20, 2012 I have special (and probably weird) affinity to huisaches (acacia farnesiana). As a child I used to admire the three that elegantly guarded our backyard looking almost like fingers reaching for the s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Rash resulting from cutting trees in NC. May 08, 2012 My boyfriend was cutting some trees yesterday. He had thorns in his hands after he was done, and today he has a rash on his legs, a fever and he feels like throwing up. Can you tell me if its symptoms... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Winter- and drought-resistant plant for North Central Texas April 11, 2012 I would like to know is there a good winter and drought resistant flowering bush for my area. I would like something with bigger flowers like azaleas or roses maybe bigger, that will not grow anymore... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sap from agave causing reactions from Edgewater FL April 06, 2012 Not only was I stuck with the century plant thorns and needle like ends when I was digging up its pups, but I also broke the carrot-like root of a few when I was transplanting and got the white sap on... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of flowering yellow trees in Austin March 21, 2012 There are numerous flowering yellow trees in my Austin neighborhood. Are they mesquite or goldenball lead trees? They are quite fragrant, like a new bar of soap. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of rubbery-looking tree with long green thorns March 21, 2012 I am trying to identify a tree that has a green rubbery look with long, sharp, green thorns. This tree is on my property in Conroe, TX and the soil type is Gladwater clay frequently flooded. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Reseeding a dead lawn in Wimberley TX February 07, 2012 Our new house had a sodded lawn that now appears dead. There remains a layer of sandy soil as a part of the sodding process. Is there a way to reseed these existing slabs of sod and what process wo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are palm tree thorns poisonous? January 27, 2012 Almost 3 weeks ago I trimmed the fronds of my pygmy date palm. The tip of a thorn was stuck in my finger. I pulled it out. The side of my finger is still very painful and my finger is swollen. I c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is there a vine in Indiana with poisonous thorns? December 27, 2011 I was cut at the left big toe by a brownish/red thorny vine while tracking thru dry grass near the bridge exiting 278. I'm from Indianapolis, in 46208. Was wondering if I was exposed to a poisonous v... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| North American Plants with Poisonous Thorns December 01, 2011 Are there any plants in North America that possess poisonous thorns? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification November 02, 2011 I have a plant that I would like to identify. It is a tall shrub/woody vine? (approx. 8-10 feet) that has very large thorns on its branches and stems. The stems remain green during winter. It loses it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating black locust volunteers in Rockville MD September 27, 2011 I am a landscape designer whose client has a very large, mature black locust in her front yard. Not surprisingly, she also has multitudes of black locust volunteers popping up all over her yard. The... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of plant with red berries toxic to dogs August 29, 2011 I recently retrieved my poor doggy from the Vet. He had eaten a berry from an invasive-commonly seen brushy plant growing along my neighbors fence line. We try to keep our side clear-but the small lar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native Pride of Barbados from San Antonio August 26, 2011 I have some very successful wildly blooming "Dwarf Pride of Barbados" plants growing in my xeriscape garden. Each year I cut them back to the ground. I have just purchased a new variety called "... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Name for paloverde look-alike near Colorado Springs July 26, 2011 I don't know where this plant comes from. However, I am wondering what the name of plant of the following description would be. It is a shrub, about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. It grows in zone 6 t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eliminating a briar vine in American holly July 22, 2011 I have a wild vine (I was told it is a type of briar) living on my place. The root nest is like a potato. I have dug them up, I have sprayed them and I still am plagued with them. I have a beautiful A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mystery tree in Ontario July 06, 2011 I found a tree (similar to an apple tree in blossom) in a shaded area by a stream on our property. I have never seen anything like it. It is again, like an apple branch with the blossoms, however, t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification of shrub with thorns and purple flowers July 05, 2011 I have a small tree or shrub, it has very small or thin thorns on the branches. It blooms in April / May. The flowers are purple. My mother-in-law said that it has been around for over 100 years, b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Learning to identify native plants in backyard June 28, 2011 Please let me know how a layman like myself can identify native plants in my backyard. I don't know the plant names and don't know if they are dicots or any other technical terms (that some websites... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification June 25, 2011 I see a previous question from Ohio on this plant, so I will copy the description and try to submit photos. "A year later a weed-like plant started growing beside it. It has very thorny leaves, stem... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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