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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Need to identify Cherry laurel varietyin Bee Caves, TX March 29, 2016 I recently had cherry laurels installed in my yard for privacy. Unfortunately, the landscaper does not know what type of cherry laurel they are. The tag from the tree says Che-Com which to me might in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
What plant looks like poisonous water hemlock March 28, 2016 I thought that hemlock was a tree. I grew up in Carmel Valley, CA. As a kid we used to play in fields that looks just like this stuff. Some were over six feet and an inch around. In summer we pulled ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
mixed species privacy hedge in Central Texas March 24, 2016 I need to plant a privacy hedge along a fence line. I am in east Austin, blackland prairie soil. The soil is rich, usually at least moist but not soggy, and I find lots of worms when I dig. The fen... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Caring for a wildflower meadow in Austin, TX. March 22, 2016 We have a meadow full of wildflowers in the country, bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, etc. What can we do to promote continued growth and is there a certain time of year we should mow? Should we fe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tree with blue berries in Los Angeles, CA March 22, 2016 There's a tree outside my house with somewhat thin and short spiky leaves with blue berries. The berries Some of the berries have a frost look and some are dark blue. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identity of stinging weed in Pearl, Mississippi March 20, 2016 I live in Pearl, MS. Yesterday I pulled a weed that right away started stinging my hand and in a few hours turned into stinging numbness. The weed has dark green heart shaped leaves with purple veins ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Ground cover plants for a shady North Carolina yard March 20, 2016 Ground cover erosion control for heavily shaded area in Cary, North Carolina. Current landscapers use strong blowers for leaf control. This blows away any seeds, loose soil and mulch. Tree roots ar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
How much shade will Thunder Turf (Habiturf) take? March 20, 2016 How much shade will Thunder Turf take? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identity of fast growing vine in San Francisco March 20, 2016 Really need to know what kind of vine is growing rapidly in the garden. Can't find out in plant identification: started to grow profusely after rainfall. Grows at rate of 6-8" per day (!). Has ivy-l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
killing clover in Bandera March 19, 2016 How may one kill clover while not killing native wild flowers in one's lawn? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
When to plant bluebonnets in Spicewood, TX March 19, 2016 When is the best time to plant Bluebonnets and do you place seeds under the soil or just spread on top? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Using Coffee Grounds under Live Oaks in Texas? March 18, 2016 Can you add coffee grounds to live oak tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Fast Growing Groundcovers for Long Island March 18, 2016 Can you please suggest a few fast growing groundcovers suitable for the south shore of Long Island? The area is fairly sunny and dry. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Shade and Drought Tolerant Plants for Idaho Shade March 18, 2016 I am looking for plants native to Idaho and/or the surrounding region (zone 6 or 7) that would do well in full shade conditions (adjacent to the north side of our house) and meet several criteria: Max... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
When to Prune Desert Willow in Texas? March 18, 2016 I just learned I should have pruned back my desert willows. It's early March in North Texas. Is it too late to prune now? They are not leafing out yet. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Expanded Shale Availability in Austin Area March 18, 2016 Where can you find expanded shale in bulk or bag in the Austin area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Planting a Willow Close to a Water Line March 18, 2016 I have a postage stamp-sized front yard, with the water tap in the front 1/3. I believe the water line runs right through the middle of my pss-front yard. I REALLY wanted to plant a weeping willow t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Care of non-native plant March 17, 2016 I have a plant that grows about 1' tall, looks sort of like a dracaena. The leaves grow off of a short stem and are yellowish (no green at all) with brilliant slashes of hot pink an red. It is georg... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identification of evergreen bush with red berries March 17, 2016 I am a beekeeper and today I took some pictures of a bush about 8 ft. tall in my neighbors yard. My bees are all over the tiny white flowers. It appears to be an evergreen bush because it has foliag... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Pachira aquatica loosing leaves. March 17, 2016 We have an indoor money tree that is 20 feet tall, the leaves have started to turn brown and fall. We water twice a month and mist about the same. Can you opine what what we are doing wrong the plant ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Abutilon or Podocarpus Toxic to Dogs? March 17, 2016 Are either of these plants toxic to dogs? Flowering maple or the Podocarpus henkelii shrub. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dwarf Form of Japanese Blueberry? March 17, 2016 Is there a dwarf variety of Japanese blueberry that will grow in my area? Or is it so non-native that it's not in your category? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
White and Violet Flower in Missouri March 17, 2016 When I was small I came into contact with a plant that gave me cold sweats, chills and hallucinations. All I remember was it bore a single flower with a little white and a lot of violet. It had a dark... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Eastern Red Cedar Roots March 17, 2016 Would an Eastern Red Cedar root system damage underground irrigation pipes? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native vine for fence on youth baseball field March 15, 2016 Our community in Comanche, Texas would like to plant a native vine on the back fence of a youth baseball field. We have plans to plant an area of native grasses behind the fence, between the fence an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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