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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| 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 |  | |
| Information about mustang grapes March 14, 2016 We live in the Driftwood area. There is a native vine that looks like Mustang grape but never produces. A friend who is native to this area called it rat vine. I miss my Mustang grape jelly. Is t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Removing Center Stem From Desert Spoon (Sotol) in Phoenix March 11, 2016 I have a desert spoon. I hate the center stem. Can I remove the center stem without hurting the rest of the plant? And what is the best way to remove it? I looked for this answer in your questions bu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lopidea on Texas Mountain Laurel March 10, 2016 How do I get rid of lopidea on mountain laurel? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Location of Elbow Bush and Gregg's Saddlebush at the Wildflower Center March 10, 2016 I have twice looked for Forestiera pubescens (Elbow Plant) and Mortonia greggi (Gregg's Saddlebush) in your gardens and have been unable to find. I have looked on the trails as well. Would you be a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native tree for Uvalde Texas March 10, 2016 What Tree can grow in Uvalde Tx. Native type View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ornamental grasses for North Carolina coastal region March 09, 2016 What ornamental grasses will grow in pure sand and withstand salt-laden winds in zones 8 a and 8 b? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Loblolly Pine in Salado, Texas March 09, 2016 I would like to plant a loblolly pine in Salado, Texas. Will these grow well here? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine to attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds in Austin March 09, 2016 We'd like suggestions for a climbing, flowering, butterfly/hummingbird friendly plant for our Austin, TX backyard!! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are Carolina jessamine flowers toxic to bees? March 08, 2016 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants, My husband and I recently planted 15 yellow Carolina Jessamine bushes along our back fence. Our hope is that it will vine up into the fence and give us privacy. I went online... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where to find milkweeds and other butterfly favorites March 07, 2016 Our neighborhood in San Antonio is planning a big Arbor Day celebration. One of the events will focus on Monarch Butterflies. We will be releasing some live ones in our park and will have a booth th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Texas mountain laurel in a pot March 07, 2016 I have a really good friend who Mom pass away just recently and they were the best of friends. She loved her mother dearly and did tons of stuff together. Recently I posted a picture of a Mountain L... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Getting rid of Mexican Petunia in Chorpus Christi, TX March 05, 2016 What is the best way to get rid of unwanted Mexican Petunia that keeps spreading to unwanted areas of my flower beds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Bluebonnet seeds still viable after storage for a year? March 02, 2016 I bought a pouch of Bluebonnets a year ago and now found them and have to wait to Fall to plant. Too old? Start over in purchase? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Does Possumhaw need full sun for a bountiful crop of berries? March 02, 2016 I planted a possumhaw last year in a sunny location, however as the season changed the plant became shaded by a large Ashe juniper all through the winter. No berries this winter, but it is a young pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Should flower stems of Texas mountain laurel be removed after they bloom? March 02, 2016 Should I trim off the old flower stems from this years bloom on a Texas Mountain Laurel? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Name of the yellow wildflowers that gave Amarillo, TX its name March 01, 2016 What is the name of the yellow wildflowers that gave Amarillo, Texas, its name? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning Wax Myrtle trees & bushes February 28, 2016 When is the best time of year to prune Wax Myrtle trees & bushes. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A puppy's challenge in the ivy February 23, 2016 ok.. so, heres the thing: my puppy &i often play with a frisbee toy in the yard (cuz the boy's got leaps!). however, it has become apparent that, simply put: i am a TERRIBLE frisbee player!! truly th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground covers for a shady spot in central Texas February 23, 2016 I reside in Austin, Texas and need advice on my xeriscaping project. Portions of my front yard have always been a challenge to get grass to grow, so I have xeriscaped that area with Fairland Pink gran... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Water-Wise Privacy Hedge for California February 22, 2016 I would like recommendations for a privacy hedge that would grow at least 12 feet tall with non-invasive roots and hopefully water-wise in Los Angeles. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Preventing Oak Galls February 22, 2016 How do you prevent live oak galls? Do you have a solution? Many of our live oaks are infested with them. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Rabbit-proof Plants for Florida Swimming Pool Area February 22, 2016 I plan on planting white star jasmine and purple bocouilla plants around a south-facing swimming pool in Naples, Florida. I was told rabbits might eat them which we do have. Should I be concerned, and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Two Holly Cultivars for a Texas Front Landscape? February 22, 2016 We are starting a new with our landscape. All existing 30-year-old plants are going to be removed. We would like a focal point at the front door area and are considering 'Savannah' or 'Nellie R. St... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to Control Poison Ivy February 22, 2016 We have lots of Poison Ivy on a site we are clearing it is adjacent to a pond and children are around this area all the time. We are creating hiking paths. I have a lot of experience but I do not wan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Blackfoot Daisy care in Marble Falls TX February 21, 2016 I've planted and killed a number of blackfoot daisy plants. I know it's a hardy plant that, once established needs little or no care. But what about getting them started? What care do they need f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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