Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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?

Share

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
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
<< previous 1 2 next >> 
67 Results:   10  25 50 100 per page


topicquestion
Tropical looking plants for pool area in California
November 14, 2008
I am looking for small tropical looking plants, groundcover, and 2-small trees for around my pool. They have to be non-toxic to dogs,cats, and people. They can't attract bees/wasps, or have a root ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Ferns that smell like cucumber
September 27, 2008
Are there ferns that smell like cucumber?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Identity of fern-like plant in woodland garden
August 04, 2008
what is the fern-like, hairy fleshy-stemmed, 12"-18" ht plant in my woodland garden
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Decline of Japanese ferns in Austin
June 16, 2008
I've enjoyed beautiful Japanese ferns in my shaded garden for about ten years. They are looking spent and straggly, despite fish emulsion, compost,and lots of mulch and soaker hose watering in the s...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Short or mowable plant for walkway
June 03, 2008
I'd like a short and/or mowable plant to use as a walkway in and around a vegetable garden in upstate NY. I was planning on clover, but I want to use a native plant if possible. The native clovers ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Scientific name for non-native staghorn fern
March 21, 2008
What is the scientific name for the staghorn fern?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Native plants for memorial garden in Michigan
March 04, 2008
I want to start a memorial garden for my daughter. I live in northern Michigan and the area has very tall white pines we have pruned them up about 15' so the area does get partial sun. Which plants w...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Understory plants for Tuolumne Co., CA
May 14, 2007
My driveway is lined with purple plum trees. I would like to grow something underneath them. What can I grow that will not harm the root system/health of the trees?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Transplanting native, protected Ostrich fern in New York
September 05, 2006
Please give advice about how to transplant Matteuccia struthiopteris. What is the best time of year to do this?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Native plants with little sun and northern exposure for New York
April 26, 2006
I live in a co-op and want to fix up the backyard. The backyard area has a west area to plant with a northern exposure and little sun and I am looking to plant something to cover the area. I would lik...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Low cost, low maintenance, water tolerants native plants for New Jersey
February 25, 2006
I am planning a bed around my deck which will include shrubs and flowers. I am looking for plants that require a lot of water due to the wet soil conditions and poor drainage in my yard. Do you have...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Suggestions for Texas native plants for memorial
June 30, 2005
A dear friend of ours has passed and we would like some ideas of a native Texas plant we could plant in memory of her. It will be grown in the hill region near Houston. Thank you.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Propagation of ferns
June 05, 2005
I have several varieties of well-established ferns and would like to know how I might propagate these ferns. I have tried just snipping one stem to root it but I was unsuccessful.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Smarty Plants on thousand year old interrupted fern
April 03, 2005
We recently built a new home in the mountains of western Virginia. I am told by the local Botanist that there is a patch of "thousand year old interrupted fern" that runs through, among other pla...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Tropical-looking landscape in Austin, TX
March 24, 2005
I'd like to have a tropical-looking landscape in my front yard. What plants would you recommend for Austin, Texas? I would prefer plants that can stay outside year-round, but will take suggestions on...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Identification of vine with red flowers, fern-like leaves
March 10, 2005
Last year I saw a plant at the State Fair. It had small fern like leaves to it with beautiful little red flowers. It was a vine plant of some sort. They told me that it was native to the Hill Countr...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Texas native plants for cemetery site
February 09, 2005
I am trying to landscape my mothers gravesite located in far East Texas (just outside of Nacogdoches) and I am looking for some evergreen bushes or any other decorative plants for that area. I am thi...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

topicquestion

<< previous 1 2 next >> 
67 Results:   10  25 50 100 per page