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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| Critter-Proof Native Plants for Virginia Lawn April 02, 2015 We live in a gated community that was part of the Wilderness Battlefield during the Civil War. Our home is on a narrow lot, fully treed except for a postage stamp-sized lawn at lake side. We have de... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Common Milkweed a Succulent? March 31, 2015 Is the common milkweed (butterfly plant) classified as a succulent? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native wildflowers for an Asheville, NC garden. March 30, 2015 I live in Asheville. I just bought a small home for the first time with a .22 acre yard. It's extremely sunny on the east side and gets good sun most of the day. Like most WNC area yards it's on a s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shallow Rooted Wildflowers for MA March 25, 2015 Do you have any suggestions for wildflowers that would be safe to grow on a capped landfill site? They would need to have roots no deeper than 24 inches. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Companion plants for non-native Santolina virens March 23, 2015 Can you recommend companion plant options for Santolina virens? The companion plant would be planted randomly and interspersed with the santolina and needs to be no taller than 12 inches because of th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for floodplain near Denton, TX March 22, 2015 Hello, I am a member of my HOA board and am researching the possibility of filling in our floodplains with wildflowers. Currently the floodplains are grass only and span a few acres. Our goal is to t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Short, Shady Plants for South Carolina February 24, 2015 I have a shady part of my mother's garden that doesn't drain very well. Do you have any suggestions as to what type of flowers or plants (preferably native to S.C.) that aren't red that might grow ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning Gaura February 19, 2015 My Gaura lindheimeri is very "leggy", but is blooming well at the end of the spindly stems. Should I prune it back or leave it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant Database for New Jersey February 19, 2015 How can I find out where certain plants will grow, for example, will Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) grow in New Jersey? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When do wildflowers bloom in the Texas Hill Country February 12, 2015 Approximately when do the wild flowers bloom in Hill country? I would love to see them. I know it depends on winter weather conditions. I have a short vacation mid March, was considering a trip th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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