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.
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?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Search Smarty Plants
topic | question | |
Wintering of non- native jasmine in Newton KS September 18, 2010 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I received a gorgeous jasmine for mothers day and I planted it in my front yard in the flower area close to the house. Can I keep it there all winter or do I need to dig it up a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
When should I remove the stakes from Oak trees planted last november in Kyle, TX? August 18, 2010 I live in Kyle TX. I have new construction of oak trees that are about 10 feet tall and are staked. How long should they stay staked? They were put in the ground about Thanksgiving 2009. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Deadheading Mexican hat to produce more blooms in Austin July 05, 2010 I have several Mexican hat (rudbeckia) plants growing wild in my yard. Would deadheading now give them a second flush of bloom in fall? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wildflowers planted in Pittsfield, IL to bloom the first of October July 01, 2010 If I plant my wildflower seeds now in Illinois, is it possible they will bloom in three months (by the very beginning of October)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Can Juncus effusus winter outside in Mountville PA? June 28, 2010 If we have the juncus effusus spiralis outside in a small pond and you say to let it outside in the winter does that mean we should let it in the pond? thanks for your time View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Trimming back freeze damage from Anacacho orchid in Liberty Hill TX May 17, 2010 When is it safe to trim back what I think is dead wood on my Anacacho orchid trees (that were hit hard this past winter)? Is there any harm done if I cut back living wood? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Transplanting a redbud in Virginia Beach VA April 21, 2010 I have a 5-6 ft. Redbud Tree and like to dig up and move to different spot in my backyard. How/what is the proper way to do it without killing the tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Late emergence of passiflora incarnata hybrid in Austin April 11, 2010 Two years ago I planted in my clay soil garden a variation on native passiflora incarnata; the passiflora Elizabeth (a cross between passiflora incarnata and passiflora phoenicia)because I hoped it pr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tidying up Copper Canyon Daisies in San Antonio March 30, 2010 We have a small bed with 4 copper canyon daisies. We cut them back in the fall but have not pruned them during growing season; as a result they become a big tangle by September. Should they be pruned ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Trimming of Aster ericoides in Philadelphia March 20, 2010 Should I cut back my Aster ericoides, ‘schneegitter’ in the spring? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
What to do about cold damage to spineless prickly pear? March 05, 2010 In Austin, Texas our 'spineless' prickly pear cactus is about 6' wide by 4' tall. In the last severe freeze, the top half flattened out and has remained that way. Should I cut the flattened pads o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Cutting back salvia greggii in Birmingham, AL February 23, 2010 When is a good time to cut back salvia gregii and how much can you cut it back. We will probably still have frost. Will it grow in sun and shade? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Damage to plants after sudden freeze in Redway CA January 02, 2010 I live on the North Coast of California near "The Avenue of the Giants" and Redwoods State Park along the Eel River. We recently have had below freezing weather, constant rain and even snow! I have... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Cutting back woody plants after freeze in Leander TX December 10, 2009 I have several woody shrubs in a prominent location. Now that the leaves have frozen, how far back should I cut them? These are Flame Acanthus, Salvia ballotiflora, and Aloysia macrostachya, but I w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Freeze damage to esperanza in pot from Brady TX December 10, 2009 My esperanza, currently in a container, has suffered some freeze damage. I have prepared a planting spot for it and am not sure whether to plant now, trim it back if I do plant it, etc. I would appr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Arrows and Hunting Dogs in Kentucky December 09, 2009 Mr. Smarty Plants--Is it normal for our arrowwood viburnum to give off a musky odour in the late fall? The smell reminds me of a wet hunting dog. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Overwintering Cardinal Flower in Thornwood NY October 01, 2009 I have 6 Cardinal Flower plants in planters. They have mulch on top to keep them moist. Can they stay in the planters all winter? Do I cut the stalks before winter comes or leave as is? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Yucca elata flowering in Tauranga, NZ. August 20, 2009 I have two huuuuuuge Yucca elatas in my garden. One of them flowered spectacularly last year - a 15ft stalk that grew so quickly you could hear it, and then burst into a cloud of waxy cream flowers. M... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Rainfall for Central Texas July 20, 2009 What dance will produce abundant rainfall in Central Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Transplant time for Virginia Beach, VA July 08, 2009 I have a friend who is not a gardener but lives on a piece of property that has a gorgeous back yard with lots of plants, shrubs and trees that are becoming overgrown. I have her permission to dig up... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Care for penstemons in South Jordan, UT June 21, 2009 I have Firecracker Penstemons and they bloomed beautifully this year. How do I trim them and when? Will they continue to bloom throughout the summer? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Winter-hardiness of hibiscus in Idaho June 14, 2009 I bought a hibiscus tree at Sam's Club in Idaho Falls and after planting it, I read the label which says not to go below 50 degrees. Does that mean it is an inside or potted tree to bring in in the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Cutting back achillea in New York March 18, 2009 Last summer I planted three gorgeous hearty achillea with flat, yellow tops, about 3 feet high or more each, in my sunny garden. But after they were done flowering, I left those very pretty brown stem... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Removal of Carolina Jasmine in San Antonio March 02, 2009 We are attempting to permanently remove large old-growth Carolina Yellow Jasmine, Gelsemium sempervirens bushes from our property. The bushes are cut down. Any suggestions for stump/root removal (mec... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Timing for transplanting a yaupon in Louisiana January 01, 2009 I found a female yaupon growing wild at the back of my property and would like to move it to the front. When should I do this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Winter care for plants in Austin December 05, 2008 Hello, I'm just getting into the gardening thing, and have planted tons of plants this fall here in Austin. I'm a bit worried about them with winter right around the corner. My first question is r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Winter pruning for yucca in Michigan November 10, 2008 I live in SE Michigan and have an outdoor yucca plant that has grown quite large. My father tells me that I can literally cut it down to the ground in the fall and that it will grow back the followin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Trimming native Yucca filamentosa for winter in Illinois October 18, 2008 I live in northern IL and I have approximately 5 yucca plants, Adams needle, my question is do I need to trim them down for winter for best growth the next year? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Will a Norfolk pine survive winter in Houston May 29, 2008 If I transplant a Norfolk pine in the summer, or when is the best time, will it survive the winter growing in Houston Tx? Can you give me some suggestions for fast growing vines facing the front of my... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Too late to begin planting in May in Austin? April 30, 2008 Is it too late to begin planting in May? I live in Austin Texas and have finally completed my plans for a native Texas landscaping (plants and grass) of my front yard. I'd like to get the landscapi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Planting bluebonnets April 20, 2008 How long do bluebonnet seeds take to mature, and when is the earliest in their development they can be harvested? When can they be scattered? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Bluebonnets in memorial garden in cemetery April 11, 2008 When is the peak time to scatter bluebonnet seeds? I have a loved one that recently died, and she requested that her body be cremated. She would like her ashes to be mixed with bluebonnet seeds and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Germination of bluebonnet seeds in Hempstead, TX April 01, 2008 We scattered 20 lbs of bluebonnet seeds on our property near Hempstead. Only about 10 plants have come up even though on another part of the property we have thousands. It is well drained and in sun.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Bluebonnets planted in late spring bloom, will they bloom again? February 06, 2008 New to South Texas & we decided to plant bluebonnets around our house. The seeds were planted in late spring & we were delighted to watch them start their initial growth-cycle. They ultimately produc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Moving a red oak away from the house foundation January 24, 2008 About a 3 weeks ago I noticed a 5 ft. red oak growing in my flower bed. I hadn't noticed it growing up through my shrubs until the leaves turned bright red. The problem is that its coming up about tw... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Trimming native salvias in January January 17, 2008 I have heard you can trim Hot Lips, Raspberry and other salvias back severely in January, to about six inches from the ground. Is this correct? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wildflowers for a wedding site November 11, 2007 My fiance and I would like to get married on his family's ranch, just north of Johnson City on the Pedernales river, in April of 2009. Currently, we are clearing the over-grown meadows of cactus and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Optimum planting time for perennials and trees November 02, 2007 Our group is running out of fall workdays. Is it OK to plant native perennials and small trees in Central Texas during the winter months? Or should we wait now until the spring? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Toxicity of horticultural oils July 20, 2007 Is T&S dormant oil spray a toxic product? Our church (Prairie Creek Baptist in Plano, Texas) is transitioning to organic/native landscape. This is the product used by the current lawn service. Also, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
When to prune Texas betony (Stachys coccinea) May 28, 2007 I bought Texas Betony plants several years ago at Wildflower Days. They are thriving, but a bit leggy. Somewhere I read that they should be cut back several times during the year. Now I can't find... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
What is considered mid-winter in Austin, TX April 03, 2007 This question was submitted, but I am unsure of the dates the answer is indicating. When is mid-winter? Question: When should I cut back (and how far should I cut back) the following plants in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Pruning for Spring January 21, 2007 When should I cut back (and how far should I cut back) the following plants in order to promote growth in the spring: Salvia gregii, Salvia leucantha, Ruellia (Mexican petunia), Plumbago, Sku... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Winter trimming and shaping of native perennials November 08, 2006 Granted, it's a bit early, but for planning purposes: What is the best care for shrub-like woody perennials, like Lantana, Copper Canyon Daisy, Salvia greggii, Chile Pequin, Eupatorium wrightii, Pav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native flowers and plants for landscaping in March in Austin February 18, 2004 What are the best flowers and plants to landscape with in the Austin area in March? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Survivability of plants after freeze December 08, 2003 I have many beautiful plants that froze. Some were Lantana, Hummingbird Bush, Candlestick Trees, Esperanza, Some flowers, and Marigolds. I love all of my plants and flowers and I want them to grow bac... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Optimum mowing time for acreage with spring wildflowers November 17, 2003 I have several acres where wildflowers grow in the spring, & would like to know when and how often to mow this field for optimum blooms? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
More on bluebonnets May 09, 2003 When can I harvest my Bluebonnets? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Best preparation time for wildflower garden for summer January 21, 2003 Is it too late in late Fall to prepare a wildflower garden for next spring/summer? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
topic | question |