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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| Making Ruellia nudiflora thicker in pot from Tucson AZ June 25, 2012 Can Ruellia Nudiflora be propagated in the same pot as the parent plant? Can it be cut back to stimulate a denser plant? I have plants in several pots and would like to 'thicken' the plant. Tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for 100 gal. pot by pool from Ft. Worth TX June 23, 2012 What North Texas evergreen — or combination of evergreen plants, bushes or trees — could thrive in a huge, 100-gallon clay pot (immovable!) that is situated in full sun year round in an exposed area n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for 16th floor of condo in Panama City Beach, FL May 30, 2012 My husband and I have a COSI on the west end of Panama City Beach, Fl. I love plants and flowers and live out of state. Our condo is on the 16th floor and directly on the gulf. What type of plants ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing native vines in pots from Houston May 28, 2012 I am writing in regards to your often mentioned issue of plants not doing as well in pots and in the ground. After last years drought, i moved all the plants I had that were in danger of dying of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Huisaches in pots from Houston TX May 20, 2012 I have special (and probably weird) affinity to huisaches (acacia farnesiana). As a child I used to admire the three that elegantly guarded our backyard looking almost like fingers reaching for the s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Screening Planter Recommendations for Lakeway TX May 16, 2012 I live in Lakeway in a townhome. The parking lot is directly in front of my unit so I always see headlights and cars. The HOA has agreed to build a planter about 4 feet high to help hide the cars. W... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need a source of mature horsetail plants in Memphis, TN. May 06, 2012 Where can I find mature horsetail plants in Memphis,Tn.? Need enough to fill a 6 foot long by one foot wide planter Need for it to look like it's been there forever. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrub that will grow outside in Zone 5 from Millbrook NY April 21, 2012 Is there any shrub, tree or other sort of plant that will grow well in zone 5 in a very large container outdoors? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Moving potted plants from California to Georgetown TX February 10, 2012 Hi, I am moving from Gilroy CA to Georgetown TX, I have many potted plants I would love to take with me but I am not sure what would survive in my new location. These plants have been cared for so ma... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Container plants for Arlington TX February 10, 2012 Mr. Smarty Plants, I just moved to Arlington, TX. I am trying to create a container garden on my apartment balcony. What flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruit combinations can I put together that wil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Flowering plant for container on lanai in South Florida December 15, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I would like to purchase a flowering plant for my ailing mother for Christmas. It has to be able to grow in shade so I can place it on her table on her lanai for her to be a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Want to Grow Herbs in Pots on Balcony November 26, 2011 Nov. 20, 2011 I live in a large apartment with a front balcony. I was wondering what would grow well in pots and fresh herb this time of the year? And will lavendar work for a hanging plant as well... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A 3-6 ft. high overwintering container plant November 08, 2011 I live in Austin, Tx. and am looking for a plant/shrub that I can keep in a ceramic pot through out the winter. It can grow to from 3 feet to six feel. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing bluebonnets in pot in Flower Mound TX November 01, 2011 We received a package of bluebonnet seeds along with the DVD Wildflowers: Seeds of History as a gift. In the film, Andrea DeLong mentions that bluebonnets did not grow well in a rich organic soil. W... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Container plants for cool weather in Cypress TX October 02, 2011 I am a novice gardener and I am looking for some ideas on potted plants for the fall/winter. They would be covered by a roof, but still susceptible to the elements. What can be planted now that will... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Livestock Watering Tanks Used for Container Gardening at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center September 17, 2011 We would like to use livestock watering tanks like the ones use the the Wildflower Center for plantings in our backyard in Plano, Texas. We have found some to purchase in McKinney, Texas. What do we n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses for wood planter box in Houston August 04, 2011 Hi, I'm making a long wood planter box/bench for my wood deck. The area gets direct sun only in the late afternoon/evening and the deck serves as a play space for our one-year old son. I'd like to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Moving houseplants from New York to Florida August 02, 2011 We are relocating to Florida from New York and would like to bring our houseplants with us. Are there any laws forbidding indoor plant transport into Florida??? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ants in outdoor plants in Austin July 30, 2011 Live in Austin. The problem is THIS. Ants have invaded our outside potted plants- mandevilla, begonia , lemon tree and violas. The colonies are devouring the roots it appears. Please give suggestions ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native house plants stressed from Allen TX July 30, 2011 I have three house plants that were plants I received from my father's funeral services. They were healthy for about two years and then we added some soil and now they are turning brown and appear t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Plants for North Texas Container July 12, 2011 What would you recommend for a large permanent plant for a large container (3' X 3') for Plano, Texas in the sun? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Container plant to grow in late afternoon sun July 02, 2011 I have a shaded brick walkway that leads to my front door. It faces west, and can get very hot late afternoon Houston sun, although it is shaded for the remainder of the day. I have been successful ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Potted Plumbago, struggling with the heat, in Spring Texas June 29, 2011 Why do some of the leaves of my plumbagos that are grown in large, well-draining planters turn brown? The brown starts on the tips, then extends to the whole leaf. They get several hours of west aft... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants in wheelbarrow dying in Jacksonville, FL June 22, 2011 I planted a wheelbarrow with daisies, petunias and black and blue salvia. the salvia is thriving, but the others died. Is the salvia toxic to them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Chile pequin from Spring Plant Sale in Austin June 08, 2011 Re: chile pequin purchased at your Spring 2011 sale: it grows, seems to thrive, but sets no flowers and so bears no fruit. It's in terracotta in Ladybug potting soil, on a shady apartment patio. How ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cedar sage in container in Austin June 06, 2011 Re: cedar sage purchased at your 04/11 plant sale: it sets flower spikes but no red blossoms appear, only calyxes. It's in terracotta pot w/Ladybug soil, shady apartment patio. Soil too rich? Too muc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Container vegetable gardening in Austin April 07, 2011 Is vegetable container gardening an option with Austin's hot summers? I live in an apartment and I really want to plant an organic vegetable and herb container garden. I'm having a hard time findin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plant for container on deck in Oak Grove VA April 05, 2011 What VA native plant can I grow in a container on my deck that will block the view from the neighbor's deck? I am thinking columnar. This is in full sun and gets hot winds off of a bay. The plant ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can Mock Orange be grown in a container? March 29, 2011 Can the Mock Orange Shrub be grown as a container "plant"? I have seen apricots and apple trees (certain varieties, of course); grown this way. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plants for small pots in sun in Austin January 24, 2011 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants! We are renting our house, so while we have a yard, the landlord would prefer us to only add plants to his landscaping in pots. I have filled some large ones, but have been una... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a summer through winter blooming container plant, for Phoenix. October 28, 2010 I'm in Phoenix. I'm looking for a perennial plant that will be planted in a container in a commercial setting, that is under a shaded pergola. She wants it to bloom in the winter and if carried int... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Green blooms on Cedar Sage in Lucas TX September 22, 2010 I have two Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana) one purchased from your plant sale and one from a local nursery planted in part shade in the Dallas area. They seem to be quite happy and are blooming but ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Patio plants suffering from heat in Austin August 22, 2010 My patio plants are burning up from the intense sun of Austin's August. Last year it even burned the leaves. Besides moving 40 plants to a shadier spot do you have suggestions on how to protect the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for poolside in Central Texas August 21, 2010 What native plants would your recommend for poolside landscaping, and poolside containers? Tons of sun and white limestone patio.. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant to cover retaining wall in Carlisle PA August 01, 2010 I have a block retaining wall in my back yard. I need to find a quick growing plant that will grow through late summer into fall and cover the wall with limited sunlight. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Salt and wind tolerant plants for small containers in NC July 28, 2010 We need two plants that will go in raised planters. Will be in full sun with lots of wind. Salt water nearby. Will have to keep plants sorta short I guess. We cannot find anything, although we see... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native small tree or shrub for container in San Angelo, Texas July 01, 2010 We live in San Angelo TX and are looking for some type of a bush/tree that will grow in a pot in a shaded area..we would like something that would grow to be about 5-6 feel tall and be rather narrow..... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small tree for container near pool in Houston June 24, 2010 Can you recommend a small tree that I can grow in a pot for shade? Looking for minimal mess because it will be near the pool. How big should the pot be? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| New house plant in pot in Chevy Chase MD May 07, 2010 Is it possible for one house plant to eventually die in the pot while a completely different plant grows in its place? The new plant looks similar to the potted plant next to it but it is not quite t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Maximilian sunflowers in a container in Pflugerville, TX April 26, 2010 Can Maximilian sunflowers be grown in a container? How deep and wide would it need to be? Am considering growing them in a stock tank elevated on bricks, with drain holes. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Return of empty Plant Sale pots from Austin April 20, 2010 Would the WFC want the empty plant containers back? I live near the center and could drop off quite a few containers, along with plastic tags. Let me know where, if so. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hanging basket container plants for butterflies and birds April 08, 2010 Looking for ideas for hanging baskets that would attract butterflies or birds for interest to a shut-in in North Texas. These would be outside of southwest-facing windows that overlook a paved parkin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a container bog garden in North Texas April 06, 2010 I live in Plano, just north of Dallas. I've developed a recent interest in water gardens and am considering getting my toes wet with a container bog garden. I have an old galvanized wash tub that I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for dry containers in Dallas March 01, 2010 I have four, rectangular, low to the ground, clay pots on either side of my garage. They face the west and I usually forget to water them. Cactus worked but I planted the kind with thorns! Any ideas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can non-native Mayten tree be grown in 4 ft. container in Cypress CA January 30, 2010 We have a mayten tree that is about ten years old, in a planter about 4 ft. wide. We were told that the roots will not be a problem--true or false? So far, no problem, but how about going forward? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for containers on patio in Houston January 30, 2010 What native plants in Texas (I live in Houston) will do well in pots on my patio- they get about 1/2 day sunlight. Is there anything shrub-like that will live from year to year? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replanting a blue agave in Rio Rancho NM January 11, 2010 I have acquired a Blue Agave, approximately 4-5 ft high. It still appears quite healthy. It was used over the holiday season for display purposes in a liquor store. Unfortunately, the root ball has be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for hanging baskets in Austin October 06, 2009 Can you suggest some plants for winter hanging baskets in the Austin, TX area? 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 |  | |
| Wintering a Lemon Cypress tree in Eagan MN September 29, 2009 I Have a 2 1/2' Lemon Cypress Tree. I'm wondering if I can leave it outdoors for the winter, if not, how would I winter over indoors? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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