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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| Evergreen Privacy Screen for Maryland November 19, 2012 I am looking for an evergreen that will suffice to be planted as a privacy screen between my property and my neighbors. Looking to plant a row at the property line. The lot is shaded most of the d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Arizona centaury near Lost Maples from Austin November 05, 2012 I found a clump of Arizona centaury growing/blooming beside a road near Lost Maples State Nat. Area in the Texas hill country last week. Centaurium calycosum is the scientific name. I have 2 questio... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Junipers for restoring area in Bulverde TX November 03, 2012 Are ashe or virginiana junipers for sale around the hill country? I would like to recreate the natural plant life that was bulldozed next to my home. Do you recommend any other types of juniper that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is straggler daisy deer resistant from Austin October 08, 2012 Is straggler daisy (horseherb) deer resistant? We have lots of deer in our NW Hills, Austin neighborhood, and a lot of shade where not much will grow. Is that plant a good candidate for ground cover... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer-resistant groundcovers for erosion control September 26, 2012 I need a ground cover (vine??) that will help me with erosion on a sloped front yard. It gets about 6-8 hours of sun and my main need is for something that the rats in our neighborhood will not destro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native deer-resistant plants for Virginia September 26, 2012 I live in Roanoke/Salem Virginia and want to plant a few plants native to the area along the front yard rock wall. I would prefer they be the same, deer resistant, around 5-6 feet tall max and flower... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer resistant plants from New Braunfels TX August 31, 2012 I have a 1/2 yard covered by a tree, shady. Bermuda grass previous owner planted has all turned brown this summer. I don't have lots of money to work with but would love to landscape that side of fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plants both deer resistant and good for erosion from North Oaks MN August 23, 2012 We have several partially sunny areas on hills that are prone to both deer and erosion. Our goal is to reduce runoff in an effort to preserve the watershed that provides tap water to many citizens of ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer resistant, drought- and shade-tolerant plant for Pennsylvania August 14, 2012 Hello, I need a deer/drought resistant, shade tolerant, rocky soil perennial. I would like it to have some winter appeal. I live outside of Philadelphia, PA. Thank you so much for your time... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How to protect roses from deer browsing July 04, 2012 I would like to plant knock out roses but I am concerned the deer will eat them? Advice? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer Resistant Groundcover for lower Michigan June 24, 2012 What ground cover is deer resistant for a sunny location in lower Michigan? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need deer resistant plants for a shady north facing garden in Raliegh, NC. June 22, 2012 I am in need of Deer Resistant Native Shade plants for a North Facing Garden. It is 3 feet wide by 20 feet long. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you, Eaten Alive View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer proof ground cover for sunny area in Mississippi June 09, 2012 I am looking for a low ground cover that will thrive in a sunny location and is deer proof View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will deer eat lemon cypress trees from Hayden ID June 02, 2012 Do deer eat lemon cypress trees? We do not think so since they are so spiny, but wanted a clarification. 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 |  | |
| Groundcover and Butterfly attractants for LaRue Texas May 02, 2012 LaRue, TX - Would like a native low growing plant as a groundcover. I would like it for six+ hours of sun, drought tolerant, and ones that butterflies might enjoy, while deer won't. Some winter int... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Specifications for a property in Corning CA March 29, 2012 Drought resistant, deer resistant, low growing (ground cover), and shade tolerant request: I am looking for a variety of species that not only fit the above preferences, but also a few other things. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant plants for MD March 26, 2012 My home backs to the Muddy Branch Creek parkland,which is suffering greatly from a large deer population. Many of the plants that existed in the woods when we purchased our home (1986), such as mayap... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering Deer Resistant Ground Cover for Dry Rocky Soil: Alabama March 26, 2012 My question has been partially answered in the FAQ but I live in Birmingham where the soil is clay and rocky so it's a little different. I want to plant on a rocky slope (small rocks like the size of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer and Drought Resistant Natives for San Marcus, Texas February 15, 2012 Hi there, Do you have a list of plants and ground covers (deer/drought resistant) for the San Marcos area? Much as I love grass, it's impossible with this drought. I'd love to have lots of flowers ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer resistant plants for Pittsburgh PA January 30, 2012 What shrubs can I plant on a wet slope that gets partial sun that will help control erosion? They need to be something the deer won't eat! We have lots of deer. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Central Texas plants highly deer resistant from Austin January 19, 2012 I'm helping a friend who has a severe deer problem in Westlake. The Deer Resistant list includes over 300 species, but they are classified as "mild" or "moderate" or "high" Deer Resistance. Is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Additional screening under yaupons in Georgetown TX November 09, 2011 We live on a corner and have a berm along the south side of our yard which blocks our backyard from the street. It was planted with uprights yaupons. With the drought, deer have eaten the bottom por... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer Resistant plants in South Dakota November 03, 2011 Plants and flowers that deer wont eat and will grow in Black Hills, SD View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant groundcover for New Braunfels, TX September 24, 2011 Could you recommend some deer resistant ground cover plants for the New Braunfels area? We have tried Ajuga and Katie's Ruellia and they have been eaten. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant plants for Central Texas July 25, 2011 I live in a community that is overrun with deer, thanks to neighbors who feed them daily. I am looking for TRUE deer resistant plants for beds...they have eaten my lantana, salvia, esperanza, jasmine... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is India Hawthorne a deer-resistant plant? July 03, 2011 Is India Hawthorne a deer resistant plant in Beaufort County South Carolina? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Keeping deer away from non-native plants in Lansing MI June 22, 2011 What is the real - best way to keep deer from eating my Hostas, Garden phlox and lilies? Ive tried the stinky spray and the fertilizer granules that deter, to no avail. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is eating Eve's Necklace in San Marcos TX June 16, 2011 A small Styphnolobium affine in my yard is repeatedly being defoliated by something. It courageously leafs out again each time, even in the drought. There is a larger tree nearby that remains untouc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Not deer eating the Eve's necklace in San Marcos TX June 16, 2011 Dear Mr SP, Re: the Eve's necklace being eaten. I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you in my original question which you were kind enough to answer with the speed of lightening, but I am on the East... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Using Erosion Mats to Discourage Deer in Buda, Texas June 09, 2011 I have a small back yard that has turned into a throughway for a large herd of deer. Whenever I try to grow grass the deer pull out the grasses. The more I water it, the more deer traffic. I was wo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Leaves being eaten off columbines May 30, 2011 Hi, We recently planted some columbines and they have been doing quite well. Just today, we noticed that something has eaten all the leaves off a couple of the plants. Several that are planted clo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant plants for a bioswale in NJ May 06, 2011 We live in Morris County, New Jersey, on the edge of a nature preserve, i.e., deer are a bane to everything we plant. We recently had to have a swale dug on the west end of our house to deal alleviat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant trees and shrubs for PA May 05, 2011 My yard backs up to woods, and we have a herd of 12 deer who peruse the neighborhood. This winter, the deer went after bushes and trees that they previously have not touched: euonomous and leyland cyp... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen, deer resistant native plants for Austin April 24, 2011 Are there any evergreen, deer resistant native plants that thrive in Austin? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is non-native Chinese fringe flower deer resistant from Austin April 05, 2011 Is Chinese fringe flower (chinense var. rubrum) considered to be deer resistant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer Damage to Pencil Holly in Michigan March 15, 2011 I have 5 sky pencil holly bushes that are about 3 feet tall each..they don't grow very fast. I was looking forward to them reaching the 7 feet mark one day, as they are going to serve as a screen be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant plants for Williams, OR January 24, 2011 I live in Williams, Oregon. I would like a listing of deer resistant, drought tolerant,evergreen, fast growing, native plants that can be used as a privacy screen on property perimeter. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer resistance of non-native photinia from La Honda CA January 15, 2011 Is photinia deer resistant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rattan vine for deer in Washington County, TX December 17, 2010 My property in Washington County has a lot of very old rattan vine, much of which is 3" in diameter. All of the leaf and berry production on these vines is well over 50' above the ground. I manage... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer-resistant plants for Anderson SC October 27, 2010 I usually plant pansies in the fall & impatiens in the spring under a large oak tree which gets afternoon sun. My impatiens were beautiful early on, but then were annihilated by something. I think i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer Resistant Plants for Northern Virginia September 22, 2010 I'm looking for deer resistant shade plants in Northern Virginia. The deer have devoured my hostas, impatiens and native toad lily plants, day lilies. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer--resistant plants for Great Falls, VA August 16, 2010 We have just moved to a house with a rural garden enjoyed by us and the deer. Can you recommend any deer resistant plants for ths location ? ( We have full sun and shade - zip code 22066. Thanks, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need a smallish evergreen shrub that deer do not like, native to Colorado. August 12, 2010 I live south of Denver Colorado. I am looking for an evergreen shrub that doesn't grow wider than 3 feet and not taller than 4 to 5 feet - something that is native to Colorado or grows well here. (... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant plants for a steep hillside in Allison Park PA July 30, 2010 What do you recommend for a steep hillside, mostly shade and acidic? The deer have eaten everything except the weeds. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer resistant plants for wet area in northern California July 10, 2010 In Napa/Sonoma/Calif mountains, deer resistant plants, shrubs that tolerate much water and full sun? Area is in 'spring area' and a butterfly bush drowned. Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant plants for area under grand fir (Abies grandis) in Idaho July 08, 2010 What can I plant on a slope under Grand Fir trees in North Idaho, zone 4 - anything deer resistant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer-resistant shade shrubs for Lago Vista, TX. June 24, 2010 I purchased a home in Lago Vista, Tx. It has a very shady front yard. I want to plant some blooming shrubs that THE DEER WON'T EAT! I would prefer native plants for the area. What should I look f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant plants for under cedar and oak trees in Austin June 22, 2010 I have about 1.5 acres in southern Travis county. It's full of mature live oaks and cedar trees, and the soil is full of limestone. I've been gathering the limestone and using them to create raise... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant wildflowers for Virginia May 25, 2010 Looking for deer-resistant native wild flowers for full-sun location in the Northern Neck of Virginia. We want to replace large area now grass lawn. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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