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 ... 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... 26 next >> 
252 Results:   10 25  50  100 per page


topicquestion
Halophytic biofilter plants native to Wisconsin
July 12, 2013
I am trying to design a biofilter using native WI plants. These plants must be very salt tolerant and low maintenance (as this biofilter will be used to treat storm water runoff from a salt shed), so ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Does Nolina lindheimeriana have separate male and female plants
June 30, 2013
RE: NOLINA LINDHEIMERIANA You show several pictures, with flowers & with seed pods. I have one plant that has only flowers and one that has only seed pods. Are they male and female? I don't see ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Do the male or female dogwoods have berries?
June 11, 2013
Does the male or female dogwood have berries?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Problem With Vegetable Garden Soil
June 09, 2013
We live in Liberty Hill on 25 acres and we are working to restore native grasses and plants. We are ardent supporters of the Wildflower center. I say this because my question is not "typical" of wh...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Blooming but not berrying American bittersweet from Pendleton IN
May 29, 2013
I have had a bittersweet plant for years, it blooms but not berries. How do I tell if it is male or female so I can buy the opposite? It is currently blooming.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Differences in prostrate Mimosa species
May 27, 2013
There are apparently a lot of little pink puffy-flowered prostrate plants with thorny stems and sensitive leaves: Mimosa microphylla, Mimosa roemeriana, Mimosa strigillosa. How does one tell them apar...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

What are the native plants in Kerrville, Texas?
May 22, 2013
What are the native plants in Kerrville, Texas?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Fragrant Texas wildflowers
April 10, 2013
Hello! I am researching native Texas wildflowers and I am looking specifically for flowers with a pleasing aroma. Is there anyone who has made a list that includes how the flowers smell? Do you kno...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Native vs Non-native Insect Host Plants
March 14, 2013
My understanding of a host plant is that it is a plant that an insect will lay its eggs on. Is this correct? If this is so then can a cultivar be a host plant for the same insect? I have read Mr. Doug...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Experiment to detect presence of sugar in cellulose from Routt CO
January 28, 2013
My teacher ask me to plan an experiment to detect the presence of sugar in cellulose. I know that cellulose are abundant at the stem, and sugar here is glucose. I wonder how to conduct this experiment...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

topicquestion

<< previous 1 ... 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... 26 next >> 
252 Results:   10 25  50  100 per page