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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| Wildflower Center work on non-native, invasive Bastard Cabbage from Austin March 20, 2014 Still have cabbage weeds that infiltrated Austin awhile back. How did Wildflower Center resolve it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Getting rid of non-native, invasive English Ivy from Davidsonville MD March 19, 2014 Just moved and need to rid the well established Ivy planted on the steep slope area around the back and side of the house as it is taking over the bushes on the top and trees in forested area at botto... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sheet mulching before planting Habiturf from Grand Prairie, TX March 03, 2014 Have you tried sheet mulching as a bed prep and to kill bermuda grass before planting habituff? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Mimosa pudica poisonous from Janesville WI February 21, 2014 I have just recently learned of Mimosa Pudica also known as the sensitive plant. I see using the USDA website that it can be found in the USA so I think that covers the North America aspect. I have b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Invasive thistles in wildflower field from Dripping Springs TX February 17, 2014 How to get rid of "native" thistles.. I have a large natural field that used to grow a variety of wildflowers, but in 2011 and 2012 it was taken over by thistles. I'm sure they are "native" Texas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sources for ruellia from Houston January 19, 2014 I want to get a bunch of either ruellia nudiflora or ruellia drummondiana in my butterfly garden. But I cannot find it anywhere, and I have no idea where to get plants or seeds. Seems most vendors... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native eleagnus from Jesup GA January 17, 2014 An elderly farmer has told me about a plant called Alley Agnes, but I can't find any plant by this name anywhere. He doesn't know another name for it, says it's what everyone has always called it i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Use of non-native pothos for outside wall from Las Vegas NV January 05, 2014 I am in Las Vegas, NV. I live in a cottage-style apartment so I have a north facing porch with no one on the west so I get some there (and have an inherited cactus probably a yard all round) I would ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of invasive vine in The Woodlands, Texas December 02, 2013 What is the invasive vine covering trees in The Woodlands, Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Advisability of growing Silybum marianum (Milk thistle) November 26, 2013 I just received a load of clay-mix-dirt - and after our recent rains noticed the pile sprouting what looks like "Milk Thistle." Lots of them. The leaves are spiny and variegated - quite pretty. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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