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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| Cultivars off native plants attracting pollinators from Fairfax VA March 25, 2011 When trying to create a native garden/habitat- should you avoid using cultivars of the native plant? Nurseries around us keep trying to tell us that using a cultivar of the native plant we actually wa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Artist's project on protecting pollinators in Austin February 26, 2011 I am designing a citywide artist's project to protect and preserve local, natural pollinators (with an emphasis on honeybees). What nectar-rich plants would you recommend for this type of project? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| No berries on dogwoods in GA November 18, 2010 I have 4 native dogwood trees. I have owned the property for 4 years. They have never produced berries. Can you tell me why? are the trees male and female, and could I have all males? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Early, middle and late blooming flowers for pollinators in East Texas July 05, 2010 On our farm in northeast Texas we are participating in a Conservation Program through the NRCS. We have to plant 4 acres for pollinators--early blooming, middle blooming, and late blooming. I need t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Flying insects attacking yucca flacida in Wilmington NC June 11, 2010 How do I treat flying insects from eating the flowers on my Yucca Flaccida shrub. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When may I remove seed heads from yuccas? June 07, 2010 Soft tip yuccas dominate my home's landscape. When is the best time to remove the heavy seed heads after flowering? In addition to being difficult to work around, the pods seem to attract infestatio... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| California native plants for a steep slope May 29, 2010 We are looking for California native plants for a steep south facing slope that do not attract bees. Can you please provide a list? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bees knees squeezing May 28, 2010 Barbara, Do the knees of bees help them squeeze if they please their wobbly, bobbly, knobbly balls of pollen? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-blooming or fruiting Oregon grape holly in Elmhurst IL May 14, 2010 I have an Oregon grape holly bush that has never bloomed and has never had fruit. I have had the bush for at least 6 years, it is approximately 5 ft tall. Have had no problems, just no flowers/fruit.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Compact possumhaw holly for Plano TX April 19, 2010 What variety of possumhaw holly would be best planted close to a house? I'm looking for a variety 15-25 feet, as compact as possible. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrubs and trees to protect beehives in Godley TX April 06, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Is there a (relatively) fast growing native small tree or large shrub (NOT cedar) that tolerates Johnson County clay, full sun, sometimes damp and sometimes dry soil with no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blossoms but no fruit for gooseberries in Enoch UT January 16, 2010 My gooseberries always get loads of blossoms, but I never get fruit. I think they need more sun, and thus, want to transplant them to a sunnier location. What (and when) is the best way to do this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Duplicate of English holly for Eufaula OK January 03, 2010 I wish to have a shrub that would duplicate the red berries and foliage of English holly. Tolerance of cultivation is also desired. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why is my yaupon tree not producing berries in Metairie La? November 04, 2009 What is the lifespan of a Yaupon Tree? We live in Louisiana, and our Yaupon would always get the white flowers in the Spring but never the red berries. Why is that? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Failure of tall garden phlox buds to open in St. Louis MO July 30, 2009 Why won't the buds of my tall garden phlox open? Plants are apparently healthy, no powdery mildew or visible insects, foliage looks great and buds are profuse but they don't open. I have two clumps ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Moving wildflowers into a pollinator garden in Webster NY July 27, 2009 I live in the Western New York area and would like to utilize unwanted wildflowers near our roadside and woodland area into a large pollinator garden I am creating. What is a safe way to move an enti... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Do female possumhaws require male to bloom? January 02, 2009 Do female possumhaws require a male nearby to bloom? I've read that about yaupon hollies, but not possumhaws specifically. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscaping for slope in Kansas City October 08, 2008 We have a down sloping back yard and patio on the lower area. We need some water absorbing plants near the foundation and some in the front of the house, where water isn't a problem. We are allergic ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Zucchini blooms but no fruit August 26, 2008 My zuchinni has lots of flowers, but they seem to fall and I am getting no fruit.. WHY View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pollinator plants for Ilex verticillata (winterberry) June 09, 2008 How close do a male and female common winterberry need to be to produce berries. We bought a male and female last year and attracted cedar wax wings. Amazing show. We just bought two more females a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Blue-green bees April 30, 2008 Over a month ago I sent this query to the AAS Garden Editor. What a waste of time since she exhibited no knowledge and no interest. Finally, she told me to ask you about the green bees that came by in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure of hybridized red hollies to grow April 17, 2008 I have 2 red hollies planted in my yard about 20' apart, 3 years now. They won't grow. Do I need to have a male with them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pollinator for Hymenocallis palmeri August 06, 2007 Okay, Ms. Smarty Plants, let's see if I can stump you. I feel blessed to have seen an alligator lily (Hymenocallis palmeri) in the Everglades, while doing photopoints with my boss. Please tell me w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pollinator for Juniperus virginiana "Grey Owl" April 22, 2007 I would like to buy Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl' as a source of berries for birds. 'Grey Owl' is a female clone, so it obviously must need a male pollinator. What J. virginiana male pollinato... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on pollinators February 20, 2005 I am researching threatened pollinators in Texas and elsewhere - bees, butterflies, hummingbirds. I would like your input on the subject. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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