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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| topic | question | |
| Source for ground pine plants from Ligonier PA December 21, 2012 Where can I purchase "ground pine plants? I want to use them for erosion control. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources for native plants from Austin TX December 19, 2012 Hello. I am currently planning a Texas native plant garden. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find the seeds/bulbs/roots/plants for some of the natives at local nurseries: Indian Ricegrass (Achnatherum ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for dwarf red mulberry from Spring Hill TN December 08, 2012 Hello: Where can I buy a dwarf red mulberry tree in the USA? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Dichondra from Hillsboro TX November 26, 2012 Where can I get dichondra and info about it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Search for non-native Rosa Rugosa for Granbury TX November 12, 2012 I would like to find an old fashioned Rosa Rugosa (non-hybrid) to grow in central Texas. I know I've seen them occasionally when traveling in the central TX area. I want them for their rose hips. ... 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 |  | |
| Grasses for horses in Austin October 27, 2012 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants We just bought 4.5 acres in Travis County off HWY 290. We have 3 horses we keep on it but there is very little grass in the pastures. What is the best type of grass to seed ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for seeds of New Mexico locust from Abilene TX October 23, 2012 Is there a place to buy Robinia neomexicana native to Texas or order seed from Texas grown plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for Murphy NC Clay August 24, 2012 I live on a ridge in Murphy NC. The property has trees so most of the land is in partial shade. The soil is good 'ole mountain red clay. I have some steep bankings in front of the house that I wou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| White flowering mountain laurel from Driftwood TX August 23, 2012 I love white flowering mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) and want to grow one from seeds. I've had a lot of success germinating and growing purple mountain laurel from seeds (or beans), so I DO ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for trees from Burnet TX August 19, 2012 I am desperately searching the central Texas area for Pistacia Mexicana male and female trees to buy. I would like about four, maybe more. I live in the Killeen-Lampasas area and have been to seve... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Removing Mountain Laurel Seed Pods from Austin August 14, 2012 Is it best to remove seed pods from Mt. Laurel or leave them on the tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sources for plants from Abingdon MD August 02, 2012 What stores or nursuries in Harford County sell already grown Coral honeysuckle, Purple passion flower, trumpet creeper, and crossvine? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Garden planning for wedding in Tallahassee July 18, 2012 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I would love your advice on creating a Wildflower Garden Plan. Earlier this spring in Tallahassee (North Florida). I sowed Wildflowers for the first time to see what would blo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Looking for a source for milkweed plants in Goshen, KY. July 12, 2012 I live in Louisville(actually Jeffersontown), KY and would love to find some milkweed plants for the butterflies. I have not had any luck with seeds so I am looking for actual plants. Do you have an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Search for Silver Magnolia from Coram NY July 11, 2012 Hi, 20+ years ago I purchased a small tree labeled Silver Magnolia from a catalog. It was a sapling about 8 inches high when I first received it but amazing! The bloom the first year was as big as my ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wisconsin Ground Cover for Acid Soil July 09, 2012 What type of native wisconsin ground cover plants do best on acidic bare areas under pine trees such as blue spruce?...and where is best source for these plants or seeds? Thanks so much for your help View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Century Plant in Wilmington NC June 24, 2012 Where can I buy a Century plant in the Wilmington NC area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Texas Star hibiscus from Grand Prairie TX June 24, 2012 I am having a lot of difficulty in trying to find and purchase a Texas Hibiscus. Any clues? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Availability of Texas Frogfruit June 22, 2012 Are there any nursery suppliers that supply Texas frogfruit? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Gathering seeds of Indian Blanket from Duncanville TX June 09, 2012 We have a field full of Indian Blanket that are blooming now and would like to share some seeds with our friends! Where is the seed on them and I take it we wait till they are done blooming to get the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Adding Wildflowers to Corpus Christi May 20, 2012 I have a dry sandy yard, full sun in Corpus Christi with lot's of stickers mostly, want to transform to wildflowers. When should I plant, how should I prepare soil, should I dig out stickers? Which w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Looking for source of Carex texensis in Beaumont, TX May 11, 2012 Looking for Carex texensis, the only place I find it is in Tennessee or North Carolina. Should I buy it online from those places to put in Beaumont, TX? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Restoring the woods in Central Austin. May 08, 2012 I live in Austin, south central between Red Bud trail close to the low water bridge and Bee Caves road. My question: I want to make the wooded sections of my yard attractive. They have filtered sun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Looking for Irises for Coryell County, TX. May 07, 2012 I'm looking for a hearty plant for Coryell County, TX. My mother always referred to these plants as "flags." I assume it is a type of iris. I'm looking for the one that will survive in the Cent... 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 |  | |
| Need to find a place to buy Western Soapberry in Paris, TX. May 05, 2012 Where is the closest place to purchase a Western Soapberry tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Making sod from native grass seeds from Pflugerville TX April 28, 2012 I am trying to install a native lawn. A story on KVUE suggested 2 lb Buffalo, 1.5 lb Blue Grama, and 6 oz of Curly Mesquite. I have some seeds purchased from seedsource.com about 2 years ago. I can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for air plant from Warwick RI April 23, 2012 Would you know of any store in Rhode Island that would sell the air plant (tillandsia plant)? I've been searching around and no luck! I would appreciate the help!! Thank you and take care View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Purchase source of Coral honeysuckle from New Boston TX April 21, 2012 I have been unable to find a supplier in the listings on your website for Lonicera Sempervirens. Many of them had a variety of different plants listed under this name but none were the 20' species. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Azaleas for Southeast USA April 03, 2012 Where can I purchase wild azaleas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Looking for a supplier for Mustang Grape vine in Austin, TX> April 02, 2012 I'm looking for a supplier in Austin that will have a Mustang Grape Vine seed or plant for purchase. I found Natives of Texas in Kerrville, but if you know of a supplier in Austin, that would be pre... 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 |  | |
| Purchase sources of Buffalograss from Corpus Christi TX March 17, 2012 I've heard a lot of good things about Buffalograss, but no one in my area seems to carry it. One grower actually told me it didn't grow well here and recommended St. Augustine Floratam instead. Is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wholesale dry yucca trunks and branches from California January 29, 2012 Where can I buy wholesale dry yucca trunks and branches? I have spent the last hour looking for them and can only find nurseries and decorative branches. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing Drought-Stricken Cedars January 16, 2012 Hello, I live in Williamson County on a couple acres. We have several dead cedars as a result of drought; we're reluctant to cut them down because many of them provide a friendly barrier between us... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting bluebonnets on UT Campus in Austin January 07, 2012 Hello! I am with a student organization on the University of Texas campus. Walking around campus, I have noticed the lack of the state flower of Texas, the bluebonnet. Our organization is hoping ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| SITES (or CITES) accredited source for native orchids January 03, 2012 Do you know of a nursery which is SITES accredited which offer North American native orchids? I grow as a hobby indoor ones as well as keep my eyes out protecting the outside native ones we have: Spir... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscapers in Austin area January 02, 2012 Can you recommend 2-3 Landscapers in the Austin area that I could get to landscape my yard? or where can I get this information? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Dichondra plants December 22, 2011 I thought I was looking for "Dollar Weed" because the leaf is round and flat like a silver dollar and a little bit like wild violets, is extremely low growing and is in a lot of lawns especially und... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source of dollarweed for shady lawn in Hillsboro TX December 19, 2011 I live in Hillsboro,Tx - Where can I get Dollar Weed for my shady lawn? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for pecan mulch used at Wildflower Center from Austin November 11, 2011 Hello Mr. Smarty Pants I was recently at the Wildflower Center. I saw all the pecan shell mulch and was wondering where you get it from. I noticed awhile back that it is one of the recommended mu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Obtaining native plants in the Austin area from Schertz TX November 06, 2011 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I went to the plant sale this past weekend, I had a good time, there was a great selection of plants. I was there at 9:00AM Sat. and when I asked for some plants than I have on ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for seed of Blackfoot Daisy from Amarillo TX October 29, 2011 I need help finding Melampodium leucanthum seed. I have spent the last few hours on the web searching for them. I checked the resources in your lists and cannot find seed. I live in Potter Coun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need source for seeds or plants of Pinus remota in Johnson City, TX.. October 18, 2011 I cannot seem to find a source for Pinus remota or papershell pinyon pine. Who Grows this? I understand it is rare and would love to try it here in Johnson City. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seeding the banks of a large pond October 18, 2011 I have a 2 acre surface pond that is mostly a hard clay bank all around. The water level is way down and I will begin filling it very soon. I need to somehow being affordable, plant something or thing... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Desert Willow from Dallas October 03, 2011 I'm looking for a source for chilopsis linearis. I live in Dallas, TX. None of the specialty nurseries in Dallas seem to be able to source it. Is there any local source? Is there any source withi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need source for garlic to plant in garden in Fort Worth, TX. September 30, 2011 Where can I get or purchase a native Texas garlic to plant in my garden? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Abutilon fruticosum (Indian mallow) seeds September 24, 2011 Do you know anyone who has Abutilon Fruticosum (Indian Mallow) seeds for sale? I would love to grow the Indian Mallow, but can't locate a source. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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