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.
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?
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
| topic | question | |
| Fall Flower Planting in Abilene, TX October 14, 2014 Are there any flowers that can be planted in the fall in Abilene Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Texas Plants for a Terrarium October 08, 2014 I have a 55-gallon aquarium that I would like to make into a terrarium. Are there any Texas native plants that would do well in the limited artificial light of the tank? The plants should be of varyin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Best Asclepias for Kansas City October 06, 2014 I have a question about the Asclepias. I live in the Midwest, in Kansas City with hardiness zone 5b or 6. I want to know which of these plants would be good for me in a cultivated garden. It's not to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tree Recommendations for Hutto, TX September 28, 2014 I live in Hutto, TX. I want shade trees in my back yard. I would like a fast growing tree as well as a slower growing tree. What trees are recommended for my area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Nitrogen Fixing plants for Austin Texas September 22, 2014 I recently saw a piece on Central Texas Gardener recommending winter covers to fix nitrogen such as elbow rye, hairy vetch, and crimson clover. Can you recommend a native plant that will grow through... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dwarf Yaupon Holly Cultivar Heights September 18, 2014 What is the largest of the dwarf yaupons? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants beneficial to honey bees in Indiana August 30, 2014 I am searching for a list of shrubs, vines, low growing plants that would benefit, specifically honeybees in southeast Indiana. My Soil & Water Conservation District would like to offer these plants f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deep Rooted Large Shrub or Small Tree for Driveway Strip August 21, 2014 I am in eastern Massachusetts. My condominium Grounds Committee is searching for a small tree suitable to plant in narrow (4'-5') beds which divide two driveways. Can you suggest something whose roo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Late Blooming Wildflowers for Round Rock August 06, 2014 I thought this would be a previously answered question but found nothing in the data base. My question is: in Central Texas what can be grown for some color or interest in a wildflower area when the w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cutting Garden Plants for TN July 16, 2014 I would like to know what would be in a year round cutting garden in Nashville, TN for a novel I am writing. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Plants for a Steep Slope in TN July 15, 2014 Hello, I live in Knoxville, TN and have a very steep slope in our backyard. There is a lot of water erosion causing our grass to be covered with red dirt. I would love to try to plant something on thi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildlife Attracting Plants for a Shady Patio July 03, 2014 We have a concrete patio that receives 2-3 hours of sunlight a day, so the only plants we will be able to grow will be in container. We are looking for plants that do well in shade, and containers and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Rabbit-proof Plants for Texas July 03, 2014 Do you have a list of flowers that rabbits will eat or will not eat so I know what to plant or avoid? I have a year-round rabbit population in my neighborhood and wish to co-exist with them without t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to solve a search problem on the Native Plant Database! July 01, 2014 When I use the LBJ Wildflower Center's Plant Identification Guide, it ALWAYS comes up with no results. It also ALWAYS comes up with Family: Acanthaceae. Could this be why NO question EVERY produces A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Screening Plants for Cape Cod June 17, 2014 I need to plant some fairly high growing leafy plants/bushes/trees for privacy and as a sound barrier in (the remains of) a pine forest in Cape Cod, MA. The pines grow tall and skinny so that we can s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for farm animals from East Greenwich RI May 03, 2014 What type of perennial flowers and shrubs are safe to plant around farm animals (dogs, horses, chickens, turkeys) in New England climate? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Full Shade Plants for Muncy PA April 10, 2014 I need a suggestion for almost full shade plants for central Pennsylvania. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting under Pine Trees in Pocatello ID April 08, 2014 Hi I was wondering if you could give me some ideas of what I could plant under and near some pine trees for my area. The trees are huge and so it is also constant shade where I want to plant. Thanks f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting Suggestions for a Lake Home in Wayne County, MO April 03, 2014 We have a lake home in Wayne County, MO at Lake Wappapello. The soil is very rocky. We recently cleared an area around our home of assorted dead trees, some cedars and what seemed like tons of vines. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Less Maintenance Plant Suggestions for New Raised Bed in Henderson, NV. April 03, 2014 We have a newly constructed raised garden bed. I was wondering what kind of plants would be appropriate to plant this springtime in Henderson, NV with less maintenance because I work full time. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native perennials for Missouri City, TX March 19, 2014 I checked all the questions for my area and still need help. What are some native perennials for southeast Texas View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native species of tree for Rockwall TX March 19, 2014 Hello, I am attempting to plant a native species of tree 20 miles east of Dallas, Texas (Rockwall, TX) in honor of my brother's marriage. He is a biologist and a huge supporter of native species.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Plant for a Sunny South-facing House Wall in Tucson March 01, 2014 I have a problematic block wall on the south side of the house and I what a plant to soften the look of the wall. I tried butterfly bush which I'm told died from of bounce-back heat from the wall. I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Rain garden plants for Central Texas February 06, 2014 Do you have a list of rain garden plants for Central Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need plants beneficial or attractive to bees in Dripping Springs, TX January 27, 2014 Can you provide a specific list of plants beneficial or attractive to honey bees in the Texas Hill Country (we raise bees in Dripping Springs, TX.) Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |