Native Plants
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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 | |
| 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 | ||
| A Native Tree for Ardmore PA January 15, 2014 I am looking to plant a native tree in my back yard. The yard is small and gets mostly afternoon sun. Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Backyard for Lakewood OH December 24, 2013 I would like to do away with the lawn in my backyard in favor of native plants that would require minimal maintenance, including flowering plants that would encourage pollinators. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for records of Pleistocene flora of Central Texas December 16, 2013 Part of your answer to a question from October 12, 2010 is "..moreover, the evidence goes even further back than the 1800s. Studies of Pleistocene deposits from Central Texas showed ancestral cedar p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Groundcovers for Spartanburg, SC November 23, 2013 I need suggestions for native groundcovers for Spartanburg, SC. The area to be covered is a fairly steep slope, with a lot of afternoon sun. In the morning, some areas remain shaded until noon whil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for church gardens in Ft. Worth TX November 07, 2013 Second attempt. Our church has many gardens in Fort Worth, TX. There are gardens for blue,red,yellow,white,purple,orange,pink,mixed,community garden,roses, and more. I am interested in the la... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plants to grow with Earth Kind roses October 03, 2013 I garden on Blackland Prairie clay in Dallas. I am planning an Earth Kind rose bed. I am planning to add 3" of compost and 3" of expanded shale and to mulch with 3" of organic material, as recomm... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Water-wise plants for clay soil in southern California September 26, 2013 My yard is clay. I'm removing turf to put in water-wise plants and bushes. I need some low growing bushes and medium height bushes that will grow in clay and that will stay green in the summer. Hopef... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are wildflowers in Missouri patented? September 20, 2013 Are wildflowers in Missouri patented? If so where would I find a list of them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Plants for Emory Texas September 18, 2013 I live in Emory Texas want to plant native plants in my yard. I am new to Texas and need help. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plant list for Haltom City, TX September 12, 2013 We're planning a native plant demonstration garden and need help. Can you email me a list of plants that will grow well in North Central Texas. We need to include those that will grow in full sun, sh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Opinion of 5 best native garden plants in Oklahoma from Burneyville OK September 07, 2013 What would you say are the 3 to 5 BEST native garden plants for south central Oklahoma? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for pollinators in Brown County, Texas July 23, 2013 I am attempting to plant on our family property a wide range of native plants for the central Texas area (May, TX). The flowers, bushes and trees that rely on pollinators, in particular bees, in order... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Salt and flood tolerant plants for Brooklyn NY June 20, 2013 Hi, I am researching suitable plants for landscape architectural projects in the wake of New York City’s proposal for increased storm and climate change resilience. I am specifically looking at the ne... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Summer-blooming Wildflowers for Wichita Falls, TX June 08, 2013 Can you give me a list of some summer-blooming (June, July, August, maybe September) wildflowers that I can plant in my flower beds in Wichita Falls, TX and tell me when the best time is to sow the se... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Windbreak [Dustbreak] for Shelton, WA May 31, 2013 I live on a well traveled, dusty, gravel road in the Pacific North West and would like to plant a barrier to help control the dust. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Windbreaks for Monterey County, CA May 31, 2013 I am trying to find good wind breakers for Monterey County area, very windy in the valley. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| New York City Native Perennials for a Long Growing Season May 31, 2013 Which native New York City perennials would be best for the longest growing season? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Salt tolerant plants for Long Beach May 12, 2013 When Hurricane Sandy hit Long Beach, it has killed all my plants and now almost all of Long Beach is left with dead dried brown vegetation. I want to replant front with bushes and flowers. What woul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What thorny vine grows rapidly in Pensacola? May 06, 2013 What thorny vine grows rapidly in Pensacola? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vines to Cover Brush Pile in Maryland April 29, 2013 We have a large brush pile on our property that we'd intended to burn, but it is big enough now that it would require the help of the fire department! I'm thinking I'd like to cover it with native ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smoky Mountains Shaded Slope Plant Suggestions April 29, 2013 We live in a very shady spot in Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. We would like to plant vegetation on a sloped area behind our cottage to stop erosion after building an addition. Our h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Long Island Barrier Beach Plants April 22, 2013 I live on the south shore of Long Island on a barrier beach and am landscaping my property as a result of Sandy damage. I am going with a sand base, and I am looking for suitable trees and shrubs for... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy Screen for Heavy Clay and Full Sun in Louisiana April 19, 2013 What would be a fast-growing plant for privacy in Louisiana? I have heavy clay and full sun. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy Screen Tree for Patio in NC April 15, 2013 What is a good tree to plant in front of a brick wall/fence to provide privacy and not compromise the structural integrity of the wall? The brick fence is my neighbors but I need privacy as they can s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native trees of Hornsby Bend in Austin, TX April 10, 2013 We are looking for a list of the trees occurring along and in the vicinity of the Colorado River at Hornsby Bend circa 1820. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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