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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| Will Hyacinth Beans and Cardinal vine (non-natives) grow in Texas? April 28, 2007 I live in Coppell, TX, and a neighbor gave me some Hyacinith Beans and Cardinal Vine seeds to plant. She described these as doing well in her local garden, but I cannot find a photo or picture of them... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Winter survival of non-native Mandevilla vine March 24, 2007 Last summer I bought a dwarf mandavilla vine that blooms deep red and planted it in a pot and kept in on my east-facing porch, where its tendrils hung over the pot. I had to move it to shelter for the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trailing milkvine, Matelea pubiflora, identified from seed pod November 10, 2006 I have a vine that has a seed pod that looks like okra. Inside the pod is a small flat seed and a cotton-looking fiber. Please help identify, if possible. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control methods for Tribulus terrestris, Goatheads or Puncturevine September 21, 2006 We have some land that has so many goatheads we can't do anything with it. We would like to know what if anything will remove them from our place. There has to be something out there that will kill ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting honeysuckle September 02, 2006 How do I transplant Honeysuckle? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-blooming of Campsis radicans, Trumpet Vine August 25, 2006 I have a trumpet vine that does not bloom. My neighbor has the same plant and it blooms profusely. I have pruned the vine in February as was suggested on another site. It is healthy and is planted a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of growing Smilax pumila (Wild Sarsaparilla Vine in Virginia June 13, 2006 Hello, I am inquiring about a plant my grandmother keeps telling me about. It's called sarasee (sp?). It's supposed to have some medicinal properties like helping with a cold and things of that nat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants with little sun and northern exposure for New York April 26, 2006 I live in a co-op and want to fix up the backyard. The backyard area has a west area to plant with a northern exposure and little sun and I am looking to plant something to cover the area. I would lik... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Locating yellow crossvine April 20, 2006 I am attempting to find a yellow crossvine. I am not having much luck. I thought I saw some growing in the Taylor area, but I cannot locate it now. In my memory, the flowers had brown dots on them. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning time for Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus) February 13, 2006 Gentlemen: I have a Texas Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus). It's doing very well & I wish to prune it before its leaves come out. I understand there are a few trees you don't prune, among them birch. I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Conditions for wisteria bloom on Ontario, Canada November 05, 2005 I live in Ontario Canada, and about 4 years ago I bought a shrub which was called wisteria. I loved this bush when I visited a cousin out in British Columbia. The problem is it has no trouble growing ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on wisteria October 15, 2005 A friend has a wisteria bush in his yard that was planted around 1950 by his mother. It has yellow blossoms. He has been told many times by people passing by (they stop to look at the plant) that the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on pruning Clematis August 26, 2005 I would like to know about pruning clematis. The one I have is getting very large. Should I cut it back, and if so, in the Spring or Fall? I live in Michigan. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Differentiating between Cow-itch vine and Balsam-gourd vine July 08, 2005 How can I tell the difference between Cow-itch vine and Balsam-gourd vine? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on hyacinth bean vine July 01, 2005 I'm looking for what I believe is a wild vine. All i know is that it has purplish colored beans and the flowers are also purple. Also the vine itself is purplish. i believe that the vine is either fro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on teddy bear vine April 13, 2005 I am looking for a plant called teddy bear vine. The scientific name is Cyanotis kewensis. I had one a long time ago (20+ years) and I loved it, but I can't find another one or find out whe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of wild grape vines July 14, 2004 How can I propagate wild grape vines where I want them to grow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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