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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| Breaking dormancy of native seeds November 22, 2006 The science of seed preservation seems to be well advanced. However, Jill Nokes' book appears to be the only well-known information about breaking dormancy of native seeds. I'm grateful that she w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identifying gender of persimmon trees October 23, 2006 How can you tell the difference between a male persimmon tree and a female persimmon tree? Also do you need both to bear the fruit? I live in Louisiana and never heard of this before. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Restoring and propagating rhododendrons October 18, 2006 I have 70+ year old native rhododendrons (16+ feet high) in my backyard. After all these years they are beginning to get dammaged by snow load and ice. Therefore I have 2 quesitons concerning these b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Practicality of growing bluebonnets in Germany July 28, 2006 I am originally from Texas, but I am living in Washington and moving to Germany for the military. I desperately miss bluebonnets and my husband picked up a big bag for me as a present and have no ide... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grapes Grown from Seed July 21, 2006 Can mustang grapes be grown from seed? If so, how is the best way and when is the best time to do it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating Carya illinoinensis in Vienna, Austria July 13, 2006 I'm interested in growing and propagating the pecan, Carya illinoiensis for my area (Austria). Northern pecans are the better choice. Are trees grown from seed (no northern pecan origin) also as har... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Leaves falling off recently transplanted mature Mountain Laurel July 05, 2006 I have recently purchased a Mountain Laurel for my backyard landscaping. It is a fully matured ML standing over 9 feet tall by 6 feet wide. Since it was planted (about 6 weeks ago) it has been losin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting Mustang Grapes June 15, 2006 What is the best way to grow mustang grapes? We have vines established over the property but up too high to continue to harvest and a couple of young vines on the ground that haven't reached the clo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting an immature Sweet Bay Magnolia May 30, 2006 Hi Mr. Smarty Pants: I just found what I think is a Magnolia Sweet Bay growing wild next to an oak and a pine tree in my back wooded yard. It has blooms on it and is about 2 feet tall. There are tw... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting of yucca plants May 26, 2006 We have several Arkansas Yucca plants in our yard that we want to transplant to a plant bed. How do we do that? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Survival possibility of transplant of sucker from oak tree May 15, 2006 My neighbor has a young oak tree in his front yard. It has small leaves and round acorns and once a year sprouts shoot up at its base. The neighbor was kind enough to let me dig some up to try to tr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sapindus drummondii or Rhus aromatica for Austria May 07, 2006 Hy! I'm from Austria/Europe, and interested in some North American native plants specially. It would be great if you can help me with my two questions: Sapindus drummondii I read from different... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Repotting from 4-inch pots April 18, 2006 Hello. A week ago I purchased some native plants at the wildflower center plant sale. I would like to know how to repot these seedlling native plants. They are in 4" pots right now. I have as follows... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cultural requirements for Heliotropium angiospermum in Florida April 10, 2006 What are the cultural requirements for Heliotropium angiospermum? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native habitate sunlight as opposed to artificial light March 26, 2006 Does a plant grow best in sunlight or artificial light? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Comparative speeds of flowering from seeds or bulbs March 24, 2006 Does a seed flower grow faster than a bulb flower? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting trilliums in dormancy in Michigan February 15, 2006 I live in Michigan. I have a Trillium in my yard and we are having a new septic field put in. I need to know if I can save the whole plant and can I keep it in the house or do I just need the bulb a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cultivation of Gossypium hirsutum, Upland Cotton February 08, 2006 I got a cotton boll (seeds and all) at a spinning workshop. I spun the cotton and the lady who brought the cotton boles said the seeds could be planted and the plant could be grown in a container on ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing competition of mustang grapes from live oaks January 26, 2006 We have several native mustang grape vines on our rural property that seem to be taking over the live oaks on which they are becoming entwined. Is it advisable to remove them or are they harmless? And... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information on propagating alder (Alnus crispa) from seed or cuttings in Alberta, Canada January 20, 2006 What do you know about propagating alder (Alnus crispa) from seed or cuttings? I'm involved in a small stream side revegetation project in central Alberta, Canada. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pineapple plant care November 05, 2005 Hello, I have a new pineapple plant that is still very small 1-2 inches around the fruit at most. The fruit has recently turned a deep yellow as if it were ripe. I am wondering if it can be ripe at su... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Storing seed from Pickerel weed October 28, 2005 What's the best method to store seed from Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) and Arrowhead (Sagattaria latifolia)? Should it be kept wet? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of hostas September 06, 2005 I have many different types of hostas in my yard. This year they bloomed abundantly and now have large pods where the blooms were which are full of seeds. My questions: 1. If I plant these pods, o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on dutchmans pipe July 24, 2005 How do I care for and transplant dutchman pipe? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bulbils on Turks cap lily July 21, 2005 My Turks cap lily has dark pea size growths at the bass of each leaf. Are these the seeds? How and when do I harvest seeds from this plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of poinsettias June 09, 2005 How do I grow poinsettias from seed pods? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on potted plants May 23, 2005 How do you know when it is time to transfer a potted plant to a bigger pot? Everytime I do this my plant dies. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Emory Oak acorns May 08, 2005 Dear Wildflower Experts, By any chance do you know how we could obtain some Emory Oak acorns to plant on our farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland? I know it’s not a given that the trees would grow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Germination and propagation of bluebonnets April 25, 2005 I live in Austin. Last fall I spread a load of dirt on my lawn to provide soil contact for the 2 pounds of bluebonnet seeds I subsequently spread (this was in early November). The germination rate a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Indian Paintbrush March 28, 2005 I have tried for years to propagate Indian Paintbrush and have had no luck-started inside or outside in the fall down't seem to matter. What can I do to get them to grow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of Eastern Redbud March 25, 2005 I have collected seeds from an Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) and I want to learn how to germinate them. How can I find out this information? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of mustang grape March 10, 2005 I'm looking to plant several vines of mustang grapes near my parents retirement home in Beeville, TX (78102). I really have two questions - what's the best way to find them at a nursery or relocate... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of American Bittersweet December 29, 2004 Will American Bittersweet grow in Central Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of yellow columbine November 03, 2004 I purchased a yellow columbine, Aquilegia chrysantha and your website says it grows in moist upland soils, and yet it shows their habitat as Utah, Arizona, NM, and sw Texas. Tell me how it can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of skunk cabbage December 18, 2003 Where can I purchase root stock for a start of skunk cabbage to plant? in my wetland? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How to Propagate Mountain Laurel by Seed January 02, 2003 How do I propagate mountain laurel by seed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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