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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| Green cyst-like growths on Texas persimmon leaves September 20, 2013 We have a mature Texas persimmon. We just noticed some green cyst-like growths on the tops of some of the leaves. The undersides of those leaves have black spots where the growths are. They looks like... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Shumard Oaks and Crepe Myrtle in Cooke Co. TX September 07, 2013 I have a Shumard Oak Tree that has been in the ground approx. ten years. It has done great, even passing up some of my older Shumards. In August it began to lose its leaves at an alarming rate. They a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What causes rock rose branches to snap off? August 30, 2013 my small texas rock rose branches keep snapping in the center. What is causing this and what can I do? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Keeping squirrels out of pecan tree from Garland TX August 17, 2013 My yard is covered in green pecans with one bite eaten by squirrels. How do I keep squirrels out of my pecan tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| White sticky stuff on muscadine grape vines from Chappells SC August 17, 2013 Muscadine vine has white sticky substance on leaves and vines, what is it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Leaves wrinkling on Tecoma stans from San Antonio TX August 16, 2013 My two year old esperanza (planted in the ground) froze back last winter, came back from the roots & has been doing well all summer. Recently one branch has leaves that are nice & green but very wrin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Damage to cedar elm from Austin August 16, 2013 We have a cedar elm next to the corner of our house that has been dropping lots and lots of twigs with green leaves over the past 3 weeks, while our other elms have not. These rapidly pile up on the p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Help for Collapsing Tradescantia August 14, 2013 My tradescantia has completely collapsed at the crown. The stems are yellowish. This happened once before when I had it planted in full sun and I just had to discard it. This time I have one plante... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tip Dieback on Lonicera sempervirens August 14, 2013 I have a Lonicera sempervirens (coral honeysuckle) vine in Virginia which does well early in the season, but then around July, the very tips of its shoots (just the last 1-2 inches) wither, turn black... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What clips green twigs from cedar elms? August 09, 2013 Many small cuttings (3-5 inches long) are dropping from large cedar elm. To my eye the ends look like breaks (not chiseled), but I can't imagine what would cause so many breaks, and so think somethin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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