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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| 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 | ||
| Mystery pest eating portulaca blooms July 02, 2006 I'm from Texas and I purchased some portulaca from a local nursery about three weeks ago and planted them in the front yard....with plenty of sun. Here's the problem. The foliage seems very health... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible reasons for yellowing leaves in seedlings in Ohio June 19, 2006 I have a problem with my seedlings. They start yellowing of one leaf then die. When I remove the leaf another one starts. I have photos. I have two differant seedling plants and they are experiencing... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Diagnosis of problems with Texas ash June 07, 2006 Our 15 year old Texas ash has less leaf production this year. It also has a small amount of algae on the trunk, and some of the branches have small white spots on it. Also, a few of the branches close... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible reasons for death of Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) in Austin April 04, 2006 Several wax myrtles in my neighborhood appear to have died. Should we have the soil or tree checked for fungus, or should we atrribute the death to freeze or age of the trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems getting desert western US plant Stanleya pinnata to bloom in England March 13, 2006 I am having trouble getting my Princes plume (Stanleya pinnata) to produce a flower and then go to seed. Do you have any advice on triggering flowering in this plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hibiscus wilt in Texas Star hibiscus November 10, 2005 I have a Texas star hibiscus on my deck. It flourished all summer, but not quite a month ago, the leaves turned yellow and fell off. Will it come back? What happened??? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cotton root rot in Purple Sage, Leucophyllus frutescens November 09, 2005 We had three Purple Sage shrubs in our front yard. They did very well for about three years and then this past year they just died. From what I have read they are pretty hardy so we are really stum... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on fungal attack October 12, 2005 I have three plants that have been getting fungus on their soil and I've tried to get rid of it by scraping it off, watering it less and more sunlight. It's two coleus and a begonia. I don't know... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on lantana in Dallas September 14, 2005 For several years, the lantana plants in my backyard in Dallas grew and bloomed all Summer and Fall until the first real cold snap. I've loved having a native plant that didn't need constant care a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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