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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Are Castor Bean Leaves Toxic to Pets? September 13, 2014 I understand that the beans of the castor plant on lethal if chewed on. Are the leaves that toxic? I would love to plant this plant and not let it flower, but I do have visiting grandchildren and dog... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fuzzy Citrus Fruit on Satsuma and Lemon Trees September 13, 2014 A man asked you about fuzzy little small fruit-like balls that looked like tiny lemons. I have huge numbers of these on both my mature Satsuma and lemon tree this year. I get 100's of really great f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference between invasive Chinese and Japanese wisterias and native wisteria September 12, 2014 Dear Mr or Ms Smarty Plants, Is there any way I can tell for sure if my wisteria is native? I bought it at a place when it was in bloom that sold a lot of native plants. I Would like to know for sure... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Aggressive Plants in Pleasant Valley NY September 01, 2014 Are there any native plants that can out compete Japanese knotweed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problem with Chinese Pistache tree September 01, 2014 We have a gorgeous Chinese Pistache in our yard, about 25 feet tall. We bought it for its gorgeous fall color. The problem is that it has never turned color for us. All the other pistaches in the neig... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shasta Daisies without Petals August 21, 2014 My shasta daisies do not have the white petals, only the yellow center is in bloom. There are no visible signs of insects. They get a good amount of sun - about 5 hours per day. What could be the prob... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sages in Catasauqua, PA August 08, 2014 I want to buy a Texas Sage tree but I live in PA. Can I bring the tree indoors during winter? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tall plant with bell-shaped upside-down white flowers July 18, 2014 2 tall plants grew outside my suburban New York house in June, blossomed late June. They looked like giant asparagus stalks, and the flowers were white, bell shaped, upside down, look like fairy skirt... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Starting Yarrow (Achillea) and Daucus from Seed July 16, 2014 I need to deadhead my cottage yarrow. I assume it has gone to seed. What do I do to plant it as seed? If I can do it, can I do it now or do I need to wait until spring. If I need to wait until spring,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Japanese Wineberry in Maryland July 16, 2014 Hello, we were at Cunningham Falls in Maryland and I can not identify this plant. If you could I would greatly appreciate it, thank you. It looks like a raspberry but the berries are inside small leav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |