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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| Removal of non-native zoysia grass from Burgettstown PA September 12, 2013 What is the most effective method of killing zoysia grass? We bought a house that sits in the center of four acres of mature zoysia. It looks beautiful, however, despite our best efforts at "weeding... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Do flowers on century plants grow century plants from Huachuca City AZ September 06, 2013 The flowers on century plants: can they "grow" century plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of poinsettias in water from Houston September 06, 2013 Pointsettias - we have a broken branch that is thriving in a jar of water with new leaves and additional small branches. When we plant the stem in dirt and even a muck, the growth starts to wither. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Starting Venus Flytrap From Seed September 05, 2013 I am a high school student doing a project on the Venus flytrap and would like you to help me by answering the following questions: What are the Venus flytrap predators and prey? How to raise a Venus ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Overwintering Newly Rooted Hydrangea September 05, 2013 I am in the process of rooting a hydrangea shoot in a pot, should I bring this inside to winter? I thought burying the whole clay pot to winter outside, is this feasible? I'm in zone 6b. What would b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Limonium limbatum September 04, 2013 I have a Limonium limbatum but do not know how to propagate the plant. Can you help with this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What to do with 200 yucca seedlings in Sandusky, OH? August 31, 2013 I have over two hundred 3 month old yucca seedlings from my last yr. Yucca plants. I soaked the the seeds for 24 hrs. planted them in trays and now they are abt. 2 inch tall. My question is, should I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting wildflowers from Wichita Falls, TX August 24, 2013 Hi, Thanks so much for the answers you give! You've been very helpful to me in the past. I have two quick questions: 1) I have been harvesting seeds from my wildflowers. I wonder when the best time... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of cardinal flower with variegated leaves from Wakefield RI August 21, 2013 I purchased cardinal flower seeds from the Brandywine museum & have had great success for over a decade. Recently I spotted one cardinal flower with variegated leaves. Is this a plant worth propagatin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Has Texas Black Persimmon been crossed with non-native persimmons from Austin August 17, 2013 Hi. I just found a Texas Black Persimmon in my neighborhood. The fruit is olive green and then black, then it explodes into a black slurry of seeds and syrup. The color is so strong I find myself wond... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Texas Olive Tree from Tucson AZ August 10, 2013 Can one start a Texas Olive Tree from the olives it produces? How can you start one. I am having difficulty finding a nursery, but do see the trees around. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Killing a century plant from Burton TX August 08, 2013 How do you kill the century plant, they are taking over? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cold stratification of Rudbeckcia maxima from Birdeye AR August 08, 2013 How long do I cold stratify Rudbeckia maxima seeds that I wild harvested? Can I put them in the freezer instead of fridge? Do I need to make sure they are completely dry before cold strat? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Gregg's Mistflower stressed in Fredericksburg TX August 07, 2013 My Gregg's Mist Flower plants are very stressed. The blooms have turned brown and the leaves are drooping. Plants are receiving moderate sun, partial shade. Do they need daily watering this time o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Invasive native blackeyed susans from Warren OH August 07, 2013 In our demo garden we master gardeners in NE Ohio have been unable to get rid of black-eyed susans which have, like the other person, prevented or "killed" the other perennial plants. They are spre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mistake in propagation of Mustang grapes from Victoria TX July 27, 2013 I didn't read first! I planted dried mustang grape seeds in good potting soil, watered and put on tall clear plastic bags to retain moisture, will they ever come up? Should I get the seed out and r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Weak flowering on rosa minutifolia from San Diego CA July 27, 2013 Hi, I have a Rosa minutifolia and has been doing great, but when it gives flowers the petals fall too fast, only last a day or two and also the fruit never forms completely and finishes drying so I ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling agave pups from Galveston, TX July 26, 2013 I live in Galveston, Tx.I have several large 5ft tall century plants in my yard and the pups are coming up everywhere..how do I control these??? HELP!! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Revegetation with Rosa Woodsii in Heber UT July 26, 2013 I am using Woods Roses for a revegetation project (to stop trail short cutting) in a public picnic area. Growing them from seed was too slow so I am experimenting with transplanting and it is working ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagating Silky Sophora by seed from Elmendorf TX July 24, 2013 I have some seed for the Sophora nutalliana. What is the best way to germinate this seed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting Candelilla from Austin July 12, 2013 Good Morning and thank you for answering my question!! I am interested in planting a Candelilla plant (it looks like small bamboo plants growing only a 2-3 feet tall. I heard it is supposed to be ver... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Grafting Pecan Trees July 05, 2013 I have planted two pecan nuts and now they are about 4 feet tall trees, they have not been grafted but can I graft one of the trees to the other and vice versa and expect pecans from then, they are he... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing non-native Cabernet Sauvignon vines in Central Texas July 01, 2013 Hi. I recently moved into a remodeled home in Taylor, TX, and have experimented with Cabernet Savignon vines before. I have a 1/2 acre and a chain-link fence I want to put vines on. (I have a book o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Illinois native grasses for shade June 27, 2013 Hello, my grass has died in a very shady area (standard buffalo grass), and I took this as an opportunity to plant some native grass varieties. I originally thought of buffalo grass, but learned that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Standing Cypress Plants in San Antonio, TX June 26, 2013 I purchased seeds for standing cypress 2 years ago and this spring they look beautiful. What is the best way to harvest the seeds? Also, will the current plants come back next spring or will I have to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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