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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| Native trees that host moths and butterflies for birds in Houston Texas April 05, 2010 I have learned that non-native or alien plants do not attract the insects that the birds need to live on. I would like to know which native trees for central Texas have the greatest hosting capacity ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will shoes pick up American Beautyberry fruit and stain carpets? March 21, 2010 Do the berries from American Beautyberry fall on the ground so your shoes pick up the berries to stain the carpet in my house? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Birds attracted to wax myrtles in Austin January 12, 2010 Hello! We are considering planting Wax Myrtles in our relatively small SW Austin backyard. I'm excited about its ability to create quick privacy, but I was wondering specifically, what types of bird... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildlife Habitat Restoration in Quebec, Canada December 30, 2009 Hi there. What are the best trees and shrubs for wildlife restoration in Quebec? thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Drought tolerant plants for butterflies and hummingbirds November 16, 2009 I have about 150 sq ft of space in our backyard (urban OKC residence) that gets direct sun in the morning but is 100% shaded by 11-Noon from 2 large Sycamore trees. The space is on the west side of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Latin name for botany mist in McAllen TX November 10, 2009 What is the latin name or formal name of botany mist which is a Queen butterfly nectar source in the Rio Grande Valley? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Larval host plants for Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies October 31, 2009 I am looking for a list of larval host plants for Painted Lady butterflies. Could you provide such a list? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Appropriate riverbed and quail habitat plantings for southwest OK September 27, 2009 Mr Smarty Pants, I have an area in extreme SW Oklahoma along the Red River. What native plants could I plant that are both appropriate for the sandy/saline soils in the vegetative area of the river b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Chemical composition of native plants for birds September 06, 2009 I am looking for specific information on the biochemistry/nutrition of native plants as they relate to bird nutrition. ie. protein,fat,carbohydrate,vitamin etc found in northeast woody natives for a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Host plants for Painted Lady Butterflies (Vanessa cardui) August 22, 2009 I am looking for host plants for the Painted Lady Butterfly that I can plant in my school's (I am a teacher) native plant/butterfly garden. As part of the curriculum, each Fall our 2nd graders study ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant for hummingbirds shelter in Briarcliff TX August 10, 2009 I am looking to grow a container plant for the birds to enjoy on my back deck. A little greenery and possibly a place to rest for the birds would be great. This faces west and has no shade. There a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Southwest US Winter-flowering Hummer Plants. July 22, 2009 Are there winter-flowering plants native to the American Southwest that are used as a food source by hummingbirds? I am a scientific illustrator working on an identification guide to common North Amer... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Host plants for American Painted Lady larvae in Ohio June 25, 2009 Need to know what plants to plant as host plants for American Painted lady butterflies have larve coming in mail in few days , live in Vermilion Ohio on the Lake Erie. Thank You for your knowledge Pa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Asclepias spp. for Monarchs in Connecticut June 15, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, I live in Naugatuck Connecticut and I want to hatch my own monarch butterflies. I know that Monarchs like to hatch eggs on Milkweed plants. There are many types of milkweed p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for butterflies and birds in a park in Lampasas, Texas May 19, 2009 There is an area along a creek in Lampasas, Texas that I want to establish as a butterfly and bird park. There are various native plants there now, but I want to add plants that are hosts for butterf... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for butterflies, birds and bees at 7000 feet in Arizona April 28, 2009 What are the best plants for feeding and sheltering bees, butterflies, and birds in/near Flagstaff AZ. We are at 7,000 feet elevation and I am finding it very difficult to create a backyard habitat. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Protecting plants from birds near bird feeder April 24, 2009 I am happy to have several cardinal pairs living in my yard, but I need to discourage them from eating & destroying my purple heart planted under the huge cedar that holds my bird feeders. The cardina... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies in Michigan April 19, 2009 I am wanting to raise Painted Lady butterflies and release them into my garden. I know that they like to eat Mallow plants, but I was wondering what kind of Mallow plant would be best for my garden? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Attracting birds in Greenville, SC April 15, 2009 Hi, I live in Northeastern South Carolina near the mountains and I am making a shade garden in my back yard. I also want to attract birds to my yard. There are 100 ft tall and even some 125 ft tal... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for butterflies and hummingbirds in Louisville, KY March 31, 2009 Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in Louisville KY. I have a waterfall and ponds connected by a small stream. I want to plant several plants around my waterfall- approx. 20 sq ft on both sides of waterfall.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants that ducks and geese will not eat March 23, 2009 Hello, I have a pet duck and goose. Who I love dearly and have built two ponds for.. one 4ft deep the other 6ft deep. The ponds are for their use, first and for most, but I would like to have a plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fertilizing oaks to produce more acorns March 04, 2009 What type of fertilizer would I use on oak trees to possibly increase growth and acorn production ? I have some flooded oak timber that is home to migrating ducks but there is little for them to eat. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Memorial garden in Georgia December 08, 2008 I would like to plant a memorial garden in memory of my mother. She loved butterflies and bulbs blooming. Our backyard is shaded by large oaks and pines. A pool is located to the right, a large fire... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why are there no monarch butterflies feeding on my milkweed October 29, 2008 I brought a milkweed from LA that has orange and yellow flowers. I live in Denton, TX. I haven't seen any eggs from the monarchs yet. Do the monarchs live on different milkweed in TX? I looked up ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Understory plants for creek side in Austin September 22, 2008 We live along Shoal Creek in central Austin and would like to establish a natural balance of vegetation along the creek. We currently have a high tree canopy made up of native Cedar Elms. What would... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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