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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| Groundcover for Oregon gravel path August 23, 2013 I'm looking for a native ground cover to grow in the gravel between flagstones in a path in my backyard. The gravel is 1/4-10 so it is very loose. The path gets midday sun but is shaded by the house ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Benefits of Habiturf from Austin August 19, 2013 I have been reading about Habiturf and my question should be easy to answer. Is this is a grass you would recommend for kid play? Sitting on the lawn, kicking a soccer ball, etc. Any information a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen groundcover for full sun in Alabama August 02, 2013 Mr. Smartyplants, can you suggest a native, evergreen, full-sun groundcover that might thrive in zone 8a? We hope to find a mass planting that would look good beside Heuchera villosa 'autumn bride,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover for shady area in north Texas July 29, 2013 I'm looking for a ground cover for a mostly shady area where St. Augustine won't grow. I don't want the ground cover to overtake my established St. Augustine in the rest of the yard. The area is un... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing non-vascular moss as a lawn from Seattle WA July 27, 2013 I have lots of moss in my back yard. How can I encourage it to grow over the whole yard? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a native turf grass for the Houston area July 25, 2013 Looking for a native turf grass for the Houston area. In some of your 2012 responses, you stated that "The good news is that research into turf-type grasses native to the coastal region is in the pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Poolside Groundcover Suggestions for Florida July 18, 2013 I live in Milton, FL near Pensacola. We just had a pool installed and now want to put groundcover around the perimeter. It will be an area about 70 feet long and 10 feet deep. It will be full sun. We ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low-growing plants for a slope in the shade July 08, 2013 Hello, I'm looking for native plants to put in the shade (within the drip-line) of a well-established American Holly. The area gets deep shade; it is also on a very gentle north-exposure slope. We ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eliminating and replacing Tradescantia species July 03, 2013 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, I need advice. I recently figured out my 10 month old dog is highly allergic to Tradescantia sp, commonly known as the Spiderworts, and "Wandering Jew" which covers about h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover for a slope in San Antonio TX July 02, 2013 Slope growing, no or little irrigation ground cover. The slope is probably greater than 30%. The area is currently a construction road at the base, cut into the hill. To re-establish with a ground cov... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen plant to cover parents' graves in Louisiana June 30, 2013 We want to plant ground cover on our parents graves in Plain Dealing Cemetery in north Bossier Parish LA. Soil is red clay/dirt. Want native plant, slow growing, short not tall plant, that might sta... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcovers over roots in Roeland Park KS June 18, 2013 Large Hackberry tree (aprox 50+years) roots are popping up above ground making mowing under/around it impossible. Is there a plant, ground cover, something I can plant, or cover the roots with that w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion Control for a NC Clay Slope June 06, 2013 Hi, We have a large slope on the road edge of our property that has been gradually eroding with spring rains (NC red clay). We would really like to plant something for erosion control but the bank is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of groundcover in Parker County, TX June 02, 2013 I'm trying to identify a native "groundcover" that looks much like frogfruit, as far as the leaves and growth pattern, but has small yellow flowers that look like little lanterns as buds. I know it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover for a dry slope in PA May 23, 2013 My side yard is a slope with rocky (a lot of small serpentine rocks) soil under white and black pine trees. I can grow lots of weeds :-) but would like to plant a low (0-3in) evergreen ground cover th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low growing erosion control plants for lakeside in Washington Township NJ May 12, 2013 I live on a small lake in Northern NJ and have installed beautiful Boulders along the water to help stop erosion. Now I want to add plants along the property but would like low growing, soil retentio... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for foot traffic in dry shade from Prineville OR May 12, 2013 I live in central Oregon. I have an area under a large elm tree that slopes on all sides and has lots of foot traffic and no sun. (my kids have a swing in the tree and play around it a lot.) It's a v... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shrub or Vine for NH Slope May 11, 2013 I'm looking for a native plant/shrub/vine that can be used to control erosion on a relatively steep slope in New Hampshire. Do you know of any? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for Sunny Slope in CT May 11, 2013 I need a plant to use as groundcover and for erosion control on a sunny slope in southwestern Connecticut. Any suggestions other than juniper? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Silver ponyfoot becoming invasive in College Station TX May 08, 2013 How can I control or get rid of an established Dichondra groundcover? I bought a few plants of D. argentea from your sale a few years ago, and in that time they've done really well in the area I plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for shade under oaks in San Antonio May 04, 2013 I have been modifying my landscape to reduce grass and the need for frequent watering. Have turned half the backyard into native plants garden with hardscape and sitting areas. Have 2 mature Monterey ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dying non-native St. Augustine grass from Austin May 02, 2013 Although we all know St. Augustine grass is not a good thing, I am stuck with it and am trying to save areas that appear to have take-all fungus. I have done much reading online and have tried peat m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing bermudagrass from buffalograss in Smithville TX May 01, 2013 I have a lawn created two years ago with buffalo grass sod in Smithville, TX. Recently several areas of bermudagrass have started to flourish in the buffalo grass lawn. Can you recommend a herbicide... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcovers & Shrubs for Shade in North Carolina April 30, 2013 Mr Smarty Pants, My neighbor planted cypress trees as a border between his yard and ours and it is sucking up every drop of water and nutrient. We also have a purple plum in the area which creates ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for a Sunny, Steep Slope in Maryland April 29, 2013 I need a groundcover for a sunny dry steep slope in Towson, Maryland. The slope goes from the parking lot down to a deck area. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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