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 | |
| Distinguishing native Celastrus scandens from non-native C. Orbiculatus from Lexington MA June 08, 2014 Dear Mr. Plants, I maintain a wildflower garden with the Lexington Field and Garden Club in Lexington, Massachusetts. Every year, I pull up sprouts of Celastris orbiulatis. I want to plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine for yard with morning sun in California May 24, 2014 Hi, What is a good perennial vine to grow on the front of our house? We would like a fragrant flower too. It will be on a wood support beam, helping cover some pipes we have there. It will be an e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought tolerant vine for Austin, Texas May 17, 2014 What kind of drought-tolerant vine can I plant outside my screened in porch in Austin, Texas, that will stay on a trellis and not grow into the screen? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Waiting for a Passiflora to Emerge May 06, 2014 My passiflora vine in Virginia seems to have died in our severe winter. Should I continue to wait for new growth or dig it up now and start again? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen vine for wall and long-blooming shrubs in San Antonio TX May 04, 2014 What is a good native vine that stays green all year to plant along a rock courtyard wall? Also what are native bushes that flower for the longest period of time? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade tolerant plants for erosion from Austin May 03, 2014 I live in Austin and my house backs up to Shoal Creek. I am looking for a native creeping vine or something that will grow on the shaded bank to help prevent erosion. It should be able to tolerate the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine for shady planter from Cedar Park TX April 19, 2014 We bought a home in Central Texas and inherited several raised-bed planters. One of the planters is set up to grow a vine, but it's in a part of the yard that is mostly in the shade of a tree. Is t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ivy a suitable ground cover in Live Oaks from Gulfport MS April 17, 2014 Will Ivy be a safe and suitable ground cover for old growth Live Oak trees in coastal Mississippi? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine to cover fence from Haverhill MA April 17, 2014 Hello, I'm looking for a fast growing vine to cover a chain link fence. The area is sunny half of the day. I have 2 small children so I don't want something that attracts bees or could be dangerous ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eliminating kudzu from Richmond KY March 26, 2014 I live in Richmond KY, Kirksville area. I have noticed that Kudzu has started to grow in my patch of land next to the creek. How can I get rid of this before it becomes a big problem? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |