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 | |
| Smarty Plants on arborvitaes March 28, 2005 Hello, I live in Allentown, PA and have a 7-foot arborvitae shrub in my backyard, planted in the corner of the yard where a wood fence intersects with the brick wall of the garage. I have had ma... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 28, 2005 I am flying a photographer in on April 7, 2005, for a special art project on Bluebonnets. We have 3 days set aside for the shot. Where are THE best places to capture Bluebonnets in the wild? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Luring wildlife in Longview March 27, 2005 I live in Longview, Texas and am in the process of trying to restore a natural habitat for wildlife in my area. Could you give me a list of plants that are native specific so that I can lure local bi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on native plant purchases March 27, 2005 I am looking for an article(s), white paper, policy, etc. that addresses responsible native plant purchases. I have your genetics piece, but am looking for something more broad that addresses what a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Eastern Redbud March 25, 2005 I have collected seeds from an Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) and I want to learn how to germinate them. How can I find out this information? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on epiphyllums March 25, 2005 I don't have a digital cameria, but I hope you can identify my plants easily by description. I believe they are called something similar to the word "epithelium". They look like a "mother-in-la... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing grass with native Texas sedges March 24, 2005 I have been trying to grow native Texas sedges instead of grass in my back yard for the last two years. Much of it is shaded by a canopy of elms, juniper, and oak. I have put a local organic fertili... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tropical-looking landscape in Austin, TX March 24, 2005 I'd like to have a tropical-looking landscape in my front yard. What plants would you recommend for Austin, Texas? I would prefer plants that can stay outside year-round, but will take suggestions on... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting crabapple tree from root sprouts March 24, 2005 I have a Crabapple tree that is sending up sapling shoots. Can these be dug up and planted? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting for parrots March 23, 2005 I have 2 parrots, a sun conure and a nanday conure, and I would like to find some plants to put in their aviary room that are safe for parrots. Can you help me with this question? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of colicroot and yellow colic-root March 23, 2005 There is a green flowering bush with yellow blooms off Taylor road in Dale, Texas (Caldwell County). What type of wildflower or weed is this? Could it possibly be Yellow Colic Root? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 23, 2005 When (month and week) do you think the "peak of bluebonnet blooming" will be this year in the Austin, Fredericksbug, and Llano, Texas area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive, non-native Eragrostis cilianensis, stink grass March 22, 2005 I am writing a children's book for Darby Creek Publishing about smelly plants and animals. I have read that Eragrostis cilianensis is one of the few bad-smelling grasses. Would the purpose of the o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Helianthus annuus March 22, 2005 I am doing an Earth Fair project on the Helianthus annuus. I would like to know if you possibly had any information on this subject. Some of the things I would like to know are: How big does it get? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on Hypogon March 22, 2005 How many sides does a hypogon have? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Little birds for Little Rock March 21, 2005 I would like to plant flowers that hummingbirds and butterflies like. I live in Little Rock, Arkansas. What do you suggest? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on aceae March 21, 2005 How is the family suffix "-aceae", as in Asteraceae, pronounced? I find disagreeing claims in my searches- "ay-see-ee" and "ay-see-ay" seem to be the most common, but I've also seen just "ay-... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Garden/landscape software for native Texas landscape March 17, 2005 What garden/landscape software program(s) would you recommend for a native Texas landscape design? I haven't found one that includes Texas plants in the standard plant encyclopedia. Any hints would b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Hill Country grasses, flowers for April garden show March 17, 2005 I will be a first ever (!) exhibitor in my garden club's garden show this April 7. Our theme is The Passion of Texas - my specific category is The Hill Country. Help!!! All materials I use must be al... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on plant names March 16, 2005 I want to learn what the scientific names of plants indicate about the plant physiology, its namer, its evolutionary relation to other plants, etc. Could you give a print or web source for looking up ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of mustang grape March 10, 2005 I'm looking to plant several vines of mustang grapes near my parents retirement home in Beeville, TX (78102). I really have two questions - what's the best way to find them at a nursery or relocate... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine with red flowers, fern-like leaves March 10, 2005 Last year I saw a plant at the State Fair. It had small fern like leaves to it with beautiful little red flowers. It was a vine plant of some sort. They told me that it was native to the Hill Countr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Asclepias curassavica March 09, 2005 I have some plants given to me by a neighbor, here in Florida. She says they are called Butterfly Reel or by another name Asclepias Curassavica. I have been unable to locate any info. on this plant. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower driving tours in Texas March 06, 2005 I am looking for suggested wildflower driving tours in Texas. Do you perhaps have a listing of suggested driving routes one might take for a day or two in order to view the Springtime wildflowers? A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Returning empty landscape to native plants March 03, 2005 I live in a subdivision that backs up to a 40 +/- piece of land that is called Texas Safari, I think. Between TS and my fence is a piece of ground about 50-60' wide and 100-150 yards long. Some of th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 02, 2005 There are several different species of bluebonnets that grow in Texas. Which one is the official state flower? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 02, 2005 Where can I find seeds for maroon bluebonnets? I understand that Texas A&M has developed cultivars for this plant in as many as four colors. I haven't been able to find a source for them. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Water Gardening February 28, 2005 I took the landscaping class several years ago, and now would like to put in a section of aquatic plants. Starting small, I was initially looking for a ceramic bowl-type container, and I need to know... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How do cacti stay in ground February 25, 2005 How do cacti stay in ground? I know that flowers stay in the ground by their roots but what about cacti? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Walter Ernest Jones February 24, 2005 My parents are both huge gardening fans and for a mothers day present I would like to find a plant for her garden that has a connection with "walter ernest jones". Any part of this name would be gr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Bumelia lanuginosa in Austin February 24, 2005 PLEASE HELP! I'm trying to plant several trees called Bumelia lanuginosa (synonym: Sideroxylon langinosum). The common names include but are not limited to: Ironwood, Chittamwood, Gum Elastic, Wooly... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Brasil tree, Condalia hookeri February 23, 2005 I have been searching for this tree everywhere, but cannot locate a dealer/retailer/nursey that sells this tree. Its name is Brasil tree (Condalia hookeri) and it is native to the southern US, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source of Tridens flavus, purple-top grass February 23, 2005 Will you kindly refer me to a grower from whom I may purchase plugs of Tridens flavus, purple-top grass. for a meadow installation in zone 6. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native grasses and wildflowers to attract butterflies in Blanco Co., TX February 23, 2005 Could you please recommend (native, xeriscape, deer resistant) grasses and flowers that attract butterflies that can be grown in Blanco County? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for moist and shady yard in Rowlett, TX February 21, 2005 I have an area of my yard that has drainage issues. It stays quite moist most of the time and is shady a large part of the day. I would like to plant some native plants in that area. Maybe something t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on pollinators February 20, 2005 I am researching threatened pollinators in Texas and elsewhere - bees, butterflies, hummingbirds. I would like your input on the subject. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| BEST plants for keeping water clean February 19, 2005 We're in the process of building a small swimming pool that will utilize Texas native bog and marginal plants to clean the water for the pool. Do you know of some good resources (i.e. online, books, b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Potential danger of oak wilt in live oaks in Dallas, TX February 17, 2005 Do you have or know of any recent publications that discuss a potential oak wilt problem in live oaks in the Dallas area? We strongly believe that live oaks have a great landscape value and are tryi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets February 17, 2005 We live on a farm and have recently had a cow that was deathly sick, then finally got better. We also had a couple of calving problems with the cows. I was reading about how toxic tailcup lupine is to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Obtaining a list of Texas native plants February 16, 2005 I'm a member of the Lindheimer Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (New Braunfels area) and wanted to get a list of Texas Native Plants for our Chapter to use as our guideline of what is nat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning a Wafer Ash to make it upright February 11, 2005 How do I trim a Wafer Ash? It lays on the ground. Is that normal? Does it need to be upright? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning time of non-native oleander February 11, 2005 When and how should I trim oleanders that turned brown after our first freeze? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas native plants for cemetery site February 09, 2005 I am trying to landscape my mothers gravesite located in far East Texas (just outside of Nacogdoches) and I am looking for some evergreen bushes or any other decorative plants for that area. I am thi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sunflower with large, thick, fuzzy leaves February 03, 2005 Hello Smarty Plants: I live in Green Mt. NC and am a Master Gardener Volunteer in Buncombe County (Asheville). In summer several years ago we visited a garden which had a beautiful sunflower with lar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Virginia crownbeard January 29, 2005 I recently moved to the Hill Country and notice some "weeds" that seemed to into explode into ice formations when the temperature first fell below freezing. Can you tell me the name of this plant an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Skin irritation caused by blanket flower (Gaillardia sp.) January 29, 2005 Could you tell me whether it is the leaves or the spent flower heads, the seed heads, that cause irritation to bare legs after walking through a field of Indian Blankets? Gallardia I believe is the La... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on plant patents January 28, 2005 How would I go about patenting a plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Late winter pruning of native Texas Sage January 27, 2005 I have several Texas Sage bushes that have started to get very woody and have growth only on the top. This seems to have led to a definite listing to one side. Should I trim these to the ground or... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Locating wildflowers for school project in March January 27, 2005 I have been assigned a school project to collect 10 wildflowers by March. I don't see any around to collect this time of year. Do you know where I could find some? I live in San Antonio. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Kokias January 27, 2005 I am searching for seeds of different Kokias (Kokia cookei, K. drynariodes and K. kauaiensis) and Thespesias (Thespesia grandiflora, T. thespesioides, T. nerifolia and T. popul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |