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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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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Sunday - April 27, 2008
From: Waco, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: User Comments
Title: Why website does not have better variety of flowers
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Why don't you have a better variety of flowers? I can't find the ones I have.ANSWER:
We're surprised to hear you say that, because at this moment, there are 6,849 plants in our Native Plant Database that each have their own webpage with description, care, etc. documented. And, in the Image Gallery, there are 21,539 native plant pictures. Possibly, the problem is the word "native." The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the use, care and propagation of plants native to North America, including Canada, but not including Mexico. We do not plant in our Gardens, sell in our semi-annual Plant Sales, nor discuss in our database any plants not native to North America, or plants that have been so hybridized that their parentage is not known. If your plants are from commercial nurseries that do not specialize in native plants, the plants are very likely not native to North America or have been hybridized for color, habit, etc.
We'd like to interest you in native plants for future garden plans. Please read this excellent article on Why Natives? from our How-To Articles. When you are curious about whether or not a plant is native, you can visit the Native Plant Database, type in the common or the Latin name of the plant, and see if it's there. Or you can ask Mr. Smarty Plants, again. If you have a plant you need identified, see the instructions for sending us photographs on the lower right hand corner, under "Plant Identification", of the Mr. Smarty Plants page. And, if we convert you to native plants, here are some Native Plant Suppliers in your area.
More User Comments Questions
Native violets under maples from Gettysburg PA
July 06, 2012 - Just for your info (no need to post or reply), I saw an old post of a question of something to grow under maples. In central PA, native violets grow very well under several species of maples in lawns...
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Comment on Doug Shermans photography
March 29, 2007 - This is actually not a question. I just wanted to comment on Doug Sherman's photographs. I am working on a native garden presentation and his pictures are amazing. I love the way he captures the f...
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Wrong photo in Native Plant Database
August 18, 2008 - The picture to the left of the information for Rudbeckia laciniata L. shows a plant with a dark center. This is not the Cutleaf Conflower with which I am familiar. What is it?
Thank you.
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Fast growing groundcover for New York
September 02, 2010 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I love your site! But I can't quite find this answer: can you recommend a fast-growing groundcover native to southern NY State (Dutchess County) that I can plant NOW (Augus...
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Thank you Mr. Smarty Plants
January 28, 2009 - Hi, this is a note of thanks, powerful thanks, for your answer to my question about carolina laurel. Our disappointment was more than made up for by your recommendation to check out OSU's wonderful ...
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