Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Sunday - May 10, 2009

From: Lawrence, KS
Region: Midwest
Topic: User Comments
Title: USDA hardiness Zones
Answered by: Damon Waitt

QUESTION:

I love your site..I don't live in Texas and would like it very much if you would include the zone with plant listings. Thank you for all your hard work!

ANSWER:

We agree....that would be very cool. Unfortunately, because the plants in our plant database are native plant species, there is very little information out there about their USDA hardiness zones. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map was originally devised to determine where in the U.S. exotic ornamentals would thrive best and is a result of plant trials carried out on those species. The good news is that if you grow native plants from your area (see our recommended species page) they will be suitable for whatever zone you occupy.

 

More User Comments Questions

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 the full question and answer

Use of pictures from our Image Gallery
August 28, 2008 - I would like to use the picture of prickly wild rose on a website I am designing for information on native plants. I am designing this site for children and teachers. Who do I contact?
view the full question and answer

Question about commercial product from Austin
May 19, 2014 - Do you carry AquaSmart Pro? There was an article in today\\\'s Statesman about some Sun City people using AquaSmart Pro to save water on their lawns. I am always skeptical about such panaceas. ...
view the full question and answer

Why is Mr. Smarty Plants website so useless?
July 16, 2008 - Why is your site so useless?
view the full question and answer

Advocacy of non-native plants.
December 10, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Instead of asking a question, I would like to comment on the seemingly discouraging tone on growing plants or trees out of their native habitat that I have observed from rea...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.