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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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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.

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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!

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Tuesday - July 27, 2010

From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Invasive Plants
Title: Kudzu for Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I just inherited a piece of land and am very much interested in starting some kind of homeopathic herbs. Can you tell me about Kudzu and where I can purchase some of these seeds?

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants likes to think he has a good sense of humor, but that is not funny! Florida, along with California, is already the world capital of invasive non-native plants, both of which the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is firmly against. Read this Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group LEAST WANTED on Pueria montana var. lobata (kudzu).

Two more articles you should read:

The Kudzu Plant FAQ

Gardening Tips from Down South - How to Grow Kudzu

And lest you misunderstand, these are both satire. 

You are very fortunate to have inherited a great resource-land. Please be wise in your stewardship, planting and cultivating plants that are native to your area of Florida, eliminating invasive non-natives in non-polluting ways, improving the quality of life and contributing to environmental health.

 

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