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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!

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

 
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Saturday - October 29, 2011

From: San Francisco, CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives, Shrubs
Title: Root growth on non-native Pittisporum Tobira from San Francisco
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

How do the roots grow and spread for the Pittosporum Tobira shrub? I have one that is about 20 feet tall and wonder how to care for it? Do you have a picture of how the roots grow?

ANSWER:

The Pittosporum 'Tobira' is native to southern Japan, China and Korea and therefore does not appear in our Native Plant Database. Mr. Smarty Plants does not recommend any plants not native to North America or to the areas in which those plants grow naturally. Since we cannot help you, you might read this Botany.com website on Pittosporum.
 

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