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.
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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.
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| Is straggler daisy deer resistant from Austin October 08, 2012 Is straggler daisy (horseherb) deer resistant? We have lots of deer in our NW Hills, Austin neighborhood, and a lot of shade where not much will grow. Is that plant a good candidate for ground cover... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Area under live oaks from Austin October 08, 2012 We have many live oaks in our mostly shaded half acre. While I have tried to plant mostly native plants, often beneath them, the plants are showered with leathery leaves, acorns and sap, while oak sp... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lantana failing to bloom from Tampa FL October 04, 2012 I reside in central Florida. I have planted several lantana the orange,red,yellow type. I don't have proper species name. They have been in the ground 3 weeks with 2" of potting soil around root ba... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for rock garden under large oak October 02, 2012 I am planning a small rock garden under a large oak tree. I would like a spreading evergreen ground cover that will grow in the shade. Drought-tolerant would be preferred as I live in the high plains... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low maintenance grass for shade in Conroe, TX September 15, 2012 What is the best low maintenance grass to plant in front lawn shaded, no traffic area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover under Juniper for San Antonio September 14, 2012 I have a shaded area under juniper in the Hill Country of Texas that has many sprouts from the tree. We have to weed whack it to keep them under control. What ground cover could I use to enhance tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Stream Bank Erosion Control for Bryan/College Station August 16, 2012 I live in the Bryan/College Station area and need a ground cover to abate erosion on the bank of an intermittent stream. The bank is shaded. Do you have any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer resistant, drought- and shade-tolerant plant for Pennsylvania August 14, 2012 Hello, I need a deer/drought resistant, shade tolerant, rocky soil perennial. I would like it to have some winter appeal. I live outside of Philadelphia, PA. Thank you so much for your time... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oak leaf hydrangeas from Edwardsville IL August 13, 2012 Hello, I live in West Central Illinois (across the river from St. Louis) and I am considering planting several Oak leaf Hydrangea's in my yard. The location where I would like to plant them is und... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcovers for area under blue spruce in Colorado August 10, 2012 I have a 40 ft blue spruce limbed up 6 ft in my yard on the west in Greeley, CO (50 mi N Denver, zone 4 or 5). It gets some sun underneath in the later afternoon and evening. Can you suggest 4 to 5 ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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