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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| Are beautyberry bushes toxic to horses? October 12, 2011 Are beautyberry bushes toxic to horses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning non-native oleanders September 28, 2011 I have an oleander that has become to "leggy". I read the pruning instructions, but where I want to prune, there are not any leaf nodes. Can I trim below at the base, or will I hurt the plant? I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Could hickory leaves be used as seasoning from Waynesboro VA September 17, 2011 I have a hickory tree. If I pull a leaf off and rip it then smell, there is a strong wonderful scent of hickory much like when I rip a mint leaf there is a strong smell of mint. So my question is, can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification in Georgia September 14, 2011 I saw the same question that I was going to ask about the plant that folds its leaves at dusk, with sparse branches, rapid growth, small yellow flowers and long (whisker-like, but do not appear to be ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What to do if Mexican buckeye seeds are eaten September 09, 2011 What to do if seeds of the Mexican buckeye are eaten? I didn't know they were toxic. Please let me know as soon as you can. Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification of tree in North Carolina September 07, 2011 I live in North Carolina have found a tree on our property that has thorny branches and round fruit (perfectly round) with a fuzzy outer layer that starts out green but then turns yellow. The inside r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Purple Hopseed poisonous to dogs? September 03, 2011 Is the Purple Hopseed plant safe for dogs? We would like to plant a hedge of the purple hopseed at my parents home. They are elderly and have a small (8lb.) dog that they just love so much..I would ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification for shrub in Florida September 03, 2011 On our street we have ornamental shrub planted in the median that has small waxy green leaves, produces small fragrant white flowers, and red berries with white pulp and small seeds on the inside. Th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant with red berries toxic to dogs August 29, 2011 I recently retrieved my poor doggy from the Vet. He had eaten a berry from an invasive-commonly seen brushy plant growing along my neighbors fence line. We try to keep our side clear-but the small lar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Removing poison ivy in Cuba MO August 27, 2011 I bought a home with a huge bed of hybrid iris but the bed is thick with poison ivy. If I cover myself head to toe to prevent getting it is there a way to clean the tubers so they will not be poison? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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