Native Plants
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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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| Fast-growing shrub or tree to block dust from dirt road March 15, 2009 I live on a dirt road in Northeast Kansas. Could you recommend a fast growing, low maintenance shrub/bush or small tree that will form a barrier to block the dust from the dirt road? It will be plante... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas Mountain Laurel in Florida March 13, 2009 Hi Mr. Smarty, This is more a comment than a question about Barbara Medford's (Estero, FL) question of whether you can grow Texas Mountain Laurel in Ft. Myers, FL. About 4 yrs. ago, I purchased a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| At what age should a Mountain Laurel bloom? March 13, 2009 At what age should a Texas Mountain Laurel bloom? I saw your response about feeding and about how high nitrogen fertilizers can diminish blooms but is there anything that will help, eg. "super bloom... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for backyard in Michigan March 12, 2009 I am an inexperienced gardener but would love to know the best plants/bushes to plant in my backyard. I would love floral and fragrant. I am in Southwest Michigan, near New Buffalo and since this is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low-maintenance native plants for Arizona March 12, 2009 Will you please suggest some Native plants that can be left without care for the summer and survive - other than cactus? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for screen in Colleyville TX March 12, 2009 My soil is pure sand that goes down as far as I can dig. I am needing native plants to use as a screen, that grow to be 6-10 ft. tall. Also, since my plantings dry out so quickly, would it be helpfu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small shrub to plant in Austin Texas March 11, 2009 Hi.. I live in Southwest Austin and I am looking for a shrub that I can plant against the back of my house, which faces the north. I want something native, fairly low maintenance and not too large,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming a rock rose in Richardson TX March 11, 2009 I have a Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala)in my garden. I cannot find any information on how to trim or whether I should trim this plant. If so when? Mine is pretty much growing all over the place and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for flower beds in Aledo, TX March 10, 2009 I have 2 beds that together run the length of the house foundation (25' each), we have 2 spots I would like to plant a Yaupon (Pride of Houston) in each spot approximately 2' from the foundation;is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need help identifying shrub with large thorns in Tennessee. March 10, 2009 A shrub?with very large thorns. Main stock of plant woody with a gray and white splotchy bark at base. Branches are green and shiney and have very large heavy thorns spaced several inches apart on... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Roses or other flowering plants for Coleman, Texas March 10, 2009 I want to plant native roses at a country home in Coleman Co., southern exposure, with well water, drip system,but ,hot, dry & windy! I know the Mutabilis does well in Austin, but, is it suitable for... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Penalty for picking Kalmia latifolia in Pennsylvania March 08, 2009 What if any is the penalty for picking the Mountain Laurel wild flower in Pennsylvania when it is in bloom? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can Calycanthus floridus survive in South Dakota? March 06, 2009 Calycanthus in South Dakota? I've recently purchased some seeds for a calycanthus plant (floridus I think). I'm going to start them indoors but am wondering if this can survive a South Dakota winter... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Roots of Savannah Holly close to house February 26, 2009 I live in Sugar Land and want to plant Savannah Holly at the ends of both sides of the front flowerbed. Are the roots too dangerous to plant so close to the house? (How far from the house should they... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cake decorations with flowers February 25, 2009 Can I decorate a cake with bluebonnets, lavender or mountain laurel blooms? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native roses and other flowering shrubs for Lufkin, Texas February 23, 2009 I would like to know some native blooming shrubs, and roses for my area. I have found that all of the old native plants have a greater success rate. I would like to find a white shrub rose for plant... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low cost landscaping in Federicksburg VA February 22, 2009 Hello, I live in Fredericksburg Va and I rent a townhome with a small yard. My back yard is almost completely mud and my front yard has a hideous square shrub. So my question is do you have any plant ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering native plants for Bastrop, TX February 20, 2009 What type of flowering plants, trees,and bushes will grow in Bastrop, Texas? I see lots of things around, please help, have never done before. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Book on blueberry bushes in Tennessee February 18, 2009 I'm looking for a book titled "Planting blueberry bushes in Tennessee" by an author I can't remember the name of. Have you heard of this book an do you know where one could find a copy? The autho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hedge plant for Maui. February 17, 2009 Question: I live in Pukalani, Maui, Hawaii and would like to put a "living fence" around my yard for some privacy. Ideally, I want something that is going to grow fast and about 8+ feet tall for a h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen, flowering hedge shrub for GA. February 12, 2009 Hi, there! I am looking for a shrub for planting as a hedge in Decatur, GA. I have hard acidic clay and I would like an evergreen flowering shrub to line the edges of my backyard to separate it from... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a condo garden in Decatur GA February 12, 2009 I recently moved into a condo in Decatur (just outside Atlanta). I am now working on the back yard - just a patio and dirt right now. It is a small space and is shaded much of the day but does get s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native shrub to replace non-native azaleas. February 10, 2009 I want to replace my two dozen azaleas this spring (I think they're unattractive once the flowers fall off). I like the multiseason characteristics of weigela (midnight wine, W&R), but want to go nat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small shrubs for roof garden in Washington DC February 01, 2009 I am looking for a hardy evergreen shrub for a roof garden in DC. Needs to be 3-4 feet tall, evergreen, dense, survive the extreme wind, cold and heat. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native shrubs to replace non-native boxwood in Parker County, TX January 31, 2009 I'm looking to replace some Japanese Boxwoods my wife planted years ago with some native plants, they run along the front of our house next to the foundation and porch about 60' in length. I prefer ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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