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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| Can beautyberries be used to make jelly from Hodges SC August 02, 2010 Since the beautyberry bush berries were used for tea to help with colic, can the berries be used for making jelly? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Garden crop to plant in July in Austin July 16, 2010 I've just been given access to a plot at Sunshine Gardens and must plant something within 30 days. What would be a good planting crop for the middle of July that would be successful for harvesting i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grafting to a cherry laurel for edible fruit in Austin July 01, 2010 I was the one who asked earlier about grafting to a Cherry Laurel. I will happily graft a local plum on it, say a Mexican Plum or American Plum or one of the naturalized peaches (a friend has an India... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is 'Hot Lips' salvia edible from Richmond TX June 23, 2010 Mr Smarty Plants, I recently planted "Hot Lips" a form of Salvia Sage in my yard in Richmond Texas (just southwest of Houston). The leaves and flowers smell so great I would like to know if either ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to prevent erosion on slope in Texas June 19, 2010 We have an erosion problem developing on the low side of a gently sloping hill. We are in clay soil at the base of the hill with oaks and pines. We have a right of way that is without trees forty fee... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for shade, poor soil in Park Ridge NJ June 17, 2010 Hello! I live in far northeast New Jersey, by the New York state border. I am looking for plants for areas of my lawn that nothing currently grows in - due to shade and poor soil quality - very rocky,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Texas Thistle edible from Austin May 26, 2010 Is Texas Thistle an edible plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information on cherry trees from Santa Fe May 23, 2010 1.does the purple leaf sand cherry have edible fruits? size, flavor, cross pollinator necessary, fruiting time? cultivars? zone, soil, light, water? 2. fall foliage color of 'Meteor" cherry tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How was salal (Gaultheria shallon) used by the troops in WWII? May 20, 2010 We live in Vancouver BC. My mother says that during WW2 all the kids in her school were sent out to pick salal. They picked sacks of salal which were then sent to the troops. We are trying to find ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fruit trees for Buckeye AZ May 16, 2010 I am moving to Buckeye Az from Utah and would like to know what type of fruit trees I can grow. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are palm tree leaves poisonous? May 03, 2010 Hello, I am doing a "Menu" on Hawaii and I was wondering if palm tree leaves are edible. I have to make menu items and i was thinking palm tree leaves could be included.. If you know please answer!... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blueberry and huckleberry plants for Washington state April 20, 2010 Could you give me the names of which blueberry plants and huckleberry bushes that grow the best in Walla Walla, Washington and where and how to plant and space and care for them?? Thanks so much. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What blueberry cultivar is best for Austin, TX. April 15, 2010 How do I know what blueberry bush to purchase for the best tasting variety that will grow in the Austin, TX area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fruit or nut trees for land in North Carolina March 30, 2010 Mr. Smarty Plants I have 70 acres of land in Claremont, NC and am looking for low maintenance trees, plants, vegetables, etc., anything I can grow so that this land doesn't sit unused. I am especial... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will a chile pequin survive winters in Garden City, Kansas March 24, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, I am trying to determine if a chile pequin (Capsicum annuum) can survive Kansas winters. My sister lives in Killeen, TX, and has a couple of these bushes in her yard. She broug... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for floodplain in Fairfield, New Jersey March 21, 2010 I have an easy question for you... I hope... We just moved into the floodplains of NJ in Fairfield and are interested in some plants. We would like to know what plants are best suited to grow in flood... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible Native Plants for a Small Austin Garden March 15, 2010 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants (or Mrs. or Miss, whomever is answering this go'round)! First off, thank you so much for all the help you have given me in the past. Secondly, the company my husband works ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fruit trees for West Virginia March 13, 2010 What kinds of fruit trees would grow best in West Virginia? I assume apple trees would, but what kind of apple tree and are there any others that would grow well? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Getting blueberries to grow in Atascosa County, Texas January 20, 2010 I'm trying to get blueberries started in my garden. I mulch constantly and have tons of success with almost every thing. But last year my blueberries were new plants and after harvesting a few berrie... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible Plants for North Georgia January 10, 2010 We are planning a forest food garden in the hollers of the N GA Mountains. Which edible fruit, nut, berry, herb and creepers would be best for this reddish, clay-like soil? The food garden is in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| complete list of Central Texas edible plants January 07, 2010 Hello! I have been searching for a complete list of Texas Hill Country Native Edibles (for humans) without much luck. Do you know of a good source? Thanks so much for your hard work! Steph View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Period to maturity of gooseberries in Bismarck AR December 29, 2009 How long does it take to produce gooseberries after planting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need information about Pignut (Hoffmannseggia glauca). November 30, 2009 I wanted to know a little about Pignut (also called Indian Rush-pea and Hog Potato); botanical name Hoffmannseggia glauca. Is it edible, and at what point does the plant produce a tuber (looks like a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Orange/yellow fungus on a dead oak October 04, 2009 I have a large dead oak tree which has an orange/yellow fungus growing at the base and also high on a spot where a branch had broken off. I've read a couple of things from the internet about this fun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Books on edible wild plants for Michigan September 10, 2009 What book do you recommend to find edible wild plants in Michigan? I've found several books on edible plants, but they are all centered on the western states. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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