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 the Texas mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa, toxic to cats? September 08, 2009 Hi Mr. Smarty Pants! Regarding Texas mesquite tree, I know that rabbits and deer etc eat the seed pods, but my cat every time he goes outside starts munching on the pods, and I can't find any info o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blueberries in Arlington TX August 25, 2009 Which wild or native blueberries can I grow in Arlington Texas? I think it is zone 8? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Edible plants native to Austin, TX August 05, 2009 Hello, I am a chef from Buenos Aires Argentina visiting Austin, Texas and would like to learn about native, edible plants in the region. Please let me know if there are any native, edible plants... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Use of Ilex sp. by Seminole Indians to make black drink. August 03, 2009 Ilex myrtifolia: can the leaves be used as tea? Seminole indians made a black drink reputed to be made of holly leaves. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is a groundnut? from River Vale NJ July 11, 2009 I just read the book "Mayflower" which talks about the Massachusetts natives and, subsequently, the Pilgrims eating groundnuts; mentions the groundnuts going to seed in early summer. What are ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can tulip tree sap be used to make syrup in Bunker Hill IN? July 10, 2009 I was just wondering if tulip tree sap could be used to make syrup. I saw the sticky stuff on the leaves and decided to taste test it and it was very sweet, unfortunately I later found out that I was ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vegetables for sustainable garden in Rochester NY July 08, 2009 I have decided to start growing a small sustainable garden. Therefore I have decided to plant mostly North American native greens and vegetables. I live in upstate New York and so the plants designed ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Who ate the Jack-in-the-Pulpit in Ontario? July 07, 2009 Something has dug up my clump of Jack-in-the-pulpit at my parents' cottage in the Haliburtons (Ontario, Canada). Leaves, berries and roots are gone. We know we have a black bear who likes our compo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Worms in wild plums June 03, 2009 Wild Plums... They are just starting to get ripe here in East Texas. Picked a few today and they all had dark spots on them. When I cut them open there were tiny worms inside. Does this mean they a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recommendation for red raspberry species for Connecticut May 31, 2009 Hello, I was wondering if you could recommend any red raspberries that I can grow in Connecticut. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible native salad ingredients May 28, 2009 Hi, I'm hoping to make a salad for a school Horticulture project, but I'm having a hard time finding some edible plants. I live in Vermont, and am hoping to find some edible flowers and 'weeds' a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about growing food in Arizona May 25, 2009 Edible plants in Arizona: How can I get information on planting and growing food in Scottsdale Arizona? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating skunk cabbage in Troy, NY May 19, 2009 My yard is overgrown with skunk cabbage. My question is how do I get rid of it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Fruits for Texas Hill Country March 31, 2009 Can you recommend a species of blackberry for San Antonio or any other fruit that will be compatible in my garden? (mostly Hill Country Native, thanks to Ladybird). The local store has raspberries, bu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible plants beginning with I, T, X and Z in Colorado March 26, 2009 My friend would like to know a fruit or vegetable that he would plant in his garden and come back yearly. The plants would have to start with the letters I,T,X, & Z. It has to be edible, of course. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Digging sassafras roots in Oklahoma March 11, 2009 When should I dig sassafras roots in eastern Oklahoma? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible plants in northeastern Ohio February 12, 2009 I am doing a project and i was wondering what are five native edible plants to the northeastern Ohio region. Also if you could tell the seasons they are available. Thank You, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are yellow bells (Tecoma stans) edible? January 25, 2009 Can you tell me if any part of the yellow bell can be eaten and if so what part. Also is it useful in making natural paints? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native American barberry with edible fruit in New Mexico December 06, 2008 HI I am looking for a native american burberry plant with edible fruit. I love Persian cuisine, and they use the dried fruit of the burberry plant in a rice dish that I would like to recreate. I liv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are flower petals poisonous? December 01, 2008 Is it toxic to eat the petals on a flower? Ashley View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible plants in Western Pennsylvania October 02, 2008 Can you please give me a list of five edible plants in Western Pennsylvania and the seasons in which they are available? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to remove tannins from acorns September 21, 2008 On your web page it says that the edible acorns (example: Chinkapin Oak) are edible if boiled, but the wikipedia article on "Acorn" says that "Boiling unleached acorns may actually cause the tannin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are berries of American Beautyberry poisonous? September 21, 2008 I have an American Beautyberry Plant and I need to know if the purple berries are toxic - we have dogs and I wouldn't want them to eat them. Thanks for any information you may have on this plant. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Niagara and Concord grape crop failure September 01, 2008 Hi, I have been growing niagara grapes and concord grapes for 3 years now and this year I found myself without any fruits. The plant itself if full of leaves and is healthy. I was wondering why this w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are gourds poisonous, edible? August 27, 2008 Are all the Gourds edible? How can I know which one is which? If it is not edible, is it poisonous? If not, what is stopping us from eating them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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