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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Search Smarty Plants
topic | question | |
Care in planting native Shumard oaks April 16, 2008 I am going to plant 3 shumard red oaks on the west side of my property. The land is basically rocky. What should I put in the holes to help the tree grow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native plants for sandy soil and not much water April 14, 2008 I am planning a new garden at home and would like to grow native plants that can handle sandy soil and don't need much water. I do not water my gardens.I would prefer plants that can have more than o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Failure of Bald Cypress to fully leaf out April 14, 2008 My family just moved to a house in Burnet County, about 7 miles south of Bertram, close to the Balcones Canyonlands NWR, with very rocky limestone soil. We bought several trees last fall, including a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sudden death of Texas Mountain Laurel April 14, 2008 Last year, my 15-year-old Mountain Laurel died very suddenly. The leaves began to curl up and turn brown, and it was dead within about 15 days. What happened? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Distinguishing elm species from volunteers in yard April 10, 2008 What's the best way to distinguish young elm tree species apart from one another? We have a bunch coming up in our yard and we're trying to figure out if they are Winged, Cedar or American. Some of ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Suggestions for native perennials in Staten Island, NY April 03, 2008 My back yard garden has a good base of evergreen shrubs and perennials all doing well in clayish soil and I am ready now to add color and texture in an area with partial sun. Can you suggest hardy... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tag on oak tree in Buda, TX April 02, 2008 I found a large oak tree on my property with a tag that has a number on it. Any idea what that means? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native conifer bearing evergreen for noise reduction April 01, 2008 I asked the prior question about noise reduction and you gave me several choices. Thank you for that. Of the plants you suggested, the wax myrtle is the tallest and therefore probably best for my 2-st... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Vehicle friendly oak trees for Austin March 30, 2008 Do Chinquapins, Shumards or Live Oaks produce lots of tree sap? I'm looking for a vehicle friendly Oak tree to be installed in parking areas in Austin, Texas. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for soil with basalt outcroppings in Idaho March 30, 2008 We have basalt (lava) outcropping in part of our back yard and know we'll have to search for pockets of soil in which to plant. Any suggestions about what trees or shrubs would have a chance in thes... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants found only in the Edwards Plateau of Texas area March 23, 2008 I am new to Austin, Texas and I am working with a group of 4th grade Cub Scouts on their Naturalist and Forester pins and we need to know about and have pictures of at least 6 trees and plants only fo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Distinguish between Huisache and Goldenball Leadtree March 23, 2008 How do you distinguish between Huisache (Acacia farnesiana) and Goldenball Leadtree (Leucaena retusa)? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native plants for Pflugerville, TX in blackland soil March 21, 2008 Mr. S-P, I'm perusing the plant sale list for a couple of tall shrubs to plant on the sunny southwest side of my house, in Blackland soil. It is generally dry there because of the sun, but can ge... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Denying cows access to flowers through fence March 20, 2008 What flowers can I plant that cows will not eat? They stick their heads through the fence and eat anything they can reach. I would like to plant something in the fence row that will not hurt the cows... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native plants for city lot in Longview, TX March 19, 2008 Just bought a city lot in Longview, TX and want to put in some plants at the periphery even before the house is built. Can you recommend any that would be from your list of East TX plants that are pa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Viability of Texas Mountain Laurel in Louisiana March 19, 2008 I just returned from a visit to Austin and I saw the Texas Mountain Laurel everywhere. I live in the Baton Rouge, LA area and would like to know if performing some soil amendments would allow me to gr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Searching for a red mulberry tree (Morus rubra) to buy March 17, 2008 Want to purchase a native Texas Red Mulberry tree (morus rubra). Can't find one. Can you help? Thanks, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Difference between liveoaks (Quercus fusiformis and Q. virginiana) March 17, 2008 I am a little confused on the identification differences between Quercus fusiformis and Quercus virginiana. How can you properly identify between the two? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Differences between smooth bark and rough bark Arizona cypress March 12, 2008 What is the difference between smooth bark Arizona Cypress and rough bark Arizona Cypress in terms of tree growth, form, foliage, etc.? Will one grow better than the other in the Waco area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Viability of Texas Mountain Laurel in Florida March 12, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants While visiting Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale we saw a beautiful Texas Mountain Laurel tree. What are the chances of this surviving in the Ft. Myers, Florida area. Either in t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Different kinds of plants living in subarctic areas March 10, 2008 What are the different kinds of plants live in the subarctic areas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) refuses to bloom March 07, 2008 We have a Texas Mountain Laurel that gets full sunlight, but does not bloom. It is 4-5 ft tall & 3-4 ft wide & healthy. Is there anything we can do to make it bloom next year? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Viability of Taxus canadensis (Canadian yew) for Buffalo, NY February 28, 2008 I live in Buffalo, N.Y. and am gradually naturalizing my back yard. The previous owner built a 6' fence along the western edge of the yard and planted a straight line of arborvitae, which are now abo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Life expectancy for Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana) February 25, 2008 Someone recently told me that Carolina buckthorn only lives 4-5 years and I'm wondering if that is true. I had a nice one (on Blackland) that died suddenly in its fourth or fifth year, during the dr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tree protection during construction February 18, 2008 What measures can/should be taken to ensure the health, future of live oaks while building a new home? There are many small to medium oaks on this property, some very close to the house site and the o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
topic | question |