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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| Deer resistant, Shaded Privacy Hedge for Wakefield RI September 12, 2013 We recently removed the dead undergrowth of white pines that were used for privacy. We need advice as to what type of evergreen would be suitable for growth beneath the branches above. It is VERY shad... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Maintenance of milkweed from Austin September 12, 2013 I help plant and maintain a Monarch Waystation Garden in San Leanna, Texas (South Austin). Should milkweed plants be cut back during the winter? Last year we cut them back a bit late and some died c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Starting shade-tolerant ground covers in New York September 10, 2013 Hi, I have seen some of the posts for shade-tolerant ground cover on the east end of Long Island and my question is process related. Now that I've identified the grasses/plants I need to keep my fro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Opinion of 5 best native garden plants in Oklahoma from Burneyville OK September 07, 2013 What would you say are the 3 to 5 BEST native garden plants for south central Oklahoma? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of Limonium limbatum September 04, 2013 I have a Limonium limbatum but do not know how to propagate the plant. Can you help with this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Riverbank Plants for Minnesota September 04, 2013 I would like to stablize a steep riverbank slope along the Upper Mississippi in St. Cloud MN. The slopes are almost 1:1. We are using an open cell concrete matt in which we are going to plant native... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What to do with 200 yucca seedlings in Sandusky, OH? August 31, 2013 I have over two hundred 3 month old yucca seedlings from my last yr. Yucca plants. I soaked the the seeds for 24 hrs. planted them in trays and now they are abt. 2 inch tall. My question is, should I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Use of cedar/juniper mulch in wildflower meadows August 31, 2013 What to do with freshly shredded cedar/juniper mulch? We have a pile of freshly ground cedar mulch that we can either keep in a large pile until it has composted(but the neighbors are complaining), or... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wintering Purple Coneflowers in pots in Springfield MO August 26, 2013 I have some 8 month old purple cone flowers in containers on my porch. They did not bloom this summer because they were seedlings when given to me. I can not put them in the ground. How can I keep the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of cardinal flower with variegated leaves from Wakefield RI August 21, 2013 I purchased cardinal flower seeds from the Brandywine museum & have had great success for over a decade. Recently I spotted one cardinal flower with variegated leaves. Is this a plant worth propagatin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for a Septic Field in NC August 14, 2013 What kinds of low water plants can I plant over a new septic field in North Carolina? The area is part sun so I am concerned about having trouble getting grass started. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Salt tolerant plants for shade on tidal inlet in NY August 11, 2013 Are there any salt water tolerant grasses or forbs with deep roots that grow in shade? I live on a tidal inlet/canal on Long Island NY. The southern bank has cedars and oaks but the soil is eroding ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant Identification from Pearland TX August 10, 2013 I am looking for a native plant; was told it was called Hummingbird Weed. Came from Coryell County. I let mine freeze and cannot find more. It has long spikes with small red trumpet-shaped blooms on ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing conditions for Giant Coneflower from San Antonio August 09, 2013 Rudbeckia maxima is considered to be a perennial plant for the sun but I have had a difficult time maintaining it in a pot in full sun before attempting to plant. Do you feel that it will survive and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cold stratification of Rudbeckcia maxima from Birdeye AR August 08, 2013 How long do I cold stratify Rudbeckia maxima seeds that I wild harvested? Can I put them in the freezer instead of fridge? Do I need to make sure they are completely dry before cold strat? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Soils for spiderwort from Round Rock TX August 08, 2013 We have spiderworts growing naturally in our backyard. We put a large circle around them them with limestone rock (as our beds have) to make their own bed as they clumped in one area. What kind of s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Gregg's Mistflower stressed in Fredericksburg TX August 07, 2013 My Gregg's Mist Flower plants are very stressed. The blooms have turned brown and the leaves are drooping. Plants are receiving moderate sun, partial shade. Do they need daily watering this time o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Invasive native blackeyed susans from Warren OH August 07, 2013 In our demo garden we master gardeners in NE Ohio have been unable to get rid of black-eyed susans which have, like the other person, prevented or "killed" the other perennial plants. They are spre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hillside Erosion Control for Gainesville GA August 07, 2013 I have a steep bare hill and the runoff from it is heavy this year. I need help with a fast growing groundcover that will help control erosion and runoff. Planting on the hill is difficult because you... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion tolerant plants for shade from Kerrville TX August 06, 2013 We have just cleared a lot of cedar out of a small draw and would like to know the best groundcovers, shrubs, etc. to plant to hold the soil. Deep shade most of the day. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cutting Gardens from Charlotte, NC July 30, 2013 I want to plant a year-round picking garden for flowers to bring into my home. I want to look at landscape plans in lieu of throwing down wildflower seeds. Can you suggest a few websites for ideas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover for shady area in north Texas July 29, 2013 I'm looking for a ground cover for a mostly shady area where St. Augustine won't grow. I don't want the ground cover to overtake my established St. Augustine in the rest of the yard. The area is un... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for freestanding water in Oklahoma July 28, 2013 I have an overflowing gutter and the ground below becomes a muddy hole. I'd like to put a basin or pot in/or above the ground with a rain chain. Are there any plants--shrubs or otherwise that flouris... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Effects or insecticide on Monarch butterflies July 28, 2013 Thank you for fielding questions about plants!! Our nursery just informed us that their milkweed grower was using imidacloprid in their milkweed production. As a follow up to the question already in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for hanging flower boxes from Austin July 27, 2013 I have two long flower boxes 17" x 15" x 25 feet long one on the north side of the apt and one on the south made of metal suspended about four feet from the ground. One will get the morning sun and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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