Native Plants
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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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| Mail order source for Guaiacum angustifolium from Ft. Worth TX April 16, 2014 Do you have a mail order source for the seeds of Guaiacum angustifolium? I have looked extensively and cannot find one. Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why do conifers kill Texas hummingbird sage from Gray GA April 15, 2014 Why do conifers kill Texas hummingbird sage? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting Mountain Laurel grown from seeds in Argentina April 09, 2014 Hello, I was transferred to Cordoba, Argentina 2 years ago from San Antonio, the climate hereis similar to S. TX, anyway I brought some mountain laurel seeds with me and they have been in 2 gallon pot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning a Young Cercis canadensis (Redbud) Tree April 05, 2014 I have a redbud tree that was transplanted when very young (five years ago). It just started budding last year. It is growing very well but the branches are low. It's like it's growing out instead o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Disagreement with HOA on raised beds placed beneath mature oak from Tequesta FL April 05, 2014 I have mature 30 year old oak trees on my property and I put a raised bed under each with very good soil and I used pavers for retaining the soil about about 1.5 ft high. I planted a perennial begonia... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Loblolly Pines Outside Native Range April 03, 2014 I would like a stand of pines on my property but do not know if they will grow in my area. Do you know if the soil in Waelder, Texas will support pines? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mulching tree root in San Angelo, TX April 02, 2014 San Angelo, Texas is in a drought stage. Will it help our trees to mulch the base of them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grafting different colors of Tecoma from Casa Grand AZ April 01, 2014 Is it possible to graft different colors of tecoma and if yes, is the process same as process for grafting roses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Recovering neglected garden space from Grapevine TX March 22, 2014 I live in Grapevine TX (Dallas). I just moved into a house where almost the entire large backyard is covered by oak trees that shed tons of leaves throughout our mild falls/winters. The yard has not... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native species of tree for Rockwall TX March 19, 2014 Hello, I am attempting to plant a native species of tree 20 miles east of Dallas, Texas (Rockwall, TX) in honor of my brother's marriage. He is a biologist and a huge supporter of native species.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problem with Quercus texana (Nuttall oak) in Alabama March 12, 2014 I have a 3" diameter Nuttall Oak that the builder planted when building the house. Last summer I noticed that several spots on the trunk were oozing sap (vertical approximately 1.5" long by 0.5" wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Prunus minutiflora male and female flowers on different plants? March 12, 2014 I have a Prunus minutiflora and have recently learned the male and female flowers are on separate plants. How can I determine if I have a male or female plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Ashe Juniper seeds from Blanco Co., TX March 10, 2014 I'm trying to find Ashe Juniper seeds to plant in bare areas of my property in central Texas. I understand they grow well in rockier soil and have many other benefits for native animal species. Unfo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Edible forest garden for northern Minnesota March 07, 2014 I am planning an edible forest garden for northern Minnesota. Can you suggest a list of plants that are native to this area. We are in zone 3a or 3b. Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sap dripping from redbud in Bertram, TX March 03, 2014 Our multi-trunked Texas redbud has sap dripping down 3 of the trunks. It seems to originate from a very small crack in each trunk. The tree is just starting to show pink this week, and is about to blo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problem with Prosopis glandulosa (Honey mesquite) February 27, 2014 One of our mature Honey Mesquite trees is losing thumb sized branches high up in the canopy because something is stripping the bark. The branches are completely white for 8-12 inches. Of course the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lifespan of pecan from Austin February 26, 2014 What is the lifespan of a pecan tree? I've seen several places say up to a thousand years, but I'd always thought it was closer to around 300 years. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Removing Texas cedar Juniperus ashei from Blanco River banks February 26, 2014 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Should cedar trees be removed from our Blanco River banks to prevent them from sucking too much of our precious water before it makes it into the river system? If so, what s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will hand pollination of red plum tree result in fruits? February 24, 2014 Red Plum is blooming but no bees to pollinate & no associate plum trees near by. Can flowers be pollinated by hand with q-tip? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Species of hackberry best for wildlife from Georgetown, TX February 21, 2014 Which species of Hackberry tree is the best for wildlife in Georgetown, TX (just north of Austin)? Your Plant Database says Celtis occidentals is "among the BEST food and shelter plants for wildlife,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ecosysystem with pecan at center from Austin February 21, 2014 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I would like to create a native tree guild around a mature pecan. It shares its space with native shrubs and ephemerals but I would like to add a nitrogen fixing plant. I am... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen trees for California that are non-toxic for dogs February 19, 2014 Hi, we live in California, San Bernardino County and would like to know what evergreen trees are safe to plant in our backyard with 2 little dogs being around. I did quite some search online but ever... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Shrubs to Plant with Viburnum in New Jersey February 11, 2014 Please provide me with a list of native shrubs, plants etc. for New Jersey that would work with my existing native viburnum. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion Solution for Lorton, VA February 07, 2014 We have a steep slope in our common area of our homeowners association. Trees that were planted have died. It is a large area around a pond. What should we plant that will hold the soil? The soil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are magnolia trees toxic for dogs? February 05, 2014 Del Mar, California- are magnolia trees, (their bark, roots, pods) toxic to small dogs? My Westie terriers are exhibiting lack of appetite and diarrea this late winter. Tonight I saw on our local n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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