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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| Transplanting wild sumac September 23, 2010 About a month ago I dug up five sumac from my backyard in Aylmer Quebec. I potted them. They now look dead. I wanted to transplant them at my cottage in Barrie Ontario. Can I still transplant them... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting star hibiscus seeds from Austin September 21, 2010 TX star hibiscus seeds. How & when to plant in ground & in pots. Thank you, Carol View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting time for late October bloom of Cowpen Daisy from Marble Falls, TX September 18, 2010 How fast does Cowpen Daisy grow from seed to flower? Do we still have time to plant seed and get flowers by the end of October in order to attract late migrating Monarch Butterflies through the Austi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about moist stratification September 07, 2010 I have some seeds of scarlet leatherflower I'd like to try and I read the instructions under 'Propagation' in your Native Plant Database that say "Moist stratify at 41 degrees".. What does "... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Male and female Maclura pomifera trees in Boaz AL September 06, 2010 To grow a Maclura pomifera female tree, do I have to have a male tree for the female to produce fruit? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting sumacs in Ontario August 23, 2010 I live in Aylmer Quebec. I have 10 baby sumac in my back yard and want to transplant them at my cottage in southern Ontario on Lake Simcoe. When can I do this and how? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hybridized Indigo Spires having problems in Wimberley, TX August 19, 2010 I planted 7 Indigo Spires from one gallon containers in May and now each plant is about 18" tall. 4 of the 7 fell over about 2 weeks are. The plants still look healthy with no dropped or curled leav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Aromatic sumac in Travis County August 14, 2010 This is an answer to article in today's, August 14, newspaper. I assume that aromatic sumac is native to Travis county because I have it all over my property. It turns bright red in the fall adding... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need some information about wild native grapes in Gatlinburg, TN. August 13, 2010 We have some wild grapevines growing on a southern exposure eroded bank. They are providing assistance in reducing erosion with rapid growth. Do these plants develop ground contact as they grow? In... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seeds for madrone tree in Austin August 10, 2010 I want to find or purchase some seeds from the madrone tree. Is there any source or person I can contact to get these seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating agarita from berries in Leakey TX August 09, 2010 I would like to pick the berries off my agarita and plant them in other areas. When can I plant the seeds and do I need to prepare or dry them first? What is best way to plant in ground? thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sagebrush for Westminster CO August 06, 2010 On a recent visit to Taos, NM we fell in love with the local sagebrush. We would like to plant this sagebrush in our yard. We are located near Denver Colorado. Would this plant survive and how do we g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seedlings from established plants in Parma Hts., OH August 02, 2010 I have 20 yr old shrubs and hedges along my back yard. I don't know their variety. How do I keep the seedlings from encroaching in my lawn? The seedlings have sprouted 3 feet into the lawn. Any ide... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Cordyline fruticosa from Port St. Lucie FL July 23, 2010 Hawaiian Ti Plant, Good Luck Plant, Ti Plant (Cordyline fruticosa) I found 4 of these cut without roots. What is the best way to have them grow roots? Directly in water, moist soil, or regular soil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When are seeds of Indian paintbrush mature from Bend OR July 14, 2010 How do I know when to collect seeds of Indian paintbrush - when are they mature? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yucca sprouting shoots in Oxfordshire, England July 11, 2010 I have a 20ft outdoor yucca with four huge branches.It is 11 years old. For the first time it has sprouted two side shoots on one of the trunks. They are about 12 inches in length. What is the best wa... 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 | ||
| Transplanting suckers on Cenizo in Austin June 21, 2010 Our large silverado sage has produced some volunteers, which are now about 1 ft - 1-1/2 ft tall. Is it possible to transplant them or has the taproot grown too deep for transplanting? Also, will the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can trimmings from non-native globe willows be planted from Broken Arrow OK? June 13, 2010 We have 2 globe willow trees in our back yard. We trim low hanging branches. Can we take these cut branches, -plant them and have it grow into a new globe willow tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting a Dutchman's pipe in Beaverton MI June 10, 2010 When can I transplant a full grown dutchmans pipe plant? It is growing along side of the house and it needs a bigger place to grow. This is June and the plant is in full bloom full of pipes, but need... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming iris leaves in Pickerington OH June 08, 2010 I recently trimmed the stems and leaves of my iris plants in late May - I realize now this was a bit early. The leaves are still about 3-4" out of the ground. I would like to half them and move som... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting native yaupon into yard in Lowake TX June 08, 2010 I have lots of wild yaupon in my pasture,can I transplant it to the yard? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting Lupinus perennis and Lupinus polyfyllus together in NH June 03, 2010 I got a seed package with both Lupinous perennis and polyphyllus combined. Would they be okay to plant together in NH? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are the seeds of my Graptopetalum paraguayense in Macon, GA fertile? June 01, 2010 I have a Graptopetalum paraguayense that has finished blooming. I put several of the dead flowers into a Ziploc bag and shook them around, and a few hundred seeds came out. They are oblong and very sm... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Harvesting seeds on the American basket flower (Centaurea americana) May 30, 2010 Where are the seeds on an American basket flower? How do I get them out to propagate them? When can you get them out? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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