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 shade shrubs for Lago Vista, TX. June 24, 2010 I purchased a home in Lago Vista, Tx. It has a very shady front yard. I want to plant some blooming shrubs that THE DEER WON'T EAT! I would prefer native plants for the area. What should I look f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will Thunder Turf do well in shade from Iola TX June 23, 2010 Will the Thunder Turf do well in shady areas or is there a better blend of native grasses that would thrive better? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer-resistant plants for under cedar and oak trees in Austin June 22, 2010 I have about 1.5 acres in southern Travis county. It's full of mature live oaks and cedar trees, and the soil is full of limestone. I've been gathering the limestone and using them to create raise... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mulching in deep shade in Round Rock TX June 22, 2010 Central Texas: Problem is deep shade and high temps. I noted your advice about danger to the tree when planting beneath shade trees, but wonder if there is a substance - perhaps pine needles - that co... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for shade, poor soil in Park Ridge NJ June 17, 2010 Hello! I live in far northeast New Jersey, by the New York state border. I am looking for plants for areas of my lawn that nothing currently grows in - due to shade and poor soil quality - very rocky,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will Salvia coccinea bloom in shade in Houston? June 02, 2010 I live in Houston and I used your database tool to search for shade plants. I am particularly interested in plants that bloom and support native pollinators. My search returned salvia coccinea. Will t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for Dallas in shade and partial shade June 02, 2010 What ground cover plants will grow in full shade- partial shade in the clay soil of Dallas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for shady slope in Illinois May 31, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty: I have a shady sloping area that I am trying to cover with low fast growing, perennials that will keep maintenance to the minimum and prevent erosion. Grass would be very difficul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Balancing bloom in beds in Kents Store VA May 26, 2010 Our beds along a walkway in rural Central VA have replanted themselves - oenethera speciosa and dwarf yarrow have abandoned the north bed and are flourishing in the south bed. Sedums, lavender and can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need perennials for a long shady bed in Wantagh, NY. May 25, 2010 Looking for perennials to be planted in long narrow beds that receive mostly shade with late day sun. Reside in Long Island, New York. Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Annual flowers for rocky area near driveway in Pennsylvania May 25, 2010 What type(s) of annual flowers can I plant along a driveway in northeast PA? The soil is very rocky and the area is mostly shady receiving only morning and some late afternoon sun. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant for part sun in Nampa Idaho May 20, 2010 What could I plant in arid SW Idaho on the northwest side of my house along a border against the house? Most of the day this area is in shade, but at the hottest time of the day it gets a couple of h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shade tree for El Paso, Texas May 18, 2010 hi there, I am looking to plant a shade tree in front of my house, about 10ft away from my house and about 6ft away from the sidewalk. I live in El Paso TX and I am afraid that the tree roots will int... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for shade under pine trees in Grapevine TX May 16, 2010 What plants are good to put under pine trees in the shade? I live in the Dallas Fort Worth area? The previous owners stuck a Japanese Maple in there that seems to be ok and some sort of holly bush (n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen drought-tolerant screening plant for shade May 13, 2010 I am renting my place and looking for a screening, green all year, native plant or shrub. I plan to grow it in large planters along my street and to create privacy in my back yard. It has to be a non... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast growing shade trees safe for livestock in pasture in Nashville GA May 13, 2010 I would like a list of fast growing shade trees that are safe for cows and horses in a pasture. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grass for dense shade in Simpsonville SC May 12, 2010 We live in Simpsonville, SC. Our back yard leads back into very dense woods. It is extremely shady, virtually no direct sun for any length of time. We have a hard time growing grass here. What type of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for no sun in Austin May 12, 2010 I need recommendations for shrubs that can withstand no sun, something that possibly blooms but does not attract bees, wasps, or any stinging insects (hummingbirds or butterflies ok). View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Landscaping in shade in Round Rock, TX May 04, 2010 I have a flower bed that is 3' deep by 15' wide. It is in front of my front porch. Half of it only gets sun right now from about 3:30-5pm (a little filtered sun for maybe another hour). The other ha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need plants with red flowers to grow in shaded area in yard in Austin. May 04, 2010 I have a shaded area where all the shrubs die. I would like to plant some flowers there instead of shrubs. What red flower plants can sustain a lot of shade. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy shrub in part shade to shade in Austin April 29, 2010 Barbara Medford's July 1, 2008 reply regarding Little Emperor Japanese Blueberry Tree is exactly my experience with cherry laurel in partial sun/shaded area in Austin, Texas. For 6 - 8' height si... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a shady front border in Ohio April 28, 2010 My front flower bed faces the North. For the past 2 yrs. I lost 5-6 perennials. What can I plant that will make it with little sun. I don't want hostas nor ferns, nor short ground covers. I want col... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need plants to shade on a west-facing wall in Houston, TX April 28, 2010 What plants are best to provide shade on a west facing wall in Houston. I am looking for plants that help to cool the house. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for shady area in Maryland April 27, 2010 What ground cover grows well on a shady slope with close to surface tree roots? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for dry shade in West Virginia April 22, 2010 I live in Mannington, WV and I am wanting to do some landscaping. The area that I would like to plant in is very dry and gets little to no sunlight. I would like to plant something that will come back... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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