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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| Evergreen tree for Phoenix November 17, 2013 I need your help. I'm looking for a pretty evergreen tree for my small front yard in Phoenix. One that is not horribly messy and doesn't get wider that 10 - 15 ft. I want to be able to decorate at... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade tree for Southern California November 14, 2013 I had to cut down my huge ficus tree for several reasons, however it provided lots of shade, that we miss. Can you help me find a good shade tree with non-invasive roots that is good for growing and p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can I make my large pecan trees produce larger nuts? November 14, 2013 I have 2 older large pecan trees about 40' tall but the nuts are very small, only about 1 1/2". What can I do to get larger nuts? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Suggestions for a Partly Sunny Steep Bank in Illinois November 09, 2013 I am looking to plant something on a steep clay bank on our Illinois property. It is on the edge of our dirt road with trees above the bank and is partly sunny. What would work best for that type of a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagating Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak) November 08, 2013 I am a gardener for the city of San Francisco. I am just curious about the best way to prepare an acorn from Quercus agrifolia for planting. I have heard many ideas about using sandpaper and microwavi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen plant to grow to 6 feet tall with flowers and non-toxic November 04, 2013 I live in South Texas, and in town. I am looking for plant that grows taller than 6 feet and is non toxic to people and pets. Would also like for it to be pest and disease free or minimal. Need it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are bald cypress cones toxic to dogs? October 27, 2013 Are bald cypress tree seed pods poisonous? to dogs? We just got a rescue dog and we go out in the yard with her. But now that we are into fall and the pods are falling. She goes right to them. Are... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants Toxic to Horses October 26, 2013 I want to put planters on the front of my horse barn, which is also in the front field, so the horses could eat what is in it if they want to. I am looking to put a miniature pine tree in the planter.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Medium-sized trees for Central Texas October 25, 2013 I need some help figuring out what 2 trees to plant to replace 2 trees that are being taken down on Monday. The input we've received from the company doing the tree cleanup is to go with a chinkapi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Injury from non-native Canary Palm from Torrance CA October 18, 2013 I got stuck in the eye a yr ago by a Phoenix canariensis. It went through my retina and through the integral chamber and put a stamp on my lense. There was no room for any more err without causing bli... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flying insects eating leaves of non-native Brugmansia in Aline CA October 17, 2013 I have an Angel Trumpet tree. We live in Aline, California 30 miles east of San Diego. Little yellow and black flying bugs eat the leaves. Do you have a remedy for this problem. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Correction of tree name from Bay Point CA October 16, 2013 The tree should of been Mulberry don't know how it was changed!! Tuesday - October 15, 2013 From: Bay Point, CA Region: California Topic: Non-Natives, Cacti and Succulents, Trees Title: Non-... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native jade plants and spider plants beneath Mayberry tree in Bay Point CA October 15, 2013 I have a fruitless Mayberry in my back yard that's about 50/50' can I plant jade and spider plants under it? The tree is very healthy. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of oak trees in Pennsylvania October 14, 2013 I am an avid hunter in PA. I found these nuts and was wondering what kind they are. There is a red oak beside this tree, and I know what a white oak is but this tree and it's nuts look to be from a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Natural Privacy Planting for New Jersey October 09, 2013 I have a question about privacy plantings in New Jersey (Monmouth County). We have a wooden fence around the perimeter of backyard with some various older trees. We wanted to start anew and wanted to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Law against planting cottonwood in Madison WI October 08, 2013 I was told that there is an ordinance against planting cottonwood trees in Madison, WI. Is this true? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Mexican Olive tree from Edinburg TX October 06, 2013 My Mexican olive (anacahuita) shows no obvious signs of pest or disease, but over the last years has more and more dead limbs and smaller and smaller leaves. It's in a yard with a sprinkler system t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Savannah holly from Livingston TX October 05, 2013 Our Savannah Holly standards, planted in spring 2012, are now 10' tall, with 2-3" caliper trunks at the base. Some are in decline or have died. We thought the ribbons holding them to the nursery's ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with water oaks from Laurel MS October 05, 2013 The leaves on my mature water oak trees have been falling since the leaves matured. My area has had an abundance of rain this year, 11 inches above normal. All the trees in my area are doing the same.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Brown leaves on Burr Oak from Dripping Springs TX October 05, 2013 We have recently planted a 15 gal. burr oak in an correct hole with great soil and plenty of watering in. We have noticed some brown leaves. Should we be worried? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees for Plum Grove, TX October 05, 2013 Sorry Mr. Smarty pants, my question is I live in Plum Grove Texas, I have 5 acres and NO TREES. What trees were on the property were either taken out by Ike, or the twisters that followed. I have boug... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wrapping a newly planted non-native Japanese maple from Fraser MI October 01, 2013 Does a newly planted Japanese maple need to be wrapped in burlap for the cold and snowy winter of Macomb County, Michigan? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Time to transplant shade tree seedlings from San Antonio September 28, 2013 What month do you transplant shade tree seedlings in San Antonio, TX< View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sprouts from stems of plants from Happy Yard IN September 28, 2013 Is it normal for a plant to start a sprout from its own root system next to the stock/stem? Is it trying to regrow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Trees for Pflugerville TX September 28, 2013 I'm looking for suggestions on native, drought tolerant conifers that can be located in a Pflugerville landscape under overhead electric lines. Open to Arizona Cypress, but concerned about the height... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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