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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| Request for native grasses from Hillsboro TX August 04, 2012 P.S. I forgot to mention one very important fact: my neighbor specifically asked for "native grass" recommendations. He thought he was getting a native grass recommendation. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Distinguishing American from Chinese beautyberry from Huntsville AL August 03, 2012 How can I tell American beautyberry from Chinese beautyberry when trying to purchase strictly native plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why are invasive, non-natives being sold from Hillsboro TX August 03, 2012 Why are nurseries allowed to grow and sell seed from invasive non-native plants like: johnson grass, bermuda grass, and king ranch bluestem? Many times when I contact a nursery or seed distributor as... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for non-native Plumeria from Concord NC August 01, 2012 I have had my plumeria plant for the past 5 to 7 years. It is a pot plant and I live in North Carolina, I take the pot inside in he winter time. The leaves fall off, in the spring after the last fro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native crape myrtles in Noblesville IN August 01, 2012 Can Crepe Myrtle trees be grown in Noblesville IN 46060? I believe we are zone five. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Crape myrtle in Austin August 01, 2012 Please don't bother to answer my question about how to treat a crepe myrtle with sticky stuff falling from it. I just found the answer on your site. Good site, by the way. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sticky stuff dripping from non-native crape myrtle in Austin August 01, 2012 There is sticky sap-like stuff dropping from the very large crepe myrtle in my yard. The tree has quit blooming. This didn't happen last year when it was so dry; it started after we had all the rain ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native gardenias in Southampton Ontario July 31, 2012 I purchased 3 gardenias this year for the garden. Now I'm told that I can't leave them out all year round here in mid/western Ontario. Is this true, and if so, how do I keep them over the winter i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing faded flowers from plants in Georgetown, DE July 28, 2012 I bought a chamase rose quartz that was in bloom. now the buds are dead, should i remove them or just leave them on the plant. they wont just fall off. and the tips of the plant has new growth. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Gooseneck native from Cleveland Heights OH July 20, 2012 I live in Cleveland Heights, OH, and have an abundance of gooseneck in my yard. Is it a native plant? Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for Central California from Concord CA July 19, 2012 I live in a part of California where the summers can be very hot and dry but quite cool and wet during the rainy seasons in the wintertime. The soil around my home is very dry, rocky and infertile. I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems for non-native St. Augustine grass from Little Rock AR July 18, 2012 We sodded St. Augustine grass four weeks ago. For the first three weeks we had no rain and temperatures over 100 degrees. We have watered 20 minutes twice a day since installation. There are brown pat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native, invasive peanut butter tree from Canby, OR July 17, 2012 I too have a peanut butter tree with the pink and white blooms, its about 5 years old and is beautiful, but 2 weeks ago it started wilting and losing all its leaves, I am afraid it is dying. Can I sav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What purple mushrooms grow in Texas from McKinney TX July 14, 2012 What purple mushrooms grow in North Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Something eating cannas in Austin July 14, 2012 What is eating my cannas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Differences between Lantana urticoides and Lantana camara July 13, 2012 I have found an orange variety of lantana growning in several location in Jefferson County. Is there any way I can tell for sure if it is L. camara or the native L. urticoides? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lookink for bulbs of German Blue Bells in Weatherford, TX. July 09, 2012 I am searching for a plant that is called "German Blue Bells". They are tubular as seed. Like tiny iris only bands around the tubular. The flower looks like a morning glory with an off set bloom.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hybrid Campsis radicans 'Madame Rosy' from Medina OH July 07, 2012 I have a Madame Rosy Campsis that is not blooming. We purchased and planted it last year, mid-summer and it did well for the remainder of the season but this year...nothing but green leaves........wh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dwarf oyster plant dying in Sunrise FL July 06, 2012 WHAT WOULD BE KILLING MY DWARF OYSTER PLANTS View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Lavender Problem in Austin, TX July 05, 2012 I am having a problem with two of my lavender plants and was hoping I could send a photo of each to get your opinion. I've been growing rosemary and lavender successfully for quite sometime and am aw... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flower with spike of yellow flowers with hairy purple filaments July 03, 2012 Fuzzy purple stamens! I can't find this plant identified anywhere. Blooms abt 1" or a little more across. 5 yellow petals, 5 sepals, & 5 stamens with yellow anthers, & the filaments are covered wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing yellow bells with hibiscus from San Antonio July 03, 2012 Help! Will the roots of the yellow bells keep sprouting if I've removed the shrub? I'm replacing it with a hibiscus shrub. Will it do well in the same spot where the yellow bells were? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| California plants poisonous to dogs from Sacramento July 01, 2012 Found dodonea viscosa purple. Is it poisonous to dogs? Also Gold Star Potentilla. Going drought tolerant and need small trees, shrubs and plants not poisonous to dogs for sun and partial sun. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Application of sprays to non-native Crape Myrtle from Prosper TX June 29, 2012 Can applying a systemic insecticide/fungicide combo prevent or limit Crape Myrtle blooms? I have 5 large lavender Crapes that are not blooming or budding yet and this is the first time I have used a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| a source for fruitless olive (non-native) trees June 29, 2012 I was given a "mexican olive" several years ago which is doing very well. This one is non-fruiting and I would like to have another that is non-fruiting but cannot find one. Cordia boissieri see... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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