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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| Plants for shady area in Brenham, TX February 19, 2008 I have an area which receives shade all day, but gets a lot of sun just before sunset. What sorts of plants would do well? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vines for shade in Central Texas February 04, 2008 We'd like to fill in our long expanse of yard fencing with climbing vines. We are limited by 40' live oaks that cut off the sun but surely something works in the shade and heat! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Suggestion for plants to replace grass in semi-shade in NY February 01, 2008 I have an area that is in semi-shade but gets about 4-5 hours of sunlight in the summer. Instead of grass I would like to perhaps use wild flowers or even prairie type grasses. Any suggestions?? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas natives that are shade tolerant for Austin, TX January 21, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I am looking for Texas native plants that are shade tolerant....specifically agaves (How about the Century Agave and the Queen Victoria Agave?) and something to add a splash ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscaping with wildflowers in shade in Maryland January 11, 2008 I'm an old White House Correspondent who covered LBJ as well as Mrs Johnson and knew and admired her. I visited the Wildflower Center with her on one occasion. I hope you will forward this to an appr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shade-loving native plants for South Carolina January 08, 2008 I am looking to incorporate a native plants section in my backyard. Shade seems to be a limiting factor in some parts, especially where I would look to create a natural hedge bordering my neighbor's... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grass or ground cover for sun/part shade in Austin December 30, 2007 I live in Southwest Austin (a couple of miles from the Wildflower Center) and I would like to plant some grass in my backyard. I have a small yard with several oak trees and they have been cut back to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen plants for shaded bed and removing bermuda grass. November 29, 2007 Hi, Mr. Smarty Plants, I have two questions. First, the back of our house in Williamson County faces north. We have plant beds (about one foot wide and the length of the house) up against the back w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast growing shade tree for Phoenix, Arizona November 07, 2007 Would you recommend a fast growing shade tree for Phoenix, AZ that will grow at least 30 ft. high and with a similar canopy in clay soil? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shade-loving plants for a long, narrow bed. October 31, 2007 We are installing a bed with a student-made sculpture dedicated to mothers at our high school in Austin, Texas. The bed is against the two-story school, east facing,and shaded by cedar elm. What can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflowers suitable for full sun and partial shade in the Dallas, Texas area October 22, 2007 What wildflowers are best for the Dallas area both in sunny and semi shade locations? Are you able to purchase by mail? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for wildlife and trees for shade. September 29, 2007 We live in Kempner Texas, our land has mostly cedar trees. We would like to make a wildlife habitat on the back side of our property. Can you recommend plants that will grow in shade to partial sun,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native alternatives for Japanese maple September 05, 2007 Hi, I am a landscaper trying to create a landscape in a shaded area with no sun. The person likes a Acer palmatum, but I am not sure it will grow there. We live in South Lake Tahoe. So I know of some ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recommendations for native shade plants in sandy soil July 30, 2007 I live in Rockport, TX, and would like to plant a small, shaded triangular corner (bounded on 2 sides by wooden fence)in my front yard. The area has limited southern exposure due to shading by live o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native alterrnatives for Bermuda grass in shade July 30, 2007 I have Bermuda Tif 419 on my lawn. As expected, there are small areas in the shade that the Bermuda is not doing well in. What would happen if I spread Zoysia seed in those shady areas? Would it gro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Spring blooming plants for spring sun and summer shade July 03, 2007 I live in San Antonio. I'm faced with a dilemma. I've got mature native pecans. In the summer they provide beautiful full shade. However, in the winter and even into the late spring, my yard is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sedges and ornamentals for shade in Bastrop County June 20, 2007 I bought a home in Elgin, TX that was owned by an elderly woman. Most of the lawn is shaded by elm or pecan trees. In the sunny areas, i got native wildflowers to grow like lantana and coneflower,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Variety of native tall plants for a screen in shady area near Ft. Worth June 12, 2007 Hello, we live west of Ft Worth. We are looking for tall plants to form a visual screen along a chain link fence we share with a neighbor. We have post oaks there and it is very shady and the ground ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for heavy clay soil in east Austin May 02, 2007 I live in East Austin and have very thick clay soil on my property. I also have a lot of shade and partial sun/shade. Can you suggest some native plant varieties that are well-adapted to these condi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Central Texas plants for dry partial shade April 17, 2007 I live in Austin Texas. My front garden area has rocky dry soil with intermittent sunlight and shade, maybe 2 to 4 hours of sunlight a day. Herbs do great. What perennial flowers (for some color) w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant, shade tolerant plants for Austin, TX April 16, 2007 I am looking for plants to put in my front yard--very shaded, and need to be deer resistant. I would love some things in the blue family. Also want blues in my back yard that is a combination of ful... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for north facing shaded bed in Austin April 02, 2007 I have a northfacing house in central Austin. I dug a large bed along the front that gets almost full shade. What native plants will thrive in that space? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant plants for large pot in light shade in Austin March 30, 2007 For an Austin yard, please suggest a shrub or a mixture of plants for a 15 gallon clay pot. The area has dappled light and deer. I would prefer a deciduous plant if possible. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for shady courtyard classroom garden in Weatherford, TX March 27, 2007 I am wanting to create an outdoor classroom area in the courtyard of my school. The courtyard is enclosed by all four sides and the building is two stories high. It does not receive much sunlight. Mos... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for dry shade in Austin March 27, 2007 I live in North Austin, and I'd like to find plants that would work in dry shade. This area does receive a couple of hours of morning sun, and I've had great luck with Hinckley's Columbine. Any o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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