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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| Smarty Plants on Blue Cohosh April 21, 2005 I acquired a potted plant of Blue Cohosh at a sale. My question is where can I plant it? I live in Seattle but also garden in Zone 5 at Lake Wenatchee Washington. Shade or sun? How hardy is it? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cutting back, pruning and dividing native plants April 21, 2005 I am wanting to cut back, or prune, and divide many of my native plants but don't know how. What should I do? I bought them all at the native plant sale at the center last fall. We have a family ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source of seeds for Penstemon murrayanus April 20, 2005 Is it possible to obtain seeds of Penstemon murrayanus? I'd like to contribute to the propagation of this threatened species. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Methods of controlling poison ivy April 19, 2005 What do you suggest for controlling poison oak (ivy)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Treatment of mealy bugs on house plants April 19, 2005 I have some house plants that have a "fungi" that has appeared and spread from one to the others. I believe it is killing the plants. It is a white fuzz the is sticky to the touch. when i whip it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Optimum pruning time for butterfly garden April 18, 2005 I am planting a butterfly garden that I would like to be pretty as well as beneficial for butterflies. If I am going to have both host plants and nectar plants in the garden and the butterflies will b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Asters bloom period April 16, 2005 When do the asters bloom? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bare feet-friendly native groundcovers for New York April 14, 2005 We own land at elevation 1600', near Sherburn, NY. We want to walk barefoot around the tipi area, but don't want to plant grass (mowing grass). What native ground cover would be kind to bare feet ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Galls on live oak trees in Austin, TX April 14, 2005 I am a resident of a condominium complex in Austin that has numerous Live Oak trees. Can you explain what the gall type things are hanging from the trees at this time of year and all over the grounds?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on teddy bear vine April 13, 2005 I am looking for a plant called teddy bear vine. The scientific name is Cyanotis kewensis. I had one a long time ago (20+ years) and I loved it, but I can't find another one or find out whe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Differentiating between Spiraea betulifolia and Spiraea japonica April 12, 2005 How can I tell the difference between Spiraea betulifolia var. corymbosa (an imperiled species) and Spiraea japonica (an invasive species) in the wild? They both seem to be the same size, color, habi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Rain-lily April 12, 2005 What is the common lily (I think) that grows in the ditches and especially this year because of all the rain. The flower is trumpet shaped and has red stripes in the petals? Very common everywhere t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on southern magnolia April 11, 2005 I live in East Texas and there are two 50-year-old southern magnolia trees in front of my house on the highway right-of-way marked to be destroyed. The Texas Department of Transportation has allowed t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on spines April 09, 2005 What do you call part of a plant that is needle-like or has spikes or bristles? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Health of pond cypress April 08, 2005 Is there a common reason pond cypress trees vary greatly in their apparent health in similar conditions? I have 7 of them on my property, only two look healthy, one died and fell down recently. The lo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildlife habitat in Gambia April 06, 2005 Thank you for the interesting website. We bought a plot in the Gambia and would like to change it into a habitat for different living species; hence, your kindly advise is welcome as we are definitel... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information on wildflower programs in cities and states April 06, 2005 I am moving to a new town in a few weeks and am interested in starting a program to beautify the community using wildflowers. I've been interested in this for quite some time, but the opportunity ha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of survival of Genus Castilleja in Wisconsin April 04, 2005 In traveling through Texas last week we noticed many many little orange flowers which are absolutely fascinating. I found a picture of that flower in your website for Wildflower Days 2005 in the to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Genetics reason for color variation in Indian paintbrush April 03, 2005 Are the color variations in Indian paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa) a matter of genetic mutation or minerals in the soil? I say it's genetic and the rest of the family says it's environmental. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Where is marijuana plant native? April 03, 2005 In what part of the world is the marijuana plant native? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on thousand year old interrupted fern April 03, 2005 We recently built a new home in the mountains of western Virginia. I am told by the local Botanist that there is a patch of "thousand year old interrupted fern" that runs through, among other pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Duck-resistant plants for pond in California March 31, 2005 I want to plant around a water pond and I need some plants that my ducks will not destroy. Please help. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of invasive mints March 30, 2005 How do I remove common mint from my garden? I removed the previous years plants and tilled the soil. This year they came back more than before. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pustules on geranium March 28, 2005 I have a geranium that has developed oblong red/brown pustules/raised bumps on the undersides of the lower leaves. The foliage around the bumps is stil green but everything else has yellowed View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Indian Paintbrush March 28, 2005 I have tried for years to propagate Indian Paintbrush and have had no luck-started inside or outside in the fall down't seem to matter. What can I do to get them to grow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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