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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Water requirements for fruit trees in California January 15, 2013 Dear Sir; In which of these options (fruit trees) the need for watering in irrigation process is higher than the others: -Olive tree -Nectarines and peaches trees -Hazelnut trees -Pistachios and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Montana native plants to create a garden with edible plants January 14, 2013 Hi Smarty Plants We are looking to create a native herb, vegetable, root, fruit, flower and ground cover garden for the area of Hot Springs, Sanders County, Montana. Our zone is 4 and soil is mostly ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning Saucer Magnolia in Eatontown, NJ. January 12, 2013 Adult Saucer Magnolia (tulip tree). Branches were getting heavy to where they were ready to break. I pruned them back leaving 1 to 3 inch diameter cuts on many branches. Should I put something on th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure of flameleaf sumacs to produce fruit January 09, 2013 Our two flame leaf sumacs produce none to little fruit. Both are about 4 years old, quite large, healthy looking; flowering this year was very good, but no fruit. What keeps them from producing fruit? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What to do about volunteer trees growing beneath a large live oak tree in Austin, TX January 08, 2013 We have a large live oak tree. Several volunteer trees are growing directly underneath it and into its branches. I want to cut them down if they are going to hurt the long term health of the live oak.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Decorative small evergreen tree for Las Vegas NV January 06, 2013 I need a small decorative tree to be planted among a pine tree background; would prefer evergreen. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Protecting a non-native Meyer Lemon from Freezing in Austin January 05, 2013 What is the best way to protect my Meyer Lemon tree from freezing Austin weather? It has been planted in my yard for 1 year and is about 4 feet high View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native avocado trees in Rio Grande Valley from Austin January 05, 2013 I just read the article in the Austin American Statesman about growing avocados outdoors. Don't know if they grow here, but they certainly don't just grow in south Florida. I used to live in Wesla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference in acorn yields from Georgetown TX December 27, 2012 Why do some live oaks produce acorns in abundance and others do not? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing non-native avocado outside from Austin December 27, 2012 My son has a very large avocado tree that he rooted from a pit that is currently growing in a large container. However, it has gotten too big to winter inside. Can it be planted in the ground in Aust... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native wild plum trees for Johnson County, Texas December 24, 2012 What native wild plums will grow in southern Johnson County? And where can I find the trees locally? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will damage to live oak root make it more susceptible to oak wilt December 24, 2012 Hi. I knicked the root of a live oak when digging. Will this hurt the tree and make it more succeptible to wilt? Is there something I can use to protect the exposed part of the root and make it les... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Watering live oak trees from McAllen TX December 24, 2012 What are the watering requirements for live oak trees in deep south Texas? How often and how many inches to be applied? One pop-up spray sprinkler spaced approximately fifteen feet away from each tr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for oak shade from Whitney TX December 24, 2012 I live in Whitney, Texas and have a number of beautiful Live Oak trees in a portion of my yard providing deep shade. Asian Jasmine grows in about 5 ft circle around them and then nothing! I have walk ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Note on pond over oak roots from Round Rock TX December 23, 2012 Thanks very much to Barbara for answering my question about the live oaks - covering parts of their root systems with a pond. Your answer inspired discussion, and we changed our pond plan and moved th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cover oak roots with a pond from Round Rock TX December 22, 2012 Hello! I have looked for this answer. We have 2 huge old beautiful live oaks. One is very close to the patio and house, and the other is about 20 feet of the house. Thus, part of their root systems ar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wild plums for jelly from Conroe TX December 18, 2012 Do wild plum trees grow in my area? I want to get some next summer to make plum jelly. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Christmas tree from Smithville TX December 16, 2012 I've always wanted to use a native tree as a Christmas tree. Do you have any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lighting for the Wildflower Center from Austin December 16, 2012 Hello Mr Smarty, On a recent night trip to the Center, there was an oak that was beautifully lit for the holidays. It seemed to come from one ground light, but cast hundreds of glistening "stars"... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting a bald cypress from Houston December 10, 2012 We would like to transplant a bald cypress from front yard to back. It is about 10 ft tall, 3" trunk diameter, 2-1/2 years old and in good health. Any idea how large the root ball might need to be du... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native Chamaecyparis pisiflora turning brown in Fuqua-Varina NC December 10, 2012 I have a "Soft Serve False Cypress" Chamaecyparis pisifera'Dow Whiting PPAF, that has only been in the ground for 6-7 months. I just noticed that the branches and leaves are starting to die, turni... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for dwarf red mulberry from Spring Hill TN December 08, 2012 Hello: Where can I buy a dwarf red mulberry tree in the USA? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| pruning Chinkapin oak, Loquat and Monterrey oak trees December 07, 2012 What is the best time to plant a 45-65 gal. Chinkapin oak tree in Pflugerville. Also, when can i prune fig trees, Loquat trees and a Monterrey oak. Thanks for the information. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cypress poisonous to livestock from Arlington, TN December 06, 2012 Are green giant cypress poisonous to livestock? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover under Spruces from West Chester PA December 06, 2012 Trying to get a native groundcover (or any grass/wildflower/fern) planting established under a small stand of spruces. Established stand (30+ years old), so lots of needles on ground. Just about tot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replanting of non-native Christmas Palm from Sarasota FL November 28, 2012 Do you know of a proven technique to plant a Christmas Palm in a built-in concrete pool deck planter box - using gravel around the soil root ball to delay the root bound condition we just ripped out? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of a tree in Florida with bell-shaped red flowers November 23, 2012 A friend in Florida has asked about identification of a tree with a flower none of us have ever seen. It starts with a green pod, then flowers into, what looks to me like a Chinese lantern, or bell. I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fasciation on Texas Mountain Laurel November 21, 2012 Do Texas Mountain Laurel normally have a staghorn looking growth hanging on them after blooming in addition to the seed pod clusters or could this be a mutation? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen Privacy Screen for Maryland November 19, 2012 I am looking for an evergreen that will suffice to be planted as a privacy screen between my property and my neighbors. Looking to plant a row at the property line. The lot is shaded most of the d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Re-landscaping in Stephenville, TX. November 17, 2012 I prefer native plants. We are re-landsacaping, so I need grass, ground cover, vines and flowers to plant in our back yard. We have many trees and the whole yard is shady. A small area might be con... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Newly planted nuttall oaks from Houston TX November 16, 2012 I recently purchased two Nuttall Oak Trees in Houston Texas (October). They are both 15' or taller. I planted them within 24 hours of being delivered, watered them in, staked them, and within 3-4 d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mystery tree with yellow fruit in MN November 12, 2012 There is a tree at my workplace, about 8' tall, with small, pea-sized yellow berries right now (Oct. 2012). The berries are attractive to Cedar Waxwings, and the tree has small leaves that are simple... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Freeze-resistant palms for Central Texas November 09, 2012 I live in Lytton Springs just north of Lockhart. What is a good hardy palm that I can get that will grow without the worry of freeze? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Persimmon trunk grown around fence rail in Austin November 08, 2012 I have a Texas Persimmon in my backyard that is about 12-15 feet tall. It's been growing next to a chain-link fence and over the years, the top rail of the fence has cut into the bark on the trunk. A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Male pollinator to produce berries on Juniperus virginiana from Amston CT November 08, 2012 We have planted 3 juniperus virginiana 'Glauca' (on our Connecticut property) that have a few blue berries on them. Will they need a male pollinator to make berries? We do not have other juniperus... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacements for Ashe Junipers in Georgetown, TX November 03, 2012 We have cut down several cedar trees on our property in Williamson County Texas. We would like to replace the cedar trees with another variety of tree. Do you have recommendations for what type of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dirt at tree base from Austin November 03, 2012 Hello, I recently bought a home in Austin with a live oak tree which is about eight years old. The previous owner did exactly what all the experts say NOT to do, which was to mound dirt right up agai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover under trees from Austin November 03, 2012 I need ground cover plants that can tolerate leaf litter and grow under oak tree shade. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Junipers for restoring area in Bulverde TX November 03, 2012 Are ashe or virginiana junipers for sale around the hill country? I would like to recreate the natural plant life that was bulldozed next to my home. Do you recommend any other types of juniper that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting Live oak trees in Katy, TX. November 03, 2012 We are building a house in a neighborhood where the HOA requires two live oaks in the front yard. Our lot is pie shaped leaving a very small front yard once you take into acct the driveway and sidewal... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fast growing shade tree for Canyon Lake, TX November 02, 2012 What is the best, fastest growing shade tree to plant in a residential yard about 1/2 block from the Guadelupe River in Sattler, Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Puppy-friendly privacy screen in Montana November 02, 2012 I need some puppy-friendly short(< 30') privacy from the gigantic windows of my next door neighbor. But- there are power lines above the area that I needed to plant! I had planned on an aspen grove, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Would like fast growing evergreen trees in Austin, TX. October 31, 2012 Hi, We're moving to Southwest Austin and would like to plant a cluster of pines (or cypress trees?) or other fast growing, large and tall evergreen trees. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need suggestion for a tree with a tap root in Oklahoma City, OK. October 27, 2012 I would like to know the best tree to plant in my area that does well. Would like a tap root tree and also a tree that will not mess with my septic lines. Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grasses for horses in Austin October 27, 2012 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants We just bought 4.5 acres in Travis County off HWY 290. We have 3 horses we keep on it but there is very little grass in the pastures. What is the best type of grass to seed ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning guidance for Carolina buckthorn from Houston October 23, 2012 I have a Carolina Buckthorn in my back patio that I planted in fall 2001. The summer of 2003 the roofers dropped something off the back and broke the top 10-12 inches off. I have tried to train the la... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Feeding live oak and redbud trees from Fredericksburg TX October 23, 2012 Can you please tell me what to feed my live oak and texas redbud trees that survived the drought? We have granite soil. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of a tree at David Crockett Cabin Museum in Tennessee October 22, 2012 I was in Lawrenceburg TN and stopped by the David Crockett Cabin Museum. There was a tree and it dropped lemon sized balls on the ground. What kind of tree is it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can a Desert Willow grow in Nova Scotia Canada October 20, 2012 Can a chilopsis linearis grow in Halifax Nova Scotia Zone 6a? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can a fallen tree in Texas have pieces of it removed from Winona TX October 20, 2012 I was wondering if you could tell me if a tree has fallen down, is it legal for me to go and cut pieces off of it in the state of Texas. And if you happen not to know could you tell me who I would con... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |