Native Plants
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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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| Groundcover for Laredo Texas July 04, 2011 I am in Laredo, TX and no longer want to waste water on grass. I would like to pull it all out and plant native, drought resistant ground cover - low growing, between 6-12 inches, sun and partial sha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants to grow under a black walnut tree in PA July 03, 2011 I want to plant some shrubs and flowers in an area with southern exposure that is dry, sunny, and within the drip line of, and partially under a large black walnut tree. I had been told that native pl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Container plant to grow in late afternoon sun July 02, 2011 I have a shaded brick walkway that leads to my front door. It faces west, and can get very hot late afternoon Houston sun, although it is shaded for the remainder of the day. I have been successful ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Something eating Monarda didyma in Washington DC June 30, 2011 Please Help, I have a couple of Bee Balm, Jacob Cline, plants, whose leave are being eaten, by what I do not know. None of the nurseries around here seem to have ever heard of this happening to this p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Light requirements for Heartleaf Skullcap from Smithville TX June 29, 2011 How much sun or shade does Heartleaf Skullcap need? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Species List for Ponca OK June 24, 2011 I planted daylilies in my Austin garden and did not do well. I moved these daylilies to my garden in Ponca City Oklahoma and have done outstanding relying only on mother nature's rain. My garden in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alternative to swamp sunflower for Austin June 15, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I love this forum and have learned so much from it! Do you know of an alternative to Helianthus angustifolius L. (Swamp sunflower) that requires less water and would be m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Standing cypress turning brown in San Antonio June 12, 2011 Last year I bought and planted a standing cypress. This year several plants came up. The tallest one was about 1 foot tall. After blooming the plant began to turn brown and die. My question: Is t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Chile pequin from Spring Plant Sale in Austin June 08, 2011 Re: chile pequin purchased at your Spring 2011 sale: it grows, seems to thrive, but sets no flowers and so bears no fruit. It's in terracotta in Ladybug potting soil, on a shady apartment patio. How ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can Flame Acanthus grow in North Carolina, from Kinston NC June 05, 2011 Can I grow the flame acanthus (humming bird bush) in eastern North Carolina. If so where can I find it. Thanks, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spotted spurge in Dublin GA June 05, 2011 I noticed that you did not have a "Spotted Spurge", or "Chamaesyce maculata" listed. My Aunt asked me for help identifying it, until she remembered what it was. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about Berlandiera spp. from DeLand FL May 26, 2011 I am looking for information (something cool) about green eyes, Berlandiera spp. Information such as any medical use or story associated with the plant. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Year-round flowering in Laredo TX May 18, 2011 I'm trying to plant a variety of native plants in my mom's garden in Laredo, TX. The thing that I find a challenge is that she wants year round flowers. Can you suggest a few native flowering plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for red clay in Hattiesburg, MS May 16, 2011 Looking for plants and flowers to plant in red clay? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What to plant between patio flagstones in Austin, TX? May 16, 2011 I would like to plant something between my flagstones on the patio. Something that doesn't require a lot of water, low growing, and can stand a little to moderate traffic. It is in a shade to partly... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deceptively deciduous, Cedar sage in Austin Texas. May 13, 2011 Is Cedar sage deciduous or evergreen? Your database doesn't say. Thanks, and I always enjoy my visit to the Wildflower Center. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with gaura in Kyle TX May 10, 2011 Gaura - I seem to have something going on with this plant. I've tried fungicide that also works on mealy bugs and spider mites, etc., but they're looking rather puny? Any suggestions? thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| East Texas Natives and Botanical History May 05, 2011 I am looking for flowers &/or flowering shrubs that are native to east Texas, especially that would have been in this area over 100 or more years ago. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Companion planting with heartleaf skullcap from Arlington TX April 24, 2011 What can I plant with heart-leaf skullcap when it goes dormant in the summer? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can Dicentra exemia survive in Texas from Houston April 23, 2011 Is the Houston/Austin area too hot to grow "Bleeding Hearts" dicentra eximia (King of Hearts) They seem to grow in the wild in Maryland, Virginia, and Tennessee. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Re-landscaping neglected garden in Franklin CT April 03, 2011 I am starting from scratch in a yard that has no planting beds or, for that matter, plants at all. House was vacant for quite some time, grass was three feet tall when we moved in. I would like to p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for Texarkana, TX March 31, 2011 I've been searching for a dependable list of attractive north east native plants, for gardens, landscaping, etc. Specifically, native flowers and shrubs. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mercer Society of Harris County Plant Sale from The Woodlands, TX March 15, 2011 Love the Name! Anyway, the Mercer Society of Harris County will be having its annual plant sale late this month and as usual I will be attending. I'm trying to find some tropicals and sub-tropicals... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What are the grey-green plants on oak trees in San Marcos, TX? March 12, 2011 The oak trees in the neighborhood in San Marcos, TX, are covered with clumps, or balls, of gray/green fluffy-looking plants. they remind me of bromeliads. You can pull and knock them off; after wind ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about Cedar Sage from Austin March 11, 2011 I am new to the Austin area and was wondering about cedar sage (salvia roemeriana). Is this plant considered aromatic, non-aromatic of chia? And, other than the edible flower are other parts of the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Care for Monardella undulata var. frutescens from Pleasanton CA March 05, 2011 Inquiry about care of the plant Monardella undulata var frutescens "Jokerst." Full Sun? Soil? etc Thanks, Smarty! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cutting back perennials from Austin February 08, 2011 When is it time to cut back native plants; salvia;copper canyon daisy; verbena, etc? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What plants grow well in Athens, TX? January 18, 2011 Athens, Texas, we have very sandy soil mixed with clay, what plants grow well here? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Needs Help with Peonies January 14, 2011 With the clay soil in North Texas (Frisco) which variety of peony would thrive and become a reliable bloomer? I do work on amending the soil with expanded shell and compost, but ultimately, we still h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How does Asclepias asperula (antelope horns) respond to fire December 18, 2010 From your experience with prairie burns, how does Asclepias asperula (antelope horns) respond to fire? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Genetics of Anemone berlandieri flower colors December 01, 2010 Anemone heterophylla or Anemone berlandieri, Genetics. Is the variation in the flower color due to Genetic Incomplete dominance or Codominance? The same codominance seen in carnations. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees for cutout in driveway in Houston November 12, 2010 I live in central Houston. I have a new driveway with a cutout of 4' x 8'. I would like to plant a shade tree that will not break up the concrete. What do you recommend? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Black-eyed Susans in potting soil on ground November 12, 2010 I would like to know if black eyed susans can be planted in just potting soil instead of mixing it in with dirt from the ground? I don't want to leave it in the pots. I want to plant it, but the grou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen tree for planter in Sherman Oaks CA November 11, 2010 We have a large cinder block planter, 6ftx6ftx6ft,in the back of our building and would love to find a good evergreen accent tree (but not pine like). Planter is near a building so preferable it shoul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a pool fence in Ohio October 28, 2010 I live in Ohio and have a pool with a white vinyl fence. Each year I plant sunflowers around it, but they are so messy when the birds/bees find them. Previously I planted castor beans, however, they... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What habitat would my Antennaria solitaria like in Red Bank, TN? October 26, 2010 I want to know what habitat my mystery plant will like- sun, shade, dry or moist. I think it is an Antennaria solitaria or Little Pussytoes. I got it at a native plant sale here in Chattanooga. It has... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mulching Spring Bulbs in Upstate NY October 25, 2010 Just planted tulip bulbs for Spring. The Parks Department then put 4 inches of mulch on top. Will the tulips be able to get through and bloom come Spring? Is mulch a good winterizer for them? Indoor c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to have year round color in the garden in Fort Worth October 23, 2010 Hello, I'm sending an SOS for a miracle! Since planting is the best now during the fall or so I've been told for North Texas Native Perennials, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. My beautifully mat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How do I prepare blackfoot daisies for winter in Austin, TX October 19, 2010 I have blackfoot daisies in my garden that have bloomed all summer. They are cascading out of the bed onto my lawn/grass. They have been so beautiful that I hate to cut them back. How do I prepare t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Nightflowering plants native to Northern Illinois October 12, 2010 Looking for any/all info on night flowering plants that are native to Northern Illinois. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for narrow planter boxes in San Antonio October 02, 2010 We have a narrow flower planter box in three sections above a french drain in front of our house. The box is about 2 feet high (filled with Gardenville soil) above a french drain covered with filter ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscaping around a pear tree in Tyler, TX. September 22, 2010 We have a large raised flower bed, approximately ten feet by ten feet, surrounding a mature flowering pear tree. Do you have any suggestions for landscaping with native plants in this bed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Green blooms on Cedar Sage in Lucas TX September 22, 2010 I have two Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana) one purchased from your plant sale and one from a local nursery planted in part shade in the Dallas area. They seem to be quite happy and are blooming but ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Goldenrod not blooming in Lecanto FL September 19, 2010 My goldenrod(fireworks) grows only like a groundcover(3" tall) and does not flower. It is in full sun in my garden in Lecanto, Florida(zone 9A). What could be wrong? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need Native Plants for Ditch Stabilization in Texarkana, Arkansas September 14, 2010 I live in Texarkana, Arkansas. I have a ditch near the street in my front yard that is approximately 90-100 ft. long. It gets full sun. There is a lot of clay and rocks in the ditch. I need to fin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Annual plants for weed control in Pflugerville,TX? September 14, 2010 Can you suggest an annual or summer-dormant plant to mix with Dalea frutescens? The object is to discourage the spring-emerging weeds that precede the leafing out of the Dalea, so it should finish bl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about a red-flowered Pavonia lasiopetala in central TX. September 07, 2010 I have grown Pavonia for years and just let it re-seed where it wants (and remove if I don't want it where it falls). This year I created a new 6 inch raised bed amended with compost and some manure... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blackfoot daisy declining in Austin September 04, 2010 My Blackfoot Daisies have grown large, bushy, have bloomed well over the past two summers. Now parts of the plants are drying up, dying. Will pruning out the dead parts help the plants to survive, or ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Copper Canyon daisy leaves turning yellow in Spring Branch TX September 01, 2010 My Copper Canyon daisies have grown well this year but the leaves are turning yellow. Any ideas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Specimen evergreen for sun in Central Texas August 28, 2010 I'm soliciting suggestions for a specimen plant for a new garden we're building. It will be planted in a 3' square raised (18") Limestone bed. It will be full sun, Western exposure, and relative... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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