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 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 | ||
| Control of Acacia escaping cultivation in California March 26, 2007 My backyard has been overrun by acacia shrubs. How and what can I do to permanently rid the area of this weed? I hold an agricultural QAL so I have access to herbicides if there are effective ones a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen shrubs native to North Georgia March 26, 2007 I am looking for native plants (shrubs) that will stay green during the winter in North Georgia. We are completing a xeriscape landscape plan as a demonstration site and have many native plants donate... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Availability of Cornus florida (flowering dogwood) for Central Texas March 26, 2007 I'd like to buy a flowering dogwood tree. Love the fall berries and spring flowers. I haven't had been able to find them at the nurseries I frequent (Great Outdoors, Natural Gardener, Breed, Barton ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistance of Calylophus berlandieri March 25, 2007 Is Calylophus drummondii deer resistant? We have a lot of mule deer in se Arizona? Thanks in advance for your advice. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources of Rosa acicularis for research March 25, 2007 I am a professor at the University of Nebraska and would like to obtain some Rosa acicularis plants to do research with. Can you tell me how to purchase them. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edibility of Rumex hastatulus (heartwing sorrel) March 25, 2007 My mother and aunt, who are in their 80s, tell stories of eating a plant, when they were girls in North Central Texas. They call the plant "sheep shire". My mother says that it is a flat weed, that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Amelanchier arborea (common serviceberry) native to Ohio March 25, 2007 I want to plant a row of serviceberries for the fruit. I will plant a variety that attains 6 to 10 feet. I was about to order amelanchier alnifolia var. Smokey, as it's described as having very tasty... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Suggested plants for between flagstones in Austin, TX March 24, 2007 I would like to plant something between my flagstones on patio. I am taking up the cement mortar and want something that doesn't require a lot of water, low growing, and can stand a little traffic. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Winter survival of non-native Mandevilla vine March 24, 2007 Last summer I bought a dwarf mandavilla vine that blooms deep red and planted it in a pot and kept in on my east-facing porch, where its tendrils hung over the pot. I had to move it to shelter for the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Florida law on removing orange trees March 24, 2007 I live in a co-op mobile home park with a board of directors that tell me that if I have to cut down my orange tree that Florida law says that I have to replace it with another orange tree. I say that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating prickly pear March 24, 2007 What is best practice for eliminating 100+ acres of dense prickly pear? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Care of Ixora by lowering soil pH March 24, 2007 I have a bunch of Ixoras that the leaves are turning brown, before I pull them out, is there any kind of treatment to save them? I have used insecticidal soap several times but there has been no impro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference between white and red berried versions of Callicarpa americana March 24, 2007 I have seen many American Beautyberry Bushes [Callicarpa americana] but it was not until I moved into the Big Thicket region that I had ever seen a white berried one. There is no difference botanicall... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Phyla nodiflora as a ground cover March 23, 2007 I'm considering using frogfruit in my lawn and between stepping stones. However, I'm concerned about it being invasive. The tree is in the front lawn and don't want it to take over the Bermuda law... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Suppliers for Lantana urticoides March 23, 2007 I would like to plant yellow Lantana in my beds because of the hot drought conditions we have in north central Texas. Where can I find this to plant now? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Conditions for growing Prunus mexicana March 23, 2007 Will a native Wild Plum do well in the Cat Spring area west of Houston. The soil is quite sandy. I was told that the plum trees attract deer. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Muscari neglectum image March 23, 2007 I am doing a school project and found a native plant on the native plant information network image gallery. It is plant NPIN Image Id 524. What is it's name? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control of ball moss in oak trees March 23, 2007 I live in San Marcos, Texas and I have a two acre lot with lots of oak trees. Most of these trees have so much ballmoss attached to them that the leaves and branches are not visible anymore. Is ther... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of wild plum found in Conroe, TX March 23, 2007 I have found a wild plum that has dirty pink flowers and reddish smooth bark in a field in the town of Conroe, Tx. Identification thru the Ag Man here was sketchy and inaccurate. Short stubby limbs w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources of Hypericum anagalloides (tinkekrs penny) March 23, 2007 I am currently in search of any place where I may be able to purchase some of the Tinker's Penny. Could you please assist with this in any way possible? Greatly appreciated. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflowers for deer resistance, low sun, granite gravel soil March 21, 2007 We live on Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill country. What would you suggest for a flowerbed next to the house: north exposure, deer resistant, blooming, shaded by a live oak, granite gravel soil. Tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflowers for Angel Fire, NM March 20, 2007 What wildflowers would you recommend for Angel Fire, NM, at an elevation of 9150 ft. with rocky soil and a windy, northwest exposure? Thank you for your help! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Soil for Agave americana March 20, 2007 Can you give me some information on soil admendments for growing Agave (Century Plant)? I kept it in a pot during the winter and now I am ready to plant it in my beds View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for West Texas Permian Basin area March 19, 2007 What wild flowers grow out here in West Texas (Permian Basin Area)? I know a lot of the wild flowers from other parts of the state will not grow out here in the dry heat and poor soil. Thanks for you... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for partly sunny, wet area in Cypress, TX March 19, 2007 I am in need of a ground cover to plant in an area close to our entryway. The area is shady to partly sunny, holds water in rainy weather, and has a shrub border. We are in Texas. Any ideas? Thank... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Decline of pollinating bees around Mexican plums March 19, 2007 Dear Dr. Smarty Plants While out working in my yard (about nine miles southwest of the Wildfower Center) this morning, I became aware that there was no sound of bees buzzing. I checked our Mexica... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses as low-water option for ranch yard March 19, 2007 We have a weekend ranch in LLano Texas and are looking for a grass to plant in the front yard. (approx 3/4 acre) The house is very small and cute but not a real big fancy house. We do have a fence aro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Toxicity of non-native, invasive Wedelia trilobata March 19, 2007 Could you tell me if Wedelia trilobata is toxic to animals? It grows so voraciously where I am that I am wanting to use the whole plant to feed to my large tortoises (who are also voracious for edibl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native wildflowers for Denver, Colorado area March 17, 2007 I live in the Denver, CO area and would like to plant more native wildflowers. Can you please tell me where I can find a list? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of non-native Primrose jasmine March 14, 2007 I have 4 large primrose jasmine shrubs that were transplanted about 4 years ago. They were cut back fairly harshly at that time. Since then, the centers remain very woody... no greenery... but the l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for elementary school grow lab in New York March 14, 2007 What can we grow in a grow lab in our elementary school library from seed now that will bloom by June or what interesting looking established plants can we put in this grow lab that will have meaning ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive common giant mustard March 14, 2007 I have been seeing a lot of a small shrubby plants with yellow flowers all over Austin, mainly along roadsides. Back in my day the first wildflowers of Spring were the paintbrushes and the bluebonnets... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas wildflowers for April wedding March 13, 2007 A friend of mine is getting married in Texas in April and wanted to decorate the event with flowers native to that state. In my experience wildflowers do not last long out of the ground or in cut for... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 13, 2007 I want to go to the Willow loop north 7 miles or so of Fredericksburg to see the bluebonnets in bloom this year but don't know when the best time would be to see this spectacular view. I plan to be ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Buffalograss as lawn replacement in Austin, TX March 12, 2007 Mr. Smarty Plants, I have just moved into a house that has a yard full of weeds. I was planning on killing the existing ground cover and starting buffalo grass, when I came upon several articles on... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Locating native plant landscaper in Austin, TX March 12, 2007 Help ! I have a 9 year old native landscape -- river rock areas with beds of native plants which include lantana, salvia greggii, rosemary, coreopsis, brazos penestemon , Russian sage, Jerusalem sage,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blooming time in Austin for wildflowers March 12, 2007 Hi Mr. Smarty Pants!! I am a wildflower artist coming for my first spring visit to Austin to exhibit in the Artisan's Festival. As a wildflower fanatic, I am hoping to see and photograph some of "... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of native dogwoods in Williamson Co., TX March 12, 2007 Hi Mr/Mrs SmartyPlants What are the small-ish wild trees that are blooming so beautifully now? They are practically covered in pretty white blossoms. I've always called them dogwoods but in the vari... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting time for wildflower seeds in Denton Co., TX March 11, 2007 I live in Denton county, Texas and I purchased 2 lbs of native texas wildflower seed from the local agr. extension. Is it too late to plant now and expect flowers from my seed ? Should I plant anyway... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Retailers of possumhaw March 11, 2007 How can I find retailers of possumhaw (Ilex decidua)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 10, 2007 It is the first week of March in northeast Oklahoma and I received a wildflower mix that is 60% Lupinus texensis or Texas bluebonnets. Should I wait until fall to plant or can I cold treat or do som... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Possible reasons for non-fruiting wild plum March 10, 2007 My grandfather has land in Lee County with thickets of wild plum, I believe creek plum is another name. However, they never seem to produce plums while thickets nearby on the roadside less than one mi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants toxic to horses March 09, 2007 I would like to landscape with native plants (I live south of you in Harlingen, TX) but I am concerned some might be dangerous to my horses. Do you have a list of either safe native plants or native ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native sedges for Texas March 07, 2007 What can you tell me about Texas Blue Sedge? What its true name and culture requirements? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Texas plants for rain gardens March 07, 2007 I am looking for native Texas plants that would do well in very shady and partial shade rain gardens. Do you have any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible identification of Stemless Evening Primrose March 07, 2007 Recently, in a very dry area, some interesting plants have emerged. The plant looks like a very short dandelion but the yellow flowers look like yellow morning glories. The flowers are open in the m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources of cut native wildflowers March 06, 2007 I am preparing for my garden club's annual flower show and I have been assigned Southern Graces in San Antonio. Is there a source for cut bluebonnets or indian paintbrushes? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native wildflowers for caliche soil March 06, 2007 What kind of wildflower seeds can I plant on caliche soil. No water, other than rain, with some deer grazing. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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