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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| topic | question | |
| Problems with non-native Bradford pear in Austin May 16, 2009 Hi, I planted a Bradford Pear tree about five years ago, and half of it is not filling out with leaves very well. Then about a month I noticed leaves here or there curling brown and dying, and causin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is cement leaching into flower beds in Colorado Springs? May 16, 2009 I have posed this question to a number of garden centers in our area around Colorado Springs--only to rec. a repeated--"Gee, I don't know." When we moved to our new home there was a rock concrete ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting conditions for non-native Oriental poppy in Colorado May 14, 2009 I live in Broomfield, CO. Is this a good time to plant oriental poppies, what is the best sun exposure and how should I prepare the soil? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning of non-native New Dawn rose in Fairfield CT May 13, 2009 Hi! Can you help me with blind shoots on a climbing rose, New Dawn? The sun is planted in the south side of the house and gets plenty of light. I have only lightly fertilized it twice a year last yea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with crapemyrtle shoots in Victoria, TX May 13, 2009 I have a problem with crepe myrtle shoots coming up in my flowerbed. I had to remove a large crepe myrtle tree (18" diameter stump) and digging out the stump was not possible. I killed the stump wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will a non-native smoke tree, Cotinus coggygria, be harmful in Utah May 08, 2009 Can one plant a smoke tree in Utah without causing and harm to the environment? I'm worried that this plant may be a species that could cause a problem since I believe it is not a native plant. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will Mountain Laurels be harmed by juglones from my pecan tree? May 06, 2009 Hi. I just bought a house. It has a big pecan tree at the edge of the front lawn next to the street. I guess it's about 25 feet from the front of the house. I was thinking of planting mountain la... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Penta and licorice plants for Austin May 04, 2009 For Austin location Are you familiar with a small flowering plant called Penta? How about Licorice? If yes, could you provide growing conditions. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Drooping leaves on iris in Phenix City, AL May 02, 2009 I had a bed FULL of iris rhizomes so I thinned them out and made two beds. They flowered perfectly but some of the flower stalks and some of the leaves began drooping over. The flowering is over. The ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to bloom of non-native viburnum in Dayton, Ohio April 30, 2009 I have a 3 year old Marie's Doublefire Viburnum that has healthy, abundant foliage but never blooms. I do not prune it. What am I doing wrong? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with non-native Star jasmine April 27, 2009 My Jasmine leaves are turning red. I think it's a Star Jasmine as it get those pretty little white fragrant flowers that look like a star. What is causing this and is it something I should be conce... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cuttings for non-native red-tip Photinia April 27, 2009 We have had wonderful fortune with red tip Photinia.We would like to expand our plantings.Can red tip Photinia be propagated by hard wood cuttings? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Suckers on non-native Mayten tree April 26, 2009 We have a Meyten tree that has lots of suckers coming up from the roots. We would like to keep the tree, but if we can't find a way to control the suckers, we are considering taking it out. Any sugg... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Treatment of leaf curl on non-native peach in Camano Island, WA April 26, 2009 How to treat peach leaf curl? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Thorns on non-native orange trees in Greenwell Springs, LA April 26, 2009 Navel orange tree has thorns, why is this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are dusty millers perennial in Dubuque, IA? April 24, 2009 I have dusty millers in my front yard. Last fall I did nothing with them as I wasn't sure if they will return or not. Do the dusty millers continue to grow year after year and should I cut them dow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Protecting plants from birds near bird feeder April 24, 2009 I am happy to have several cardinal pairs living in my yard, but I need to discourage them from eating & destroying my purple heart planted under the huge cedar that holds my bird feeders. The cardina... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Twisted hibiscus tree in Plainfield, IN April 24, 2009 I have just bought 4 twisted hibiscus trees and repotted them immediately then brought them into my screened in porch until I was certain the weather would be safe to keep them outside (I live in Cent... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native hosta and cedar tree in Burlington, ON April 23, 2009 Will hosta grow along side cedar trees, if planted at the same time? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Toxicity of non-native Royal Empress tree April 23, 2009 We want to plant some fast-growing trees for shade for my horses. My friend wants to use Royal Empress trees. Can you tell me if these are toxic to horses (and also goats)? I have a lot of clay in t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with non-native Ixora April 22, 2009 I have 3 Ixoras I planted last summer and they did beautifully -- then Ike visted us. All the other plants in that garden have recovered and look beautiful, but the ixoras still look ill. No new gro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for low light in Houston April 21, 2009 I moved from a home in New Jersey to an apartment in Houston, TX -inside court - low light. I can't keep houseplants alive., What do you recommend that I try here? Both inside the apartment and on ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with non-native Indian hawthorn April 18, 2009 We have some Indian Hawthorns that were planted for us by a landscape company. The first year we got a little bit of bloom. Since then the shrubs don't bloom at all. They are in a flower bed up aga... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for southwest side of house in Birmingham, AL April 18, 2009 I would like to know what I can plant on the southwest side of my house where there is a brick foundation and is really hot in the summer. I've tried irises and day lilies-not good. Suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting honeysuckle bush in Illinois April 18, 2009 Want to transplant 3 honeysuckle shrubs 10 to 12' tall this month, although not the best time. Please advise. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with non-native weeping willow April 17, 2009 The trunk of my Weeping Willow tree has raised donut growths.The left base has decay. There is a large space between the base and the soil (no roots) and the wood is brittle. Large ants with a black ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with non-native ixora in Punta Gorda, FL April 16, 2009 We are having problems with our Ixora plants. The leaves turn yellow, then fall down. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Heirloom plants for Gault Homestead in Austin April 15, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, The Gault Homestead at 2106 Klattenhoff in the middle of Wells Branch Subdivision is to be planted with heirloom or heritage plants soon. There is some sun for the planter bo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with non-native King Sago Palm April 13, 2009 My king sago palm has not branched out in over a year. I think it needs to be fertilized. What can I do? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Japanese beetles in Port Monmouth, NJ April 08, 2009 I have searched your web-site in the hopes of not repeating or bothering you with a question not in your field. I am hoping you can help me. I live in Port Monmouth, New Jersey. Last year many of my ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grafting stone fruit April 02, 2009 Do you know of anyone grafting the new low chill stone fruit trees to the Mexican plum to minimize cotton rot? Or would it even work? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rotating a non-native cypress in its hole in Annapolis, MD April 02, 2009 I have a follow up question to a Cypress transplant question from December 28, 2008. We trimmed our 5 1/2 foot Dwarf Hinoki Cypress back too far, and now the side facing the street has some bare spot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Survival of non-native windmill palm in Zone 6b March 28, 2009 Will a windmill palm survive a Zone 6b Michigan climate; if so would I have to wrap it up in burlap in wintertime? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to grow tulips and daffodils in Central Florida. March 27, 2009 My question is how can you grow tulips and daffdoils in central Florida, just south of Ocala, a place called the Villages? I am from the Washington, DC area and truly miss these flowers, any help wou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to bloom of non-native crepe myrtle March 26, 2009 I have a white crepe myrtle that never bloomed last year..my pink ones were beautiful. What can I fertilize with to promote blooming for the white one? And, yes, it is in the sun! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Edible plants beginning with I, T, X and Z in Colorado March 26, 2009 My friend would like to know a fruit or vegetable that he would plant in his garden and come back yearly. The plants would have to start with the letters I,T,X, & Z. It has to be edible, of course. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When and how to prune lavender (Lavandula sp.) March 20, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants I have a Goodwin Creek Lavender plant that I planted last year. It did very well but my question is about pruining. It seems that there is some growth coming up now that it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing non-native aloe in Seguin TX March 17, 2009 I would love to grow aloe plants; both because I like the look of them and for their medicinal properties. Here in Texas people grow them both indoors and out. For some reason, I have not had any l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellow leaves on non-native pittisporum in Wharton TX March 17, 2009 Green pittisporum that I planted 2 years ago and 1 year ago are getting a lot of yellow leaves. Variegated pittisporum that I planted at the same 2 times are doing fine. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for non-native angled luffa, Luffa acutangula, seeds March 15, 2009 looking for angled luffa seeds in austin txThank you,your web site advertises luffa as an exception i get the run around about luffas ever where i go on the net why does evrybody advertise luffa but... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Indian Hawthorn leaves yellowing March 15, 2009 I live in Mississippi. My Indian Hawthorn's leaves are not as green as they were when I purchased the plant, and several are turning yellow with brown spots on them. What should I do? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for planting in gourds March 15, 2009 I enjoy painting dried gourds. This spring I got the idea to paint a gourd and cut holes in the side and plant some small blooming flowers. I have seen "hen and chickens" growing out of holes in the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low temperature non-native Bauhinia variegata can withstand in Florida March 13, 2009 I have a Bauhinia variegata,I reside in Florida. What is the temp it can withstand in winter? And if it is below freezing, what can be done to protect them from freezing? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Elimination of non-native English ivy in Maryland March 11, 2009 I have Old English Ivy sprouting up throughout my side yard. What can I do to get rid of it? Would putting lime down help or Crabgrass control? What would you suggest and the easier the better as I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Damage to non-native Japanese maple March 10, 2009 I have a medium sized branch of a dwarf outdoor Japanese maple partially (about 70%) broken off. How can I fix it? What chemical/plant hormone/material can I use to initiate regrowth of the broken par... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Roses or other flowering plants for Coleman, Texas March 10, 2009 I want to plant native roses at a country home in Coleman Co., southern exposure, with well water, drip system,but ,hot, dry & windy! I know the Mutabilis does well in Austin, but, is it suitable for... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of non-native Purple Orchid Tree March 09, 2009 We planted purple orchid tree Texas,zone 9 two weeks ago and all leaves turned brown.My husband used root stimulator with enough water as the instructions said.We took all brown leaves off and now it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Question about non-native tree hardiness March 06, 2009 Hi there, im wondering if you can help me. Which of these plants can grow on poorly drained soils. Tamarix Tetandra, weigela 'moulin rogue', ulex europaeus or salix alba? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native begonias and Texas summer March 06, 2009 I live in Austin, TX. I have two flower beds that each get plenty of sun during the day (8 to 10 hours in summer time). I love Begonias and was considering planting Begonias in my flowerbeds. Will ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native crepe myrtles in Coleman, TX March 06, 2009 We want to plant 2 white crepe myrtle trees on our family cemetery plot in Coleman TX. Once they get established, they will be pretty much on their own. Wind and sun are abundant. Rain is scarce. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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