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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| topic | question | |
| Source for Wave scaly cloakfern (Astrolepis sinuata) April 13, 2006 Can't make it to the Plant Sale but really want to buy one Astrolepis sinuata (Wavy Cloak Fern) if a plant is available for sale. Is it possible to buy one if one is available after the sale date (j... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground covers for sandy hill in New York April 12, 2006 We have just built a new home and a sandy fill was needed around the house. It sits on a hill and the fill is very sandy. We would like to plant something to stabilize the bank that is native to the a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting time, either by acorn or container grown tree, of Shumard red oak April 12, 2006 Hello, I have a question on when is the best time to plant shumard red oak. I live in Zone 7. thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Adapting to clay soils in British Columbia April 11, 2006 What can I use to break down the clay content in my flower bed. It has a high concentration of clay and I want to plant treat it so I can plant flowers in it. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Orientation of roots of Ranunculus April 11, 2006 I need to know how to plant "Ranunculus". I don't know which way to put the rhizomes/bulbs in the ground. Do they go flat side down or strange long tubular things upward ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cultural requirements for Heliotropium angiospermum in Florida April 10, 2006 What are the cultural requirements for Heliotropium angiospermum? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Preserving endangered plants in Massachusetts April 09, 2006 I've recently visited the national registry of threatened or endangered plants for my Massachusetts home, with a hope of : 1. Identifying rare, threatened or endangered species in my state. 2. fi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Using Native Plants Database to determine flowering time in Austin April 07, 2006 How can I access your data base to learn what plants are flowering in Austin during the months of October and early November? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Xeriscaping in clay on a slope in Fort Worth April 06, 2006 Xeriscaping in clay (Fort Worth) on a slope -- Please offer suggestions and publications. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Century plant dying after bloom April 06, 2006 Help!! I want to save my Century Plant from dying. I have already lost one and I don't want to lose this one. Can cutting the stalk before it gets too big save this beautiful plant? Please, pleas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ball moss (Tallandsia recurvata), epiphyte on oaks at Wildflower Center April 06, 2006 I visited your center a couple weeks ago, was very impressed with the educational aspects. I noticed the epiphyte commonly growing in the oak trees, and also on the elm oak. Do you have the name of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets April 05, 2006 Hello: We have been told that the sparse Bluebonnet appearance this Spring is due to sparse rainfall at the appropriate times. Were there fewer seeds to sprout and grow? Or are the seeds still ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources of native herbaceous plants for Massachusetts April 04, 2006 Hi, I am looking for sources of native herbaceous plants, ideally in plug form, and wondered if you had a list you could send me. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible reasons for death of Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) in Austin April 04, 2006 Several wax myrtles in my neighborhood appear to have died. Should we have the soil or tree checked for fungus, or should we atrribute the death to freeze or age of the trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Predictin bloom time for Indian Blankets (Gaillardia pulchella) April 04, 2006 Is there any way to predict when the Indian Blankets will bloom this year? I live in Dallas, and last year they were in peak bloom at Twelve Hills Nature Center (also in Dallas) around the 21st of Ma... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lopidea texana nymphs and adults feeding on Mountain Laurel in March April 04, 2006 What is the species name of the bright red bug (Miridae) nymphs and adults that are feeding on Texas Mountain Laurel leaves at this time (March 24) at the Wildflower Center? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Whether Venus flytrap (dionaea muscipula) is endangered April 04, 2006 I am a 4th grader at Whitestone Elementary School in Leander, Texas. I am in the Quest program and I am doing a project on the venus flytrap and would like to ask you some questions. 1. Is there an ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Peak period for viewing Central Texas wildflowers March 31, 2006 My daughter lives in San Antonio now. I want to time my next visit with the peak period to blue bonnets and other TX wildflowers. When do you recommend that I visit and come to the Center for the fi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low maintenance, drought tolerant, native plants for school garden in Round Rock March 30, 2006 Our school is about to plant a memorial garden but need very drought tolerant plants and flowers as the schools water very little during the summer months. What would you suggest? The district does ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native, non-invasive Thunbergia alata March 30, 2006 I'm trying to find the proper name for Climbing Blackeyed Susan, or Blackeyed Susan Vine. We had one on a trellis and it was beautiful, but I'm told that it is an undesirable weed. Any info apprec... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native habitate sunlight as opposed to artificial light March 26, 2006 Does a plant grow best in sunlight or artificial light? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native alternatives for non-native, invasive bamboo in New York March 26, 2006 I hope you can help me. This is not about wildflowers. I'm interested in planting bamboo as a screen (25'+). I know all the pros/cons and would need to have a nursery to put in barrier. I need some... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants suitable for rock garden in New York March 26, 2006 I'd like to start a rock garden. The area is very rocky, the soil is shallow and it's partially shaded. I'd like mostly perennials that flower from spring to fall. I hope to make some purchases fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources of Starleaf Mexican Orange (Choisya dumosa) March 26, 2006 Where can we find Choisya dumosa (plant recommended for southwest area) for sale? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of non-native Nothoscordum borbonicum in Louisiana March 26, 2006 There were some small white flowers that grow everywhere in Shreveport and probably elsewhere. Mother called them Crows Feet. I see them if I am home in the Springtime, smell them too. Is Crow's foot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Susceptibility of Shumard oaks to oak wilt March 25, 2006 I have planted a red oak tree. I am still trying to locate the ID tag for the type. I planted it two or three years ago. I purchased the tree from either Lowes or Home Depot. Is there a type of red oa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Comparative speeds of flowering from seeds or bulbs March 24, 2006 Does a seed flower grow faster than a bulb flower? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Drought-resistant plants for Grand Prairie, TX March 24, 2006 Can you tell me where I may obtain a list of drought-resistant plants for landscaping? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Conversion of patch of bermuda grass to native perennial garden in Texas March 20, 2006 My wife and I want to take a section of our front lawn that is currently in Bermuda grass and plant some native perennials with lots of flowers. The area will be a quarter-circle in a corner of the la... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Assistance in photographing Turnera diffusa in Rio Grande Valley March 20, 2006 Do you know where I can photograph a specimen of Turnera diffusa Willd. ex J.A. Schultes var. aphrodisiaca? I'll be in Texas in May and it is on my list to try and locate. I understand it grows in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Location of source for live white violets native to Virginia March 20, 2006 Dear Ms. Pants, I am in Austin & would like to buy a quantity of small live plants for decorative table top use in April, 2006. I need any variety of the wild woodlands-loving white violets that are n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Locating source for Crataegus Brazoria (Brazoria Hawthorn) March 20, 2006 I want to purchase a Crataegus Brazoria Sarg. (Brazoria Hawthorn) but cannot find a source for one. Can you help? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildlife management programs for tax exemptions March 17, 2006 I own a property in La Grange, Texas on which we're considering a wildlife management exemption. Would there be a program that also provides tax advantages for growing wildflowers? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Process of converting from lawn to wildflower meadow in New Jersey March 17, 2006 I live in northern New Jersey and have an acre of property which is currently a grassy lawn. I would like to make a meadow where the lawn is. What is the process to convert from a lawn to a meadow? Th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibly escaped non-native Buddleja davidii in Missouri March 15, 2006 About 3 years ago my wife and I were traveling thru southeastern Missouri and stopped at a road side rest station on Interstate 44. While we were there we noticed a shrub about 4 to 5 feet tall with p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems getting desert western US plant Stanleya pinnata to bloom in England March 13, 2006 I am having trouble getting my Princes plume (Stanleya pinnata) to produce a flower and then go to seed. Do you have any advice on triggering flowering in this plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| List of native perennial Texas flowers March 13, 2006 Good day, I am searching for a list of native Texas flowers (preferably perennials) for a flower garden. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Cape Honeysuckle, Tecomaria capensis March 13, 2006 I am trying to find general information on the Cape Honeysuckle or "Tecomaria" bush/plant. Is is related to the actual Honeysuckle Plant? What is it's care, propogation, sun tolerance, water requ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information on green roof demonstration site at Wildflower Center March 10, 2006 I visited your green roof demonstration site and am interested in putting a green roof on a structure. There seemed to be at least two layers of growing medium in the planters; one layer looked like r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| True date for Earth Day March 09, 2006 My grandson asked me to verify the correct date for Earth Day 2006. Sites on the internet say (a) Earth Day USA is April 22, 2006. (b) International Earth Day is M... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Mandevilla care March 08, 2006 I have a mandevilla and it looks like there are about 5 plants in one pot. Can it be separated without killing it? And, if it can be separated how should it be done? The plant is about 7" high and i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native drought resistant evergreen plants for privacy hedgein clay soil in Texas March 08, 2006 My family would like to create privacy around our 4 acres of fence line. What native evergreen or fast growing bushes would work? We have terrible clay soil and need drought resistant plants. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source of cotton seeds in Georgia March 08, 2006 Where can I buy cotton seeds???? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen fast-growing native shrubs for privacy shield in Baytown, TX March 07, 2006 A gas well is going in across the road. We need a fast growing native tall shrub to line our property next to the road. It needs to maintain its leaves in the winter also. We hope to cut down on th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Use of Gaura by deer as a food source March 05, 2006 I live in North Central Texas and am considering planting some Gaura plants in my backyard. However, we have a large deer population in the area. Are deer generally drawn to Gaura as a food source? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Locating toxic, non-native, invasive Castor Bean seeds March 04, 2006 Where do I find castor bean seeds? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible locations of fields of Forget-Me-Nots, Myosotis March 04, 2006 This might be kind of a weird question but me and my girlfriend have a really special thing with the forget me not wild flowers, and I will be asking her to marry me soon and would love to do it in a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for non-native, invasive Bauhinia variegata March 03, 2006 I live in Fellsmere just south of Melbourne and we have about 5 orchid trees on our property; one is fairly tall, about 20 ft, and the others are about 6 ft tall. My smaller ones have several air p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Inadvisability of importing plants from one region to another March 03, 2006 I wonder if you could help me. I want to send my friends some conifer trees from England to Florida USA. I went on the Department of Agriculture site and they recommended your site for questions. Than... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for winter color in native wildflower meadow backyard February 28, 2006 I am establishing a wildflower meadow in my backyard (150'x50'). it will have native Texas wildflowers, Buffalo Grass and Blue Gramma grass. Is there any plant that you can recommend for winter inte... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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