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 | |
| Native edible plants September 24, 2005 Hello, I would like some resources for identifying native edible plants in Central Oregon. Good clear images will be very helpful in links or books. We do alot of hiking and would like to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Gay Feather September 22, 2005 Can I transplant the flower Gay Feather any time or should I wait until the plant dies this winter? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Wildflower Meadow Gardening September 16, 2005 Good morning! I want to overseed a buffalo lawn that has been down for about a year with a wildflower mix, how would you recommend that we prepare the site. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower seeds to be sown on roadway for wedding September 16, 2005 My daughter is planning an outdoor wedding reception at a ranch in Granbury, Texas, on April 29, 2006. We would like to sow wildflower seeds along the roadway leading to the ranch. What flowers woul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on air purification September 14, 2005 What plant purifies the air? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on lantana in Dallas September 14, 2005 For several years, the lantana plants in my backyard in Dallas grew and bloomed all Summer and Fall until the first real cold snap. I've loved having a native plant that didn't need constant care a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas Sage in Indiana September 14, 2005 I was living in Texas and now I have moved to Indiana. I would love to have some Texas Sage here. is it possible? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Science Fair projects September 13, 2005 I would like to know what kind of plants can grow in two weeks? Please answer quickly so I can do my Science Fair project. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Apartment Landscaping September 13, 2005 I live in an apartment and have a small patch filled with rocks and an ugly plant I don't know the name of. I want to take out the existing plants and put something else in. It has to be hearty,low m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Butterfly/hummingbird garden in Texas September 09, 2005 I am coordinating a butterfly/hummingbird garden on 100 acres that our religious organization has. We want to use native Texas plants as much as possible. Are these two types of gardens compatible an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of hostas September 06, 2005 I have many different types of hostas in my yard. This year they bloomed abundantly and now have large pods where the blooms were which are full of seeds. My questions: 1. If I plant these pods, o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Fan Scarlet-Cardinal September 02, 2005 I have a lobelia x speciosa (Fan Scarlet-Cardinal) plant and was wondering if I should dead head it after blossoming so that the plant continues to flower. Can you help? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for non-native Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon) August 30, 2005 I am moving into a new home and have been told that the two plants in my front yard are called Hearts of Sharon. I need to know how to care for them and when and how to prune them so that they dont gr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fasciation on brown eyed Susan August 28, 2005 I have a flower in my garden that blooms every year. This year I have a very strange breed--there is a double flower. I do not know the name of the flower or what kind it is. I only know we nickname... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Medicinal uses of Orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) August 28, 2005 What is the best way to extract the juice from the jewelweed plant? And, what can you do with it after that? I know it is considered a remedy for poison ivy and various other skin irritations. So then... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on pruning Clematis August 26, 2005 I would like to know about pruning clematis. The one I have is getting very large. Should I cut it back, and if so, in the Spring or Fall? I live in Michigan. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on CRABGRASS August 23, 2005 I live in Indiana and purchased native wildflower seeds from the soil and conservation district in my area. I completly tilled the 10x70 foot patch and planted the seeds as directed. Some of them are ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on basketplant August 22, 2005 I want to buy a basketplant (Callisia fragrans). Do you know where can I buy it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Yerba de la Negrita August 22, 2005 I would like to know where I can get Yerba de la Negrita "Scarlet Globemallow". For what can I use it? What is it like? I have a rancho in Chihuahua Mexico and I wonder if it grows there. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Hesperaloe parviflora August 22, 2005 On your home website there is an orange flower that is tall and has tall leaves. is it a cactus? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on milkweed August 20, 2005 I am looking for a photo of the local milkweed in the state of North Carolina. The name would be a help also. I am raising butterflies and I am in dire need of plants. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting Colorado blue spruce in Indiana August 16, 2005 I live in Indiana. I have a Colorado blue spruce that I would like to transplant to a different part of my yard. What is the best time of year to transplant it? It is only about two foot tall. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on cross pollination August 16, 2005 I live in Cosby, TN in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I plant native species of wildflowers and shrubs. My question to you is: I planted cucumbers in raised beds next to t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native or non-native hibiscus for Kansas August 13, 2005 I recently purchased a 10" Hibiscus flowering plant and would like to know how to care for it. How much water and sunlight does it need and how long I can expect it to live? It is a beautiful plant a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source of article on Great St. Johns-wort (Hypericum ascyron) August 11, 2005 I found the following comment on your database when reading about Hypericum ascyron: Comments: The scattered distribution of this plant in Ontario is thought to match historical aboriginal encampment... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling mildew on Gaillarida sp. August 11, 2005 Any suggestions for controlling mildew on blanket flower? It's spreading throughout my garden. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants for Mission, TX August 11, 2005 Last week I visited my uncle who is head of a church in Mission, TX. The church owns an empty 2 to 3 acre lot, where they hope to build a school someday. However, that day is at least 10 to 15 years... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Jimsonweed August 07, 2005 White flowers that are seen a lot along hwy 58 east towards Tehachapi; they look like "angel's trumpet" but not sure... they are big, white and have dark green leaves and cluster in a bush..any ideas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Americas national plant August 07, 2005 What is America's national plant? (please answer this a.s.a.p because i can't figure it out and it's for homework) View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on dogwoods August 05, 2005 I am interested in the worldwide distribution of the dogwood family/cornus. Specifically, I am interested in whether or not there are indiginous species on the Indian Subcontinent. Is there a resour... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Pittosporum August 05, 2005 Need to know if "PITTOSPORUM" (TOBIRA VARIEGATA) will grow in my area of SE OK. I have purchased two of them and the nursery said that they would do great. Just needed an extra opinion. Than... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of over-watering of Asclepias tuberosa August 05, 2005 Another question about butterfly weeds, the leaves on one of my plants are turning a yellow-red color and the blossoms seem to be dying (drying up) before they can bloom. It is right in the same area... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast growing native trees for Manor,TX August 04, 2005 A friend wants to plant fast-growing trees to disguise a road on ranchland east of Manor, Texas. Any ideas? Many thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Hesperaloe parviflora August 02, 2005 On the home page of this website (right of center) there is a plant with the long stems and pink flowers and with green pods or seeds, also. Could you please tell me the name of this flower? We have ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Tamarisk July 31, 2005 Where can I buy Tamarisk, and will it survive in Massachusetts? I've seen it in Provincetown, on Cape Cod. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deadheading or trimming back of Asclepias spp July 29, 2005 I have some butterfly weeds (flowers) and I have heard conflicting stories as to how to cut them back. Should they be deadheaded to elongate bloom time or does that prevent any seeds from replanting?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Diospyros virginiana July 29, 2005 Diospyros virginiana (common persimmon) is, from what I understand, a host plant for the stunning Luna Moth caterpillar which supposedly can occur this far west. Your database entry for Diospyros do... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants wild sweet pea July 28, 2005 We were asked if the seed pods of the wild sweet pea are edible. (California) View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on wild edible plants July 28, 2005 Do you have classes or information on identifying wild edible plants that could be found in Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Design and installation of trails at Wildflower Center July 24, 2005 I am a Park Commissioner in a city near Austin and am researching a firm to help design a trail system in our park. Would you please tell me who designed and installed the trails at the Wildflower Ce... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on dutchmans pipe July 24, 2005 How do I care for and transplant dutchman pipe? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Texas Madrone July 24, 2005 Hello, where can one acquire the Texas Madrone for planting? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alkalinity-tolerant grasses July 24, 2005 Dear Sirs - Are you aware of any grass species that could survive in strongly alkaline soils (ph from 10 up to 12) Thanks a lot. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bulbils on Turks cap lily July 21, 2005 My Turks cap lily has dark pea size growths at the bass of each leaf. Are these the seeds? How and when do I harvest seeds from this plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on mulch and organic material July 20, 2005 I live near Canyon Lake, just north of San Antonio in a new subdivision. I call on you for advice, as I have attended several classes there and hope you can help. Several areas on our property and nei... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources of seeds for Cudweed Sagewort and Artemisia ludoviciana July 20, 2005 Where can a person buy seeds for Cudweed Sagewort. Artemisia ludoviciana? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Delay in fruiting of Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana) July 20, 2005 Dear experts, My wife and i are members of your fine organization. Several years ago we bought four things at a spring plant sale for an understory spot in our yard. The Possumhaw Holly, American ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on water-absorbing plants July 19, 2005 I am looking for water-absorbing plants for L.A. zone. I am hoping this type of vegetation would ease the water retention problem at the planter right next to my basement. Is this a feasible solutio... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of non-native calla lilies July 15, 2005 How should I protect my calla lilies during the winter? If it helps you any, I live in South Carolina. And also will too much water hurt them? We have had massive amounts of rain. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Host plants to monarch butterflies in Starr County, TX July 14, 2005 I plant native larval and nectar plants that support the life cycle of the monarch butterfly here in the east; but, where can I find a list of native plants for my friends in the Tamaulipan Biotic P... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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