Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Saturday - March 20, 2004

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Best of Smarty, Wildflowers
Title: Mowing Bluebonnets
Answered by: Sage Kawecki

QUESTION:

When is it safe to mow Bluebonnets?

ANSWER:

Bluebonnet seed generally matures six to eight weeks after flowering. When mature, the pods/fruit turn yellow brown and start to dry. Mowing at the proper time will ensure re-seeding for a good crop of Bluebonnets for following years. For more information, download our article from our Native Plant Library, entitled “How to Grow Bluebonnets”.

 

From the Image Gallery


Texas bluebonnet
Lupinus texensis

More Best of Smarty Questions

Why is my Weeping Fig crying leaves?
July 27, 2009 - I have a weeping fig that I bought Memorial day in Birmingham, Al. It has 8 or 9 trunks growing altogether. It sits on a porch with eastern exposure, only about 2 hours of sun. It has been losing l...
view the full question and answer

Is there an automated image download function for the NPIN Image Gallery?
November 03, 2009 - Hi, I have a database/web technical question. Do you provide an interface to retrieve photos from your website programatically? Thanks!
view the full question and answer

Burn the wetlands
June 02, 2010 - Can the wetlands of Louisiana that have been soaked in oil be burned? I am a native plant gardener in the midwest. Burning is a natural process in the prairie. Southerners are not used to this and ma...
view the full question and answer

Smell barrier around chicken pen in Austin
April 23, 2011 - What are some shade to part-shade loving, aromatic plants (akin to Lavender or Jasmine) that will do well in Central TX? I'm trying to plant things around my chicken pen that'll create a smell barri...
view the full question and answer

Advantages of using native plants
March 28, 2015 - Hello. My question is not about a specific plant but a more general question about natives. I am writing a research paper and am interested in finding seminal research that explains why we should us...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.