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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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.
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Sunday - January 18, 2009
From: North Miami Beach, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives, Pests
Title: Mosquito repellant plant?
Answered by: Barbara Medford and Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Is there such a thing as mosquito repellent plants? If so, what are they?ANSWER:
Your best bet for ridding your garden of mosquitoes is to consider one of their breeding requirements—availability of water in which to lay their eggs—and follow the recommendations for ridding your garden of mosquito breeding sites in About Mosquito Control from Miami-Dade County Public Works.
We found some websites that listed some mosquito repellent plants, and will give you their web addresses. We have no proof one way or the other that any of these work. Our impression is that usually they don't. And we saw no plants native to North America suggested, so they would not be in our Native Plant Database.
Gomestic Gardening Five Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
Iowa State University Extension Horticulture and Home Pest News
World Village Mosquito Repellent Plants
More Non-Natives Questions
Plants for hanging baskets in Austin
October 06, 2009 - Can you suggest some plants for winter hanging baskets in the Austin, TX area?
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Growth of non-native bermudagrass in Snelville GA
July 16, 2011 - How do you grow Bermuda grass successfully in the state of Georgia? Techniques in fertilization, lawn cutting and general maintenance. Thank you.
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Non-native impatiens from Charlottesville VA
June 09, 2011 - Question about type of impatiens. My Alabama mother grew these and called them touch-me-not. They grow about 2 feet tall and blooms grow UNDER the leaf canopy up the stem. Colors I have are pale pink ...
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Problems with yellow lantana in Smoaks SC
June 05, 2010 - My yellow lantanas are about five years old - big and beautiful, but beginning last year, the blooms are small and part of the tiny petals are brown or black. Can you tell me what I can do about this ...
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How Can I Tell an Invasive Thistle from a Native
May 01, 2012 - Mr Smarty Plants,
I have some thistles coming up in my yard. I'd like to keep them if they are native, but not if they are invasive or non-native. How can I tell? My yard is a wild area in West Lak...
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