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.
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?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Possible allelopathic properties of Prosopis glandulosa (Honey mesquite) October 02, 2015 I want to plant a coral honeysuckle at the base of a mesquite tree. Anything in the mesquite that would inhibit the honeysuckle from growing? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasiveness of Oenothera speciosa? October 02, 2015 Hello! I received a large package of Oenothera speciosa seeds and would like to plant them this month. I've read elsewhere that they can choke out out other plants and am wondering to what degree thi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rejuvenating old Lindheimer muhly clumps October 02, 2015 I've got two clumps of Lindheimer's muhly in full sun in the western (limestone) part of Austin. I'm thinking they've been there for the past 8 or so years. In the past two or three years, the g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to prune a Lantana tree October 02, 2015 I have a potted Lantana tree that will come indoors for the winter. It is quite large and should I prune it back for the winter? If yes, how do I prune it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Young huisache trees dying October 02, 2015 We have had several young huisache trees suddenly die. These trees are only three or four years old and were apparently healthy when they just died. They are growing by the curb on a city street and w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Habiturf sod in Central Texas October 02, 2015 Do you know any source for Habiturf sod in Central Texas? I contacted Blade Runner Farms and they replied that their Habiturf project was discontinued. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources for Eustoma exaltatum (Texas bluebells) October 01, 2015 Could you list sources for seeds for eustoma (texas bluebells)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Information about person who handles invasive species at the Wildflower Center October 01, 2015 Would you please provide me a name, phone, and email address, of the person in your office who handles invasive species? Thanks, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Florist Gloxinia Care October 01, 2015 Got a florist gloxinia and it was doing great for months. Went on vacation and returned; it was wilted. Think son watered it too much. Allowed it to dry. It has some new leaves forming on the very leg... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Willow Tree with Bark and Leaves Falling Off in Missouri October 01, 2015 My willow tree is suddenly lost leaves on 1/2 of the tree. The tree has 2 major trunks and the leaves that have fallen (all off within about 3 weeks) are on one trunk but the bark is impacted on both ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for Shady California Apartment Patio October 01, 2015 I have a smallish gazebo on my apartment patio. I'm looking for a delicate looking flowering vine to grow in shade in Southern California. Perennial would be wonderful but this is probably too much ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting Wisteria frutescens Against a House in Wisconsin October 01, 2015 I have a question about Wisteria frutescens ('Amethyst Falls'). I know it's far less aggressive than the non-native species, but how aggressive is its root system? Can I plant it close to my house ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for Georgetown with shade in the AM and sun in the PM September 30, 2015 Hi, I live in Georgetown and I would like a recommendation for plants (shrubs and flowering perennials) that can handle deep shade until 1 or 2 pm and then have full sun blasting them til sun down. T... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plant for border in central coastal Texas September 29, 2015 I am looking for a native plant suggestion for a border along my front porch in central coastal Texas. My site has heavy gumbo soil and strong sunlight. I want something not more than 2 or 3 feet t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sunflowers for Terrell, Texas September 29, 2015 What sunflowers grow best in Terrell, Tx? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Honeybees swarming around galls on oak trees September 28, 2015 A large number of honeybees have descended on a live oak tree in my backyard. They appear to be feeding on the numerous galls on the tree as if they were flowers. What's going on? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mexican Feathergrass not Blooming in San Diego September 22, 2015 Hello, I planted seven Mexican Feathergrass plant about four months ago and only one of them has got the "feathers" at the tip of its grasses. The others are growing nice and tall as well, but not f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seedball Germination in Dallas September 19, 2015 I read your answer to the question posed about wildflower seed balls not germinating along a bike trail in Dallas. My garden club is also wanting to purchase seeds to create and scatter seed balls. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oyster Shell source in Austin September 18, 2015 Hi, I was not sure who to reach out to, but I work for Quality Seafood here in Austin, and we have several gardeners who take our old oyster shells and grind them up or put them in their gardens for ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low Groundcovers for Pennsylvania September 18, 2015 Hi Mr Smarty Plants, I'm looking for a low growing grass or ground cover for an area that is between my neighbors horse fence and mine it is about 2 feet wide 30 ft long. It is impossible to mow and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are 'Ice Blue' Arizona Cypress and Desert Willow safe near a septic system? September 18, 2015 I want to plant a screen to hide driveway/cars on our property line that is close to the septic tank(not septic field) and the septic line running from the house. Would it be safe to plant a Ice Blue ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to tell Monarda citriodora from Monarda punctata. September 18, 2015 Hello! I'm wondering if you could clarify the differences between Monarda citriodora and Monarda punctata. Perhaps they do a lot of hybridizing, but I have plenty of conflicting info on... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for Shade in Spicewood September 16, 2015 We live in Spicewood area in Austin, TX. Our front yard is yellow almost all summer, I was thinking of replacing lawn with a ground cover which can live on once a week sprinkler and no mowing. Also th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| need recommendation for small evergreen shrub in Katy, TX September 14, 2015 recommendation regarding small to mediun evergreen palnt in full sun in 2feet by8 feet area. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will a Texas Mountain Laurel thrive in a 4'x4'x4' brick planter. pl September 14, 2015 Would a Texas Mountain Laurel thrive in a 4'x4'x4'x4' brick planter with a drain at the bottom? It will get full sun all day. If not, would a Green Cloud Sage or a Waxleaf Myrtle work? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| topic | question | |