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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| Propagation of yellow columbine November 03, 2004 I purchased a yellow columbine, Aquilegia chrysantha and your website says it grows in moist upland soils, and yet it shows their habitat as Utah, Arizona, NM, and sw Texas. Tell me how it can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Value of planting wildflowers versus maintaining turf November 02, 2004 I'm trying to determine the cost/value of planting wildflowers and whether it is less costly than maintaining turf. Do you have any research on this topic? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on books for Southwest New Mexico November 01, 2004 Which book would you reccommend for Native plants and flowers for Southwest New Mexico - Silver City area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Poisonous Plants October 27, 2004 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I wonder who among the wonderful staff at the Wildflower Center can answer this. I occasionally get requests for information on toxic or irritating plants. Beyond the obvious ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible reasons for early leaf drop of post oaks in Austin October 27, 2004 I have a post oak tree in my back yard that has been losing its leaves since mid-September. This is my first year in the house, and I am surprised that the tree would lose its leaves while the temper... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Indian paintbrush wedding October 20, 2004 I live in western Montana and have become quite fond of the flower known as indian paintbrush. I will be getting married this next July, and would like to incorporate the flower into my wedding; Howe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What to plant in northern Virginia October 20, 2004 We have recently purchased 10 acres in Northern Virginia, and would like to plant native wildflowers on 4 of the acres. The soil has a high clay content and is currently covered in a mixture of grasse... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low maintenance, native plants for sloping drive near Philadelphia October 20, 2004 My cabin is located in the northwest suburbs of Philadelphia. I am looking for low maintenance plants that would look good on the sides of a driveway that slopes upward. This is a potential project fo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering native plants for Arizona October 19, 2004 I was wondering if you could help me? We are moving from California to Arizona, and I was wondering if you can tell me some flowering plants, or any plants that will thrive in the hot Arizona tempera... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Part sun and part shade October 19, 2004 What is the difference between part sun and part shade? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on edible and medicinal native plants October 06, 2004 I would like a list of edible & medicinal native plants for the San Antonio area. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Disposal of non-native chinaberry and ligustrum and their seeds October 06, 2004 I've got some chinaberry and ligustrum in a section of our lot that I am going to remove to make room for native plants. Both have berries, & I was wondering if running them through a chipper will ha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Texas maple keys October 05, 2004 I'm looking for a source for native Texas maple keys. Know of any? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of native black-eyed susans after blooming September 30, 2004 What is the best way to take care of black-eyed susans once they have lost their blooms? Am I supposed to cut them down to the base, or just let them die out naturally. Also, they all have a white re... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on mowing schedules September 23, 2004 What would be the ideal mowing schedule to allow for a spring and summer bloom of wildflowers? My neighborhood maintains it's own roadsides and has the opportunity to increase the number of wildflowe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer deterrent for Texas Persimmon September 23, 2004 The deer have destroyed my Texas Persimmon by standing on their hind legs and pulling down the branches--either ripping them off entirely or twisting them. I didn't realize the persimmon fruit would... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Poisonous Trees September 23, 2004 Are redbuds and catalpa trees poisonous? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting wildflowers before construction begins September 23, 2004 Can wildflowers be transplanted? I'm building a house and wonder what can I save before the builder clears the lot. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on wildflower identification September 23, 2004 Can you recommend a good CD-ROM on wildflower identification? I live in Virginia and am constantly frustrated trying to identify the myriad wildflowers I encounter as I move around the state. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Science project on invasive plants in American Samoa September 23, 2004 What is an experiment I can do on invasive plant species for a science project? What are some main invasive plant species found in American Samoa? Where can I go to find more information on invasive ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Weed laws on mowing wildflowers in the Spring September 22, 2004 Is there any law that would prevent a Town from making a person mow their wildflowers down in the spring? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting a container of wildflower seeds in Dallas September 20, 2004 I have purchased a 1 # container of wild flower seeds in North Dallas. When can I throw these seeds in a nearby field, & is it advantageous to do it during a rain? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on caliche September 03, 2004 I have heard of sand, silt, clay, and loam, but what is caliche? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Help with plant ID September 01, 2004 I found this plant alongside the road in a field in North Dallas. The dirt was fairly dry, and image is attached. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of non-native, hybrid petunias August 31, 2004 I have a beautiful Petunia Tiny Tunia Violet plant which has been flowering nicely (in sun and shade environment). Suddenly, a few days ago, it began to look like it's dying--stalks all dried out. Is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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