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

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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!

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Tuesday - August 24, 2010

From: Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Region: Northeast
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Care of non-native Sorbaria sorbifolia (false spiraea)
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have 2 Sorbaria sorbifolia (false spiraea) that will not flower. This is their third summer. What should I do?

ANSWER:

Please note that our focus and expertise here at the Wildflower Center are with plants native to North America.  Sorbaria sorbifolia (false spirea) is native to the Far East (e.g., Siberia, China, Korea, Japan) so we really can't help you. Your best bet to find an answer to the problem of your non-flowering false spiraea is to do a Google search for its care or by joining one of the garden forums such as UBC Botanical Garden Forums or GardenWeb Forums.

 

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