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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

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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Saturday - March 19, 2011

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Searching for seeds or plants of non-native Euphorbia peplus seeds from Austin
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I am looking for Euphorbia Peplus seeds or plants to grow for skin cancer treatment. Do you have seeds or plants? Thanks!!

ANSWER:

Some website somewhere must be posting this as the next wonder cure, because this is the second question on that plant in just a few days. It was a short answer, so we'll just copy it verbatim:

"Euphorbia peplus, Petty Spurge, is native to Africa, Asia and Europe and therefore out of our area of expertise. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the growth, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which those plants are being grown. This USDA Plant Profile map shows that it grows wild (introduced) in many areas of the United States, but not including Florida. We searched the Internet on "seeds for euphorbia peplus" and got a number of listings; you might try that. We have a National Suppliers Directory, but they sell predominantly native plants and seeds."

The USDA Plant Profile map referenced above shows that it also does not grow in Texas. Our Plant Sales in April and October sell only plants native to Central Texas, and those are the only times we sell plants. We sell no seeds at all, except for maybe the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Mix at the Store.

 

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