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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Evergreen, deer resistant privacy screen for Villanova PA March 29, 2013 Looking for something that is deer resistant and ideally evergreen to block a shed and fence that my neighbor recently installed. Live in Eastern PA. Not the best drainage and also shade for most of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Agarita suggestion for Houston area March 05, 2013 Another possible plant for the following question is agarita. The question: "Looking for a very, very, thorny three or four foot tall shrub for in front of windows to deter break-ins. Considering Ro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Desert Willow tree for Plano, TX March 03, 2013 I live near Dallas, Texas. I have a small Desert Willow tree that I would like to plant. What is the root system of this tree like? Would I be able to plant it near our patio? How far from the house'... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Vine for pergola in Belton TX February 06, 2013 Hello, I would like to know what vine would be best to cover a rather large pergola. It will be in full sun in caliche soil. :( The area has access to a water hose and I would like to have something... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Landscaping in Avalon TX January 23, 2013 I just bought my first and last home in Avalon Texas. I am looking forward to starting my garden. I am interested in all year around flowers. however I am in the country, when it rains, my yard becom... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is California fan palm found on Edwards Plateau from Austin January 18, 2013 Is the following Palm, Washingtonia filifera, found in the Texas Hill Country, specifically the Edwards Plateau or Balcones Canyonlands NWR. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Growing rabitteye blueberries in Phenix City AL January 18, 2013 What type soil is needed to grow rabbiteye blueberries? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Restoring a prairie from Austin January 11, 2013 Restoring a mixed grass Blackland Prairie? Prairie Plant Succession? We are trying to establish climax species when an area is in a pioneering phase. Does the soil chemistry or biota change during ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native Plants for Shaded North Slope in Ohio January 03, 2013 I have a shaded north hillside which needs erosion control plants. Mostly moss and very thin grass grows there now. Please help! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Ground cover under Spruces from West Chester PA December 06, 2012 Trying to get a native groundcover (or any grass/wildflower/fern) planting established under a small stand of spruces. Established stand (30+ years old), so lots of needles on ground. Just about tot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Re-landscaping in Stephenville, TX. November 17, 2012 I prefer native plants. We are re-landsacaping, so I need grass, ground cover, vines and flowers to plant in our back yard. We have many trees and the whole yard is shady. A small area might be con... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Lupines annual or perennial in Zone 4b from Austin November 08, 2012 Are lupines treated as perennials or annuals in Zone 4b (Northeast) if they are planted in the ground? Will other native species of lupines grow in a region they are not native to? Any recommendations... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Chlorosis in Texas Wisteria from Blanco TX November 05, 2012 Just noticed a Texas Wisteria I bought last month and it is already looking chlorotic. Mixed compost in w/the dirt it is planted in but I don't think that will be enough. Is Blanco soil too alkaline?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tolerance of rosa setigera of acidic soil from Cobden IL October 20, 2012 How tolerant is Rosa setigera of acid soil? I would like to plant it in my (very large) garden but the loess soil has a pH of 4.5. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native New Jersey plants to remove iron water from Lawrenceville NJ October 20, 2012 Are there any native New Jersey plants that can remove iron water View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Destructive landscape crews in The Woodlands TX October 20, 2012 Hi. We need help. We recently moved to a house where landscape crews have been blowing away the leaf litter from the front yard for many years. The underbrush was also cleared long ago. The result... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Revegetating a hillside in western Washington state October 10, 2012 Removing several downed trees across my dock demolished the native plants growing on the hillside and the contractor pulled out their remains. The area faces east on an open freshwater bay. Close to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Cedar sage not blooming in pots in Austin September 14, 2012 I have cedar sage (salvia roemeriana) in containers on a dappled-shade apartment patio in Austin, TX. This is their first season here, transplanted in May (it's now September). All the plants have be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Deer resistant plants from New Braunfels TX August 31, 2012 I have a 1/2 yard covered by a tree, shady. Bermuda grass previous owner planted has all turned brown this summer. I don't have lots of money to work with but would love to landscape that side of fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Difficulty with Clay Soil from Palm Bay, FL August 22, 2012 I had a very nice little native shady area behind my house for over 40 years, but now it has been cleared except for a 100 foot tall live oak in the center of this raised mound (50' x 80'). I've be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Detoxifying soil from York England August 15, 2012 How do you neutralize toxic soil, it may have been contaminated by Foxglove Digitalis Purpurea? Thankyou View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Potting soil mixture at Wildflower Center from Austin August 14, 2012 What potting soil mixture does the Wildflower Center use in its greenhouses for the native plants grown for the Austin Native Plant sales? Is the pH adjusted to match the alkaline soils in this area? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wisconsin Ground Cover for Acid Soil July 09, 2012 What type of native wisconsin ground cover plants do best on acidic bare areas under pine trees such as blue spruce?...and where is best source for these plants or seeds? Thanks so much for your help View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for Shady Clay soil in Illinois June 18, 2012 Could you recommoned native plants for clay soil and shade near Chicago? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Zinc tolerant plants for sunny area June 08, 2012 I have a very high zinc soil in an all day sun area. Any suggestions as to what kind of flower can I grow successfully? Zone 8 Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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