Native Plants
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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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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Saturday - March 20, 2010
From: Philadelphia, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Pruning, Seasonal Tasks
Title: Trimming of Aster ericoides in Philadelphia
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Should I cut back my Aster ericoides, ‘schneegitter’ in the spring?ANSWER:
While this plant does not appear in our Native Plant Database, it appears that it is, indeed, native to North America and to Pennsylvania. Trim off the previous year’s stems back to the green sprouts at the crown in mid-spring.
More Seasonal Tasks Questions
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May 09, 2003 - When can I harvest my Bluebonnets?
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Cutting Back Perennials in the Fall?
November 13, 2013 - We have large beds of flowering native perennials that we planted around our house as part of a landscape conservation plan (various Joe-Pyes, goldenrods, turtlehead, blazing star, brown-eyed Susans)....
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Germination of bluebonnet seeds in Hempstead, TX
April 01, 2008 - We scattered 20 lbs of bluebonnet seeds on our property near Hempstead. Only about 10 plants have come up even though on another part of the property we have thousands. It is well drained and in sun....
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Cutting back perennials from Austin
February 08, 2011 - When is it time to cut back native plants; salvia;copper canyon daisy; verbena, etc?
view the full question and answer
Planting bluebonnets
April 20, 2008 - How long do bluebonnet seeds take to mature, and when is the earliest in their development they can be harvested? When can they be scattered?
view the full question and answer
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