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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Search Smarty Plants
topic | question | |
Identification of shrub/small tree with small purple fruit July 31, 2013 Hi! I have a tree/bush that has come up on its own in the backyard. This year it set what looks like small purple plums. Is there any chance that they might be poisonous? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Edible native plants in New York July 29, 2013 In your plant database- which is great by the way- it does not say whether or not the plant is edible. Do you have any way to search for edible plants? Or do you have a separate database? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Controlling Cnidoscolus texanus (Texas bullnettle) July 18, 2013 Hello,I need your help to control some nasty weeds in my yard/pasture. I am an old timer and do not have a picture to include—haven't figured out that part of the camera/phone yet. This weed is a pri... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Grafting Pecan Trees July 05, 2013 I have planted two pecan nuts and now they are about 4 feet tall trees, they have not been grafted but can I graft one of the trees to the other and vice versa and expect pecans from then, they are he... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Leaves of Chile pequin consumed overnight from San Marcus TX June 23, 2013 Something ate all the leaves of my Chile petin overnight. There is a ton of frass under the plants but no sign of a critter to be found. These plants have been in the same area for years and this is t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Can poisonous seed of wild plum be safely removed after steaming from Seymour IA June 20, 2013 I read on a related questions that you said the pit/seeds of all wild plums are poisonous. My question is this, can I juice the entire fruit for making jelly without removing the pit first? I have a s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Fruit crops to grow in Tennessee mountains May 27, 2013 My property has a lot of rock formations throughout it and has hundreds of cedars where it is not pasture. I am wanting to grow fruit trees and berry bushes but don't know what can grow in this e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Non-fruiting Willamette raspberry plant in Wateford CA May 23, 2013 I have a 2 year old Willamette Raspberry plant that has many blooms, bees, great growing conditions, very healthy but has never set one fruit. I know about pruning. Any suggestions? It has been bloomi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Are berries of coral honeysuckle edible from Lufkin TX May 21, 2013 Are the berries of coral honeysuckle edible? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Affect of poisonous plant roots in soils for vegetables from Rusk TX May 11, 2013 I have a huge old flowerbed in front of my house that I want to plant veggies in, but I'm afraid to. It has a catalpa tree there, which I sell the worms from, but the entire tree (bark, leaves, flowe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
topic | question |