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Plant Identification	Identification of purple wildflower shaped like a bottle rocket June 19, 2013 Dear Smarty Plants, the other day while driving north on 281 from San Antonio I noticed a purple wildflower that was shaped sort of like a bottle rocket, seemed to have leaves similar to verbena and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Non-Natives Diseases and Disorders Pests Shrubs	Waxy deposits on Magnolia fuscata from Ethel LA June 18, 2013 I have a 4yr old Magnolia Fascata (aka banana shrub)- I noticed that it has small oval shaped yellow waxy deposits on the branches.. I have also noticed small black ants on the branches. The unknown d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Groundcovers Grasses or Grass-like Shrubs	Groundcovers over roots in Roeland Park KS June 18, 2013 Large Hackberry tree (aprox 50+years) roots are popping up above ground making mowing under/around it impossible. Is there a plant, ground cover, something I can plant, or cover the roots with that w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Pruning Shrubs	Pruning Ageratina havenensis from Magnolia TX June 18, 2013 I planted a Eupatorium havanense last year here in the last sandy finger of the piney woods; it gets full sun in a well-drained raised bed, where it flowered well. I pruned it fairly close, and it cam... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Propagation Seeds and Seeding Herbs/Forbs	Seeding success with Penstemon cobaea from Austin June 18, 2013 I've never had much luck in harvesting seeds from foxgloves (Penstemon cobaea, I think). Whenever I open the seed casing, the seeds inside are covered with some kind of mold. What's going on, and ho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Grasses or Grass-like	Brown blade tips on Habiturf from Austin June 18, 2013 After carefully following all the directions, II recently planted Habiturf and it's growing well. After the first mowing, however, we discovered the top half of the blades turned brown. We have a pus... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Container Gardens Ferns Herbs/Forbs Shrubs	Container plants for part shade in Bee Cave TX June 18, 2013 Dear Mr Smarty Pants, I am looking for plants that will thrive on my covered porch in 3 tall planters. These are meant to help me block an unattractive view out my living room window, so they must... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Shrubs	Tree or shrub with non-invasive roots from San Jose CA June 16, 2013 I am looking for a small tree/ large shrub (non higher than a one story roof) with non-invasive roots to replace a 25 foot cedar. It is in a small area (5x 7) bordered to the side by a driveway... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Plant Identification	Identification of flower similar to bluebell in Washington June 16, 2013 Is there somewhere I can submit a picture to see what kind of flower it is? It looks like a bluebell but more star shaped. Found on the side of the road in Oak Harbor, WA View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Pruning Privacy Screening Shrubs Trees	Can Monterrey Oak be topped into a bush from Austin TX June 16, 2013 I received a suggestion to use Monterey oak as privacy hedge by topping the small tree and letting it bush. I can't find any pictures or info on this being done though. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
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