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?
Smarty Plants Question Topics
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 plant with purple leaves and yellow flowers April 21, 2008 I'd like to know the name of a plant that has purplish leaves and sends roots out underground to make new plants. It can be invasive. It has yellow flowers. Leaves are oval in shape. Almost looks lik... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of orange hydrangea-like flower April 19, 2008 I am trying to identify a tree...It is a tree like bush if that makes any sense...It has tree limbs and it is bushy like a bush...I thought it might be a hydrangea bush that grows straight up instead ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Backward blooming Jack-in-the-pulpit April 18, 2008 why does my jack in the pulpit plant bloom backwards View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of maroon flower taking over bluebonnets April 14, 2008 there is a maroon colored flowering weed at my ranch in Oakwood Texas. It is taking over the bluebonnets and indian paint brushes. Can you tell me what it is and how to get rid of it. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification from photos April 11, 2008 I have 3 photos of the same plant, and no one knows what it is. Can I send you the photos, they are small jpegs, for identification? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of pink flower near Austin April 10, 2008 My mother found a flower early this spring at Chrystal Falls park just outside of Austin. It was between red and salmon pink in color, tubular in shape and about 4 inches long. It smells very bad, a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of wildflower in Illinois April 03, 2008 I have a similar question to the one asking about the blue/lilac wildflower in Illinois. Every year here in IL a blue, stragly, petal-ed flower/weed blooms - particularly along the edge of curbs alon... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Spaeralcea sp. Globe Mallow March 31, 2008 Let's do it again....my computer had some "issues" and I lost your answer.... I purchased a mallow from the WFC about two years ago...I was told at the time they had not yet identified the plant... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Nomenclatural puzzles March 25, 2008 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants. I have been looking all day for this information. I am look for a plant that is in the genus Cucumis but not in the family Cucurbitacea. A plant that is in the family Cucurbit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of a plant similar to wild lettuc March 24, 2008 I have a plant that was growing by my swimming pool last summer. Its some sort of wild lettuce, but i have been unable to identify it with the resources i have. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |