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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Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

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Thursday - April 24, 2014

From: Honolulu, HI
Region: Other
Topic: Non-Natives, Plant Identification
Title: Plant Identification from Honolulu HI
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

We have a ground cover in our Honolulu garden that I have been told is Watermelon Plant. (Not the fruit). We would like more, but cannot find it or the proper name for it. Aprox. 6" round leaf. It does not spread. Can you tell me the proper name and where I might buy more? How can I send a picture?

ANSWER:

While Hawaii is a state in the United States, it is not a garden in North America. It's really too bad, because you must have many truly lovely plants. The Lady Bird Johnson is committed to the growth, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America, but to the area in which the plant is being grown. We get so many, many questions from the designated native areas, our small band of volunteers simply has to limit what we can do. The same story with photographs, we are no longer set up to accept them. Please see our Plant Identification page for alternative suggestions.

Native Plants

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Thursday - April 24, 2014

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