Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

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.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Sunday - February 08, 2015

From: Elmendorf, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Picture of Castilleja purpurea
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Can you tell me what the seedling for Castilleja purpurea looks like? Or do you have a picture?

ANSWER:

The only photo I could find of Castilleja purpurea (Prairie paintbrush) is a photo on the USDA Plants Database webpage.  It shows several plants with blooms but also several small seedlings.  You can see a photo of the seedling of the related species, Castilleja indivisa (Entireleaf indian paintbrush), on the Wildseed Farms webpage.  Also, there are photos below of the seedlings of Castilleja indivisa and photos of both species of mature plants.

 

From the Image Gallery


Texas indian paintbrush
Castilleja indivisa

Texas indian paintbrush
Castilleja indivisa

Texas indian paintbrush
Castilleja indivisa

Texas indian paintbrush
Castilleja indivisa

Texas indian paintbrush
Castilleja indivisa

Prairie paintbrush
Castilleja purpurea

Prairie paintbrush
Castilleja purpurea

More Plant Identification Questions

Plant identification
June 10, 2008 - Mr. Smarty Plants, My neighbor gave me a plant that is about 3 foot tall, has a main stalk, and leaves that produce small “baby” plants at the edge of the leaves. These plants grow roots and once dev...
view the full question and answer

plant identification, Portulaca pilosa, Kiss-me-quick
October 02, 2007 - There is a small plant with clusters of red-purple flowers and tubular succulent leaves on branching stems I found in the flower boxes at the top of the look-out tower there at the center. I forgot to...
view the full question and answer

Tree with light-colored bark, thorns and long white clumps of flowers
August 18, 2015 - I bought a tree at the LBJWC plant sale a couple years ago but lost the name of the tree. I'm finally ready to plant it in the ground and would like to learn more about what its needs are. Can you ...
view the full question and answer

Identification of plant that looks like a spider plant
February 25, 2008 - Okay Mr. Smarty Pants, I have an identification for you. I have no pictures, but I've been staring at this plant for weeks trying to figure out what it is. I got it as a cutting from a friend who got...
view the full question and answer

Identifying Rhus lanceolata in Texas
April 28, 2013 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I think I've identified two small trees, 4 to 5 feet high at the back fence line and two in the front yard flower beds as prairie flameleaf sumac (or at least some kind of s...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.