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.
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.
rate this answer
Tuesday - July 31, 2007
From: Searsmont, ME
Region: Northeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identificaation of volunteer plant in Maine
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a volunteer in my garden in Maine that I have been unable to identify. It is a perennial that grows in full sun. It has formed a thick mat of plants whose leaves are about and its leaves are dark green, 1.5 inches long with occasional white streaks. It doesn't get any higher than 2.5 inches. This year for the first time it has produced a tiny (.5") white flower. The plant showed up more than ten years ago. The flower appears to have four petals, though it may be two petals split and curving up and down from the center. Can you help me identify it?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants loves identifying mystery plants, but it is almost impossible to do from a description alone. If you could send us a photograph or two, we will do our very best to tell you what it is. Here are some guidelines for submitting photographs for plant identification:
1. Tell us where and when you found the plant and describe the site where it occurred.
2. Take several images including details of leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and the overall plant.
3. Save images in JPEG format, not more than 640 x 480 pixels in size, with resolution set at 300 pixels per inch.
4. Send email with images attached to [email protected]. Put Plant Identification Request in the subject line of your email.
You can also read these instructions on the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page.
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification
September 26, 2009 - I came back from vacation to find a wild herb growing in my back yard. It looks similar to dill, cilantro, or fennel; which makes me think it's in the umbrelliferae family, but it's not a large plan...
view the full question and answer
Information about a red-flowered Pavonia lasiopetala in central TX.
September 07, 2010 - I have grown Pavonia for years and just let it re-seed where it wants (and remove if I don't want it where it falls). This year I created a new 6 inch raised bed amended with compost and some manure...
view the full question and answer
Plant ID by pictures from Boise ID
May 01, 2014 - DEAR WILDFLOWER CENTER, TOOK SOME PICTURES A WEEK AGO--THE BOISE BOTANICAL GARDEN IDENTIFIED THE HENBIT BUT COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE REDDISH CYLINDRICAL FLOWERS IN PHOTO #4--CAN YOU HELP?
YOU CAN FIND...
view the full question and answer
Assistance in photographing Turnera diffusa in Rio Grande Valley
March 20, 2006 - Do you know where I can photograph a specimen of Turnera diffusa Willd. ex J.A. Schultes var. aphrodisiaca? I'll be in Texas in May and it is on my list to try and locate. I understand it grows in ...
view the full question and answer
Identification of a vine in El Paso, Texas
November 23, 2012 - I live in Del Rio Texas - Zone 8/9 and I have a vine which can't be identified. It looks like a morning glory white flower with crimson throat, but the leaf pattern is like a 5-7 fingered hand with d...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |