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

Wednesday - May 07, 2008

From: Houston, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identification of plant with long skinny stems and red flowers
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I keep seeing around this very pretty plant that has long skinny stems and bright red flowers that are tube like and skinny too. I would love to get this plant but do not know what it is called.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants is going to give you several possibilities. If it isn't one of the ones suggested, perhaps you can find the plant(s) and take a photo to send us to identify. You can learn how to submit photos for identification by reading the instructions under "Plant Identification" in the lower righthand corner of the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page.

Here are some possibilities for your plant:

Hesperaloe parviflora (redflower false yucca)

Stachys coccinea (scarlet hedgenettle)

Salvia coccinea (blood sage)

Salvia greggii (autumn sage)

Salvia roemeriana (cedar sage)

Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (flame acanthus)

Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)


Hesperaloe parviflora

Hesperaloe parviflora

Stachys coccinea

Salvia coccinea

Salvia greggii

Salvia roemeriana

Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii

Aquilegia canadensis

 

 

 

More Plant Identification Questions

Identification of strange dark green blobs
February 03, 2012 - In my back yard I have a type of plant with no roots only around in the summer and when it rains. It looks like a person took a piece lettuce and put way too much water into it and wadded it up. It ...
view the full question and answer

Books for plant identification of native California species
March 14, 2008 - When I was going to college, many years ago, there was a field book for plant identification for California native species. I am trying to find that book again or at least a good pocket book on plant...
view the full question and answer

Mystery Ground Cover in WI
July 11, 2011 - I am trying to identify a ground cover plant that has started growing in my yard (I'm in central Wisconsin). It is very short, only about 1-2 inches tall and is very thick covering the ground. It h...
view the full question and answer

How to have Mimosa and Yucca identified.
July 30, 2008 - Hello, I have recently come across what I believe to be Mimosa microphylla in a very southwest corner of Mississippi. The only thing different about this patch is its brilliant white blooms! I can no...
view the full question and answer

Name of algae on ground that swells after a rain
March 12, 2009 - What is the name of the algae looking stuff on the ground that swells up after rain. I thought it was "nostock" but I can't locate that name anywhere. Thanks!
view the full question and answer

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