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
1 rating

Tuesday - May 20, 2008

From: Vicksburg, MS
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Mystery plant in Vicksburg, MS
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I have a strange plant that has come up by a ditch next to my house. I've lived here 23 years and have never seen anything like it. I can only guess that it came up from a packet of wildflower seeds that I threw in that area last year that didn't do anything then or now except for this strange plant. I would like to send you 2 pictures of this thing to possibly identify it. I tried searching the web but can't seem to find a place that will let me send the pics. It's a huge thing and still growing. I don't know if I should mow it down or not but I'm opting not to in case it blooms. Can I send the pics via a reply to your email to me? Thank you for your consideration, Kalar Walters

ANSWER:

We certainly would like to see a picture of that to see if we can identify it. Go to the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page, and in the lower right-hand corner, under "Plant Identification", are instructions for e-mailing pictures to us. We're looking forward to seeing it.
 

More Plant Identification Questions

Is there an App for that?
June 05, 2012 - Do you have an app like leafsnap that my students can use to identify the plants around our school? I would like them to take a picture of the leaf of each plant with their iPads and have your data b...
view the full question and answer

Plant identification and advice about moving it
March 10, 2010 - I have a plant (a thick stalk about 4 foot tall with yellow flowers on it) that blooms in the morning and the flowers fall off at night. I have searched for info on this plant and have come up short. ...
view the full question and answer

Identification of a low raspberry-like plant in New Brunswick
July 09, 2011 - I am searching for a plant I found last year while walking in the woods in early summer. It was a low plant, much like a raspberry, but not on thorny growth and close to the ground. Seems to be on new...
view the full question and answer

Identity of fleshy three-leaved vine in Central Texas
June 20, 2015 - I have a 3 leaved evergreen vine, that I assume is a central Texas native, growing in my yard in a non irrigated mostly shady spot. It has a strong odor when touched and looks and feels like a succule...
view the full question and answer

Identification of Matelea reticulata
June 08, 2007 - I recently saw blooming in an Austin park a small white-green flower ( 3/4 ") with a center that looked like a small pearl. Any idea what it is. I can't find it in my flower book, It was on a waist...
view the full question and answer

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