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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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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 - May 29, 2008

From: Rio Vista , CA
Region: California
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: What is it?
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

We have two bushes about three ft. high that have narrow leaves that are about one to two inches long and glossy green on top side with soft green on back. They are fairly close together on stems with the bushy blossoms grouped at end. The blossoms are about the length of the leaves and are made up of dozens and dozens of tiny trumpet shaped blooms that fade from light lavender to purple. What is it? Thank you

ANSWER:

Especially since you are in California, where there is such incredible plant diversity, we can't even hazard a guess on this one, but we'd love to know what it is, too. Please go to the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page and, in the lower right-hand corner under "Plant Identification," there are instructions for e-mailing us a picture.
 

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