Explore Plants

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
    
 

Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer
2 ratings

Saturday - May 23, 2009

From: Ramona, CA
Region: California
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification.
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

Looking for the name of a green, bamboo-like plant with narrow leaves. Have no pictures.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants can't think of any native plants that fit your description, but can think of a few non-native plants that do.  Chamaedorea seifrizii (Bamboo palm) is a native of Mexico and Central America.  Here are more photos and more information about C. seifrizii.  Another possibility is Dypsis lutescens (Golden cane palm), a native of Madagascar.   Tamarisk or salt cedar trees, Tamarix sp. are invasive non-natives that also have the look of bamboo.   If none of these are the plant you are looking for and you can find a photo of the plant, please send it to us and we will do our best to identify it for you.  Visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page for information on submitting photos.            

 

 

 

More Plant Identification Questions

Identification of plant, probably Datura.
October 15, 2007 - We currently have in bloom a very leggy, about 2 foot high volunteer plant in Fredericksburg, TX that has a segmented stem, single large trumpet shaped flowers that stick straight up about 4 inches in...
view the full question and answer

Identification of plant from childhood
April 23, 2011 - I am trying to locate and identify a plant from my childhood (I'm 65). It was either a small tree or possibly a tree formed hedge like plant. It had small roundish leaves scattered on tiny limbs simi...
view the full question and answer

What is gelatinous plant in a Missouri lake
July 25, 2008 - Q what is gel like plant floating in lake looks like a bag filled with green living plant and is see thru and has red. when touched feels like piece of fat but seems to be living in water. Missouri
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

Plant identification
July 24, 2010 - Purchased foliage plant - no one knows its name. Leaves (stems) are bright green and 10" tall. Has "babies" like a spider plant but leaves (stems) are wider and thicker. Has a "rib" to them in...
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants's Facebook profile Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.

Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends.