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 07, 2009
From: Woodbury, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant ID in Woodbury TN
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Please help identify this unusual plant. I am in Middle TN, Cannon County. This plant comes up every year and looks like something tropical. It has huge leaves about 16 + inches wide. and grows about 8+ ft high. (it is not an elephant ear, I am familiar with many tropical plants as I am from South FL) It is in full sun, but really looks out of place when the typical trees around are, oak, boxwood, cedar, etc. Any help in identifying this would be appreciated.ANSWER:
Even with the best descriptions, it is difficult to identify plants without seeing them. Go to our Plant Identification site and follow the instructions for submitting a photograph and we will try to ascertain what your mystery plant is. It may be a non-native that has escaped cultivation from a garden somewhere in the area, and since the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to the care, preservation and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which the plant is being grown, we may still not be able to come up with a positive identification.
More Plant Identification Questions
Smarty Plants on milkweed
August 20, 2005 - I am looking for a photo of the local milkweed in the state of North Carolina. The name would be a help also. I am raising butterflies and I am in dire need of plants.
view the full question and answer
Identification of artichoke-like plant in Idaho
May 13, 2013 - There is a plant/weed growing in the front yard, my mom says it is a flower I say a weed. It looks a lot like an open artichoke and is the same size. It is green except on the tips where it is deep pu...
view the full question and answer
Wanting to grow a Buckley Oak in Amarillo, TX
January 20, 2016 - I live in Amarillo Texas in the Texas Panhandle. I recently became interested in the Buckley Oak and was wondering if it might grow well here and if so, where I might find one that I could purchase a...
view the full question and answer
Inquiry about the Arizona Cypress trees in the Family Garden
March 20, 2015 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I recently visited The Wildflower Center and enjoyed seeing several features that were new since my last visit two years ago. In the Family Garden areas I saw several beautifu...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
May 29, 2009 - I have a plant that I always thought was poison ivy. This spring however I saw an unusual flower on several of these plants. Three leaves and the flower almost looks like a wilted calla lily, but is a...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |