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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - February 10, 2011
From: Graford, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identification of low growing plants with flowers that resemble a bunch of grapes in Graford, TX
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
I am in northwest TX and I would like to know the name of the early blooming, very low growing plant that has a single bloom on a bare stem--it is dark crimson and the blooms looks like a bunch of grapes. It blooms about the same time that the lily of the valley blooms.ANSWER:
A little searching based on your description leads to the genus Muscari, sometimes called Grape Hyacinth. This is a genus introduced from Eurasia, and as such falls outside our area of focus which is to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes.
I've included a couple of links to help you determine the name of the plant that you have, and to learn about its care.
I didn't find any mention of crimson flowers in the the descriptions that I read. If after looking at these two sites you are still unsure of the name of the plant, I encourage you to go to our Plant Identification Page to avail yourself of the Plant Identification Forums that are listed there.
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant ID in Flower Mound TX
June 23, 2009 - I have a large native tree in the back yard, leaves resembles a live oak, but evergreen,& small white flowers in the spring, very tall vase shaped tree. It had no acorns or berries.
view the full question and answer
Plant identification from Virginia
May 03, 2012 - We found lots of asparagus like stalks growing randomly in our field here in central Virginia. But, instead of an asparagus head it has a tight cluster of leaves that are small and roundish. Any idea...
view the full question and answer
Plant with stalk of purple berries
August 27, 2008 - I have a plant that just grows.large hollow purple stalk, purple berries in long clusters ,
grows very tall any thoughts.. it grows like a weed
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 vine in Pennsylvania
June 11, 2012 - I have several vine plants growing in my deck planters from last season. The leaves are 9 pointed, it looks more like 7, but there are 2 little points at the very bottom of the larger leaves. When t...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |