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
Saturday - June 16, 2012
From: Antioch, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identity of white flowers, 6 petals and 5 yellow stamens
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Have white flower with 6 petals and 5 yellow stamen in middle . Looks like yellow stamen star cluster. Could be Gladious or Star of bethleham but Star has 6 yellow stamen in middle right? Can you identify? Also has long approximate 24 inch stem.ANSWER:
First of all, you need to understand that our focus and expertise here at the Wildflower Center are with plants that are native to North America. Neither Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem) or any species of Gladiolus are native to North America. Additionally, Star of Bethelehem and Gladiolus do not look really similar. I have a feeling that whatever the plant is that you have, it is a non-native cultivar. Your best bet to determine its identity is to photograph it and then visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification.
More Plant Identification Questions
Dodder
April 06, 2012 - I have seen patches of Bluebonnets that are covered with a stringy,rubbery,orange substance that seems to be choking out the particular patch. It wraps itself around the flowers,completely covering th...
view the full question and answer
Was my grandmother growing a Honeysuckle Bush in Middleton, Idaho?
May 17, 2010 - I would like to know the name of the flowering bush that grew in the backyard of my grandmother's house in Middleton, Idaho. I remember it to be purple in color and had petals with what I used to ca...
view the full question and answer
Identity of Dalea plant
April 03, 2013 - While in Austin recently (I live in Dallas), I visited Jardinero on Cesar Chavez and purchased a shrub identified only as "Dalea". It is 3-4 feet tall, upright habit, typical tiny pea family foliag...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
October 10, 2009 - Please try to identify a shrub growing beside a country road in Van Zandt Co this month. It had tiny, slender cone shaped fruit or "flowers" along the branches. The leaves are dark green, about 1 i...
view the full question and answer
Identification of plant from Tennessee
June 06, 2011 - I was trying to find the identity of a plant my Grandmother grew around her house in West Tennessee. It was a nonflowering plant, about 12-24 in tall, had thornless leaves similar in shape to holly l...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |