Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

While this is a native plant question, the answer is not native plants. We get many, many questions in which our correspondents ask us for a plant that will do something that plants don't do. Just a few days ago, we got a question from someone who wanted a list of 40 or more plants that ate smog. Unfortunately, there is no such list because there is no such plant.

If your question means remove iron FROM water, we can give you some links to help with that, but not plants that will do it by themselves. To some extent plants need iron; please read this University of Illinois Extension article on Chlorosis.

Since we are unclear in exactly why or where you want to remove iron - whether it is excess iron in well water or city water, or just iron stains appearing on sinks or laundry - we will link you to some articles on iron, water and plants, and see if you can locate information that will help you.

From Virginia Tech University: Iron-rich soil can help remove lead

North Dakota State University: Treatment Systems for Household Water Supplies

eHow: How to Remove Rust and Iron from Water

Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Office for Mercer County