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.
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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| topic | question | |
| Plant with no leaves, flexible and stores water January 09, 2009 Do you now a plant that has no leaves but stores a lot of water and is very flexible? Maybe a type of vine? Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lycopodium digitatum for Christmas wreaths December 21, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, That's it! The plant "Lycopodium Digitatum" posted on your website on Dec. 20, 2008 in response to my question about the proper name of "Crow's Feet" is indeed the pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant called crows foot/feet used to make wreaths at Christmas December 20, 2008 In Pennsylvania there was a green ground hugging vine I knew as "crow's feet/foot" we used in the 1950s at Christmas time for wreaths and window and door borders. It looked like a cluster of bird'... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of dandelion-like weed in Utah December 16, 2008 What is the over-sized dandelion looking weed in utah that you can blow the seeds just like a dandelion? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification December 15, 2008 I am looking for the name of the plant that looks like the spider plant but can survive the cold weather of the northeast. It looks just like the indoor spider plant but it does not produce offshoots.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What trees in Austin right now have yellow leaves that are falling? December 08, 2008 Right now there are trees in Austin that have bright yellow leaves. Do you know what trees native to Austin turn a very bright yellow in November? It looks like now the leaves are starting to fall off... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of Canopy Plant December 01, 2008 I recently adopted a large house plant from a neighbor who moved away. He called it a 'Canopy Plant', but I'm having no luck with that name when I search for care tips. It seems to be in poor healt... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification November 25, 2008 I live north of Chicago. I have been Gardening just about everything forever. I finally got a surprise gift from a migrating bird, squirrel or possibly my kitchen composting. Apparently from a seed gr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification November 15, 2008 Hi, I live in ne pa.i have always had a fasvorite wild flower with yellow flowers in the spring. the plant lasts all summer and fall til first frost. It gets small thin bean like seed pods that I save... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification November 14, 2008 On our farm we found a plant that we had never seen before. It has long stems coming from center ground level and is about 3 feet tall, looks like a fern from far off. The leaves (length of finger) ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification November 09, 2008 I recently found a GIANT green seed pod around my small town in Northern Virginia. It's about 1 ft. 3 in. in diameter (15 in.) and its making me very curious as to what exactly it is. For the life of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification, Russian olive or buffaloberry November 09, 2008 Thank you for the info I found here regarding the silver buffaloberry and the russian olive. I need help in identifying which small shrub I have(it is one or the other)that was transplanted here on o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification October 30, 2008 Hi. I took a picture of a plant/wildflower at Reimer's Ranch near Dripping SPrings and have been unable to identify it. I searched through the plant database but am having difficulty. Can I send y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of tree with fuschia berries in Pennsylvania October 26, 2008 Northeastern Pennsylvania tree with fuschia berries in autumn. Found one in woods,never saw one before. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification October 23, 2008 We live near Milwaukee Wisconsin. This summer a 5' plant grew by itself in the middle of my flower bed. It has elongated oval green leaves, but its the flowers that are exceptional. They are long,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree with bright green seeds the size of a softball October 22, 2008 My daughter has moved to Taylorsville,Ga and thier are trees that drop bright green seed pods that are round and the size of a soft ball. The outer skin resembles a human brain. Do you have any idea w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification October 13, 2008 We have 105 acres in Mid Michigan. Part of this land is marshland. There is a plant-flower that I have never seen before and no one knows what it is. It is on a long stem with long skinny leaves (2... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification October 12, 2008 I found gorgeous berries on a tree or large bush (about 10 feet tall) and clipped a little cluster the size of my hand. There are 6 or more, starting the size of a blueberry in lime green and growing ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification October 09, 2008 I have a random flower growing out of my rabbit's grave and I can not identify it. Nothing like it grows around us and I didn't plant anything there. The petals are white. There are five of them. Th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 30, 2008 I was just in Alabama this weekend and all alongside the road-side were these georgeous pink flowers. I finally stopped to pick one and thet are even prettier up close! The stem is smooth and leafle... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 29, 2008 My parents have a plant growing that we can not identify. Fast growing to 6 ft in 6 weeks. theleaves look like a fern with little sweet pea looking yellow blooms. The plants leaves fold up at dusk tig... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification September 24, 2008 I have a single stem red vine with purple berries growing on it. It is in a cluster of bushes and gets mostly morning and early afternoon sun. The berries also have small bumps at the stem. I have ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 24, 2008 I found a flower about 5 inches tall and it is Pinkish White the head of it hangs down and looks like a rose that hasn't bloomed yet. It reminds me of an Orchid like Fairy . Its Mystic like! what is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification, green and tube-like September 18, 2008 LOOKING FOR NAME OF A GREEN TUBE-LIKE PLANT (SHAPED LIKE A CALLA LILY). THE VEINS ARE VISIBLE. MAYBE IN CLUSTER View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 17, 2008 I have a plant that I think is called a Brookmania or Bookmania. It has beautiful purple flowers with white centers and darker leaves. I cannot find any info on this flower. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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