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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| Picture of Castilleja purpurea February 08, 2015 Can you tell me what the seedling for Castilleja purpurea looks like? Or do you have a picture? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant ID–maybe a lupine? February 02, 2015 We have a strange plant growing in our flowerbed that we did not knowingly plant. It sprang up last summer and has continued to grow throughout the winter in spite of several freezes. We live just eas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of seedlings December 20, 2014 So..last spring I spread out a bag of random Texas wildflower seed I bought at Home Depot. Bautiful things happened. Since that time I've collected seeds while out camping etc and just been chunking ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are Brown-eyed susans and Black-eyed susans the same species? December 02, 2014 Are Brown eyed Susans the same as the Black-eyed Susan? I've read that they are both common names for the same plant, but the flower looks slightly different in different regions. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of blue sage-like plant blooming in September in Lubbock TX November 07, 2014 This has bothered me for years. It looks like a miniature version of Salvia azure. About a foot talk with multiple stems. Flowering in September. Grows on the hillsides overlooking Buddy Holly Lak... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bermuda, not the only option in Memphis November 04, 2014 I'm building an energy efficient home in Memphis and want to extend that strategy to the landscaping. I'd like to plant native grasses, but this lot is surrounded by lots sodded with Bermuda grass.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant ID in Arkansas October 29, 2014 Harrison, Ark I borrowed pix, hope they can be seen. Fast growing, 5' popped up in area- it screams abutilon to me, but the flower doesnt. Waited til Sept to bloom. Nowhere for pic. Green/ yellow tub... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of a vine with red berries in Weatherford, Texas October 17, 2014 I have found a vine with red berries that I would appreciate an ID for. How can I send you a photo or two of it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Houseplant identification October 15, 2014 Had a houseplant with leaves that were green on the top and purplish on the bottom. The leaves were velvety to the touch. Would like to know what it was. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where do snake herb and skeleton-leaf goldeneye get their names? October 05, 2014 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Where does snake herb, and skeleton leaf goldeneye get their names from? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What is the plant called wingspan? September 21, 2014 I have a lot of environmental allergies and saw a positive result for "wingspan" yet I cannot find ANY information online about that particular plant. I was told it's "tumbleweed" by the medical ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification September 20, 2014 I was recently visiting Texas and kept seeing a particular plant in drainage bottoms and wetland areas (note these areas at the time of my visit were very dry). I was hoping you might be able to help... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrub with thorns, black fruit and citrus fragrance in Michigan September 19, 2014 I'm not sure that my plant is a native, but I'm hoping to find some answer. There is a small patch of roadside shrubs on my property which I've been unable to identify. They have simple opposite ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of vine growing in Naples Florida September 15, 2014 I live on country/residential property outside of Naples, Florida. This year I have had dozens of seedlings of some type of vine popping up all over. I have posted on a couple plant blogs looking for ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference between invasive Chinese and Japanese wisterias and native wisteria September 12, 2014 Dear Mr or Ms Smarty Plants, Is there any way I can tell for sure if my wisteria is native? I bought it at a place when it was in bloom that sold a lot of native plants. I Would like to know for sure... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Tagetes lemmonii (Copper Canyon Daisy) native to the Southwest? September 01, 2014 Due to the continued drought I have resolved to only use native plants in my garden. Copper canyon daisy is be recommended more often at nurseries. The NPSOT lists it a native of Arizona, yet I cann... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seed pod of Proboscidea louisianica (Deveil's claw) in New Mexico August 30, 2014 I found the most amazing seed pods of the devil's claw right here in Albuquerque. I thought it was a wood skeleton of a pterodactyl (flying dinosaur, I believe), but heard it's a devil's claw. Ok... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification from New York August 21, 2014 I have a sunflower like plant growing mysteriously in our garden. Its leaves are large heart shaped. It is a single stem plant. The base of each branch is a small, orange colored bud looking as if... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of tree with outrageous thorns August 10, 2014 Can you identify this tree? It has these outrageous thorns on its trunk. They are in clusters and are anywhere from 1" long to 4" long or so. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Flowering vine with yellow flowers in Nevada August 10, 2014 A flowering vine started growing in our Henderson back yard about 2 months ago. It has variegated green leaves & yellow flowers. We decided not to pull it out & now it's spreading. I've looked on v... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of bush/vine with purple berries August 09, 2014 I was clearing fence line and came across this plant it looks like a Bush but underneath grows like a vine it has long broad leaves that reminded me of Polk salad but it grows berry clusters the berri... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tree that looks like cedar elm but with smooth bark August 09, 2014 What tree looks like a cedar elm, but has smooth bark? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification August 07, 2014 there is a plant in our yard...I believe it to be in the seed phase..it has 3 or 5 pointed leaves topped with a green fuzzy ball then another set of leaves and a green fuzzy ball..this is continued a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification August 06, 2014 I have a plant my kids got me, but I cant figure out what it is. It has long thick waxy leaves and instead of flowers the leaves at the top turn white. Do you know what it is? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification of orange-flowered plant with portulaca-like leaves August 02, 2014 As a last resort, I'm asking you. The plant identification page has not been helpful. Recently moved to Breckenridge, Texas and found several plants with 5 petaled orange flowers in the pasture. L... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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