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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| Need to identify orange tube-like plants in Middleboro, MA October 23, 2009 Mr. Smarty Plants~ I live near some industrial companies, and lately I have been finding these orange plants, like tubes almost the top being brownish all over my backyard in the mulch. They have a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Winterberry holly not fruiting October 22, 2009 Regarding Ilex verticillata, which I have planted in a partial sun, somewhere between all dry and all wet location, i don't see any red berries, and it's mid-october. We are in the 'burbs of just ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication October 21, 2009 Hi...Can you please identfy the tall, evergreen shrub with purple plum-colored foliage that I have noticed in winter locally?...Hope so, need he color! THX View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification October 20, 2009 I have encountered a plant (two growing side by side) in our wooded back yard. It came up on its own, is about two feet tall, has leaves resembling that of an Angel's trumpet, about 4-5" long, jagge... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Book for identifying Texas plants by dichotomous key from Seguin TX October 12, 2009 What is the best book(s) for identifying Texas plants using a dichotomous key? View Mr. Smarty Plants' 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 Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification October 10, 2009 I am trying to name a pink fall blooming wildflower. It is growing in a ditch and has several blooms on a stalk about 4' tall. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification, Oxalis drummondii October 07, 2009 All around Austin in the last couple of weeks I've noticed a beautiful lavender flower blooming in dense clumps. I haven't been able to look at them closely because it seems they prefer to be in th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification October 06, 2009 We have a large bush type plant, about 4 feet tall, fragant voilet flowers, large dark green leaves and spiney seed pods (about the size of golf balls) that have many seeds inside. They started growi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identifcation October 05, 2009 I have 3-4' high plants, spaced out thick red-greem stalks, w/slender long dark green leaves, several round "single" light lavender colored flowers 1&1/2" in circumference continuously bloom. Butt... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication October 05, 2009 While visiting a lake near Dallas, Texas this past summer, I found a flower floating in the lake. It was small, only about an inch or so across, had three petals, was a deep magenta shade, and had th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of a white beebalm October 03, 2009 I have a photo of what looks like Bee Balm but it is white in color. What is the name of this wildflower? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant responsible for thorns in dogs' fur October 02, 2009 Do you know of a plant or bush that has very small, very thin triangle shaped thorn? My dogs have been coming in with these in their fur and I want to get rid of the plant/bush they are coming from. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need identification of a bush with red bumpy berries in PA. October 02, 2009 Pennsylvania - We are trying to identify a bush that has small red bumpy berries. The berries are the size of a crab apple or a cherry. Can you tell us what it is? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification October 01, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Ever since we received this (much needed and wonderful) rain in Austin, my gardens and yard are being swamped with these tiny, green clover-like plants. I've never seen it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification from Alpharetta GA September 28, 2009 I found a thorny bush in a yard. It had either immature fruit or a seed pod that I would like identified. The pod was a little larger than a golf ball, yellow, and a little fuzzy. When cut open it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication September 28, 2009 I live in Kyle Texas and my neighbor has a tree with white blooms and when they fall off the twigs have a wavy look at the end with no leaves. we spoke to a nursery and they thought maybe an eve's ne... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 26, 2009 I came back from vacation to find a wild herb growing in my back yard. It looks similar to dill, cilantro, or fennel; which makes me think it's in the umbrelliferae family, but it's not a large plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 21, 2009 NEAR ABILENE STATE PARK GREEN RODS SHOOT UP PURPLE BLOOM MID TO LATE SEPTEMBER LONG AND SLENDER WITH GREEN SPIKES ALMOST LIKE A PINE OR EVERGREEN COMES EVERY YEAR NO MATTER HOW MUCH RAIN WHAT IS IT?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant at 6500 ft. in Boulder UT September 19, 2009 Located at 6,500 feet in Boulder, Utah..not Colorado in sandy soil with irrigation, we have discovered a deep green leafy (unfurls from the center) plant with six lobes on each side of the leaf stem. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Thermopsis caroliniana not in database from Philadelphia September 16, 2009 Thermopsis caroliniana is not in your plant database. What is the reason for that? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification of Texas bullnettle (Cnidoscolus texanus) September 15, 2009 I'm trying to identify a small thorny plant that I found growing on our (previously undeveloped) dry lot in Hutto, Central Texas. It has small white flowers and green thorny bulbs. The leaves and st... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 12, 2009 I am looking for the name of plant my Grandma used to own. She always referred to it as a spider plant. The green part of the plant looked very similar to a spider plant but growing around the base of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification for Louisiana September 12, 2009 Trying to identify a "fruit bearing" plant around Natchitoches, Louisiana. Grows about waist high to average man, slightly elongated green leaf, bearing small green "fruit" or "berry", with pape... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 06, 2009 Could you please identify a plant with a scalloped elephant ear type leaf, wooden base with oval areas where old large wooden roots from above the ground have fallen off. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification August 31, 2009 I need to identify a plant with broad leaves from a central base, no stalk, it also has a large inverted pinecone shaped central pod purplish in color. It is in heavy shade. Approx 2 ft high. Thank yo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mystery plant August 31, 2009 mystery plant, multiple non-woody stems from a single base, thorns like a rose bush,leaves like poison ivy in sets of three with the top dark green underside pale green. thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identifcation of flower in a bouquet August 30, 2009 My boyfriend bought a bouquet and I'd like to know the name of the kind of green flower that looks like a mum but the petals look like rich, full grass or like a tall shag carpet. It has a stem with ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication for Roosevelt Park, NY August 28, 2009 Looking for the name and chemical breakdown of a tree. Its leaves are green with heart like puffs blooming out. This tree was seen at Roosevelt Park, Long Island NY 11575 View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification from Lebanon CT August 25, 2009 What is that plant-- a wildflower --large thick stalk--flowers can be purple, pink, and very light pink. 3 branches off of stalk--flowers growing up each branch. Flowers smell similar to peonies.Leave... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant with orange berries in Oregon August 24, 2009 I have a viney type plant that hangs down over and along a rock wall at my house in Portland, that is producing an orange colored berry. What is it? Is it edible? My neighbor just tried one and he ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of landscape plants at malls in Waco and Temple August 20, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty, I am trying to identify a plant used in landscaping for several shopping centers within the Waco-Temple areas. It looks to be large mounding grass, but flowers June-July with shaft... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification August 17, 2009 I am trying to identify a plant in Crocket County Texas. It looks similar to a small thistle. It has purple thorny bulbs on it, the stem and leaves also are thorny. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication August 16, 2009 We live in a forested area in Rockmart,GA. There is a creek in the woods and a lily type plant that only flowers occasionally. It is white in the center and has thin white spires that jut out from t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication August 15, 2009 I have this strange bright orangey-red plant growing in my yard that I have never seen before. It's about 3 inches tall that comes to a point on top and is hollow inside and very soft? What could i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification August 14, 2009 I am trying to identify a plant I saw this past weekend in San Diego, California. It was a low growing shrub planted along the road near a beach. The flowers looked like large star jasmine, leaves wer... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication August 14, 2009 a vine plant with small white flowers with a small red flower on the end of the bloom,looks like a little red bird sitting on the flower.It is beautiful. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication August 09, 2009 We have red pointed things growing wild in our yard. About the size of an index finger. They just pop up after a rain. Are they poisonous? We have pets. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are kidney wood and beebrush related from Burleson TX August 06, 2009 I have a kidneywood tree from a nursery. I also have a Beebrush plant. My reference on Beebrush designates it as kidneywood. My two plants look similar but somewhat different. I am confused. Are they ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication July 30, 2009 Hello - Can you help me ID a plant? There are a few growing in grassy areas off roadways in Luna, NM. I will attach photos in photo section. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification July 29, 2009 I have a plant that came up in a flower pot.I wonder if you could hep me.The plant has six leaves to a stem and the leaves close up at night View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication July 27, 2009 My wife and I have our first summer garden at our new home in the Panhandle of Texas. Included within our crop are several alien large, broad stalk, broad leaved plants with an extremely pungent, offe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is Carolina Jessamine in San Antonio? July 24, 2009 Okay, so if Gelsemium sempervirens is the one photographed by Joe Marcus in the "Explore Plants" section, then what is the actual name of the plant that is in every other yard in San Antonio, widely... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of all-white small plants growing in the woods in Belmont, MA. July 21, 2009 I have just seen a group of completely ALL-WHITE small plants growing in the woods. They have 4-8in. stalks with a kind of bell-shaped flower growing at the top. There is no green anywhere on this pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| ID of odd woodland plant in PA? July 20, 2009 Found in the woods in Eastern Pennsylvania. It is about 8 inches tall and were found in clusters of 3 to 10. They are clear. with pink and black tops. Similar to a flower, but snaps like a fungus. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification from Springfield MA July 19, 2009 We have a house next to us that is vacant. The lawn has not been mowed in months. a tall flower has grown amongst the grass and weeds. It is about 3 to 4 feet tall green stem and the flower is about 2... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is sage-like plant in New River AZ? July 17, 2009 I have a sage like looking plant growing wild in my yard. I live in the Sonora Desert. Its leaves are purple and once a year in spring it will bloom small blooms that are lavender. It grows 2 to 3 an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mystery plant in private garden in Hutchinson MN July 16, 2009 I recently toured an amazing private garden. While touring the owner called her potted plant with purple clustered flowers something that sounds like 'pinsta'. Do you have any idea what it might ha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of a plant with yellow flowers in Michigan. July 14, 2009 Would you know what this perennial is? The plant has a reddish colored stem, the leaves are long and narrow, approx 31/2 inches long, and 1/2 to 3/4 inch across. The buds are long approx 2 inches, a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is this a sycamore tree in Houston TX? July 13, 2009 I believe I have a 6 year old American Sycamore planted in front of my condo. There are no seed pods (balls) ever on this tree. I thought all Sycamores have those. Is my tree too young to produce the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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