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 ID in Crossville TN July 12, 2009 I live in Crossville TN and have found a common plant on hikes in the state park. It has long (1-1.5)narrow leaves that are green and deep red? What is it please? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant ID in Springfield OR July 08, 2009 I recently discovered a wildflower closely resembling the Oregon Lady Slipper, apparently a wild orchid, but with many blooms on a single long stem and with no apparent leaves. I'd like more informat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant ID in Woodbury TN July 07, 2009 Please help identify this unusual plant. I am in Middle TN, Cannon County. This plant comes up every year and looks like something tropical. It has huge leaves about 16 + inches wide. and grows abo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mystery perennial in Clearfield, PA July 07, 2009 I have a perennial growing in my flower garden. I didn't plant extra seeds and don't know what it is..it has palm like leaves and long thin stem. It grows tall, maybe about 10 inches from the ground... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification July 05, 2009 Large leaf plant over 5 feet tall red stems and purple almost black flat berries in large clumps. Any idea? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fringe tree appropriate for Libertyville IL July 05, 2009 I live in Libertyville Illinois and admired a fringe tree on the Biltmore Estate. Are the weather & soil conditions conducive to having a fringe tree in this area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification July 03, 2009 I have a tree growing in my backyard that has started to produce bean shaped blue berries the interior of the berry is red and the leaf shape is long and triangle and the stems the berries grow on are... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification called Touch-Me-Not, Impatiens sp. July 03, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: My grandmother used to have a bed of plants that would come up every year that she called "Touch Me Nots". The flower was about 1 1/2" across, orangey with flat green leav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fog fruit? June 29, 2009 In your native plant database listing for Phyla nodiflora one of the common names seems to be misspelled (fog instead of frog). FYI, if wrong, please let me know. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Botanical name for a kidney-shaped leaf June 25, 2009 Dear Mr Smarty Plants, I love the site.. but I was searching for id on this odd plant I have.. I have lived here a few years now, and have seen them before, never seemingly to have a flower..but ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification June 25, 2009 I found a low-growing plant with thick spoon shaped light green leaves. It was growing in the edged of a lawn, The leaves almost look like they have fine white hairs on them. It is very pretty, but wh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant ID in Flower Mound TX June 23, 2009 I have a large native tree in the back yard, leaves resembles a live oak, but evergreen,& small white flowers in the spring, very tall vase shaped tree. It had no acorns or berries. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Poison ivy in Hilliard OH? June 15, 2009 I found a plant with five jagged leaves growing close to the ground in the trees of Ohio. Is this poison ivy or a similar plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Question about dwarf oyster plant, Tradescantia spathacea June 12, 2009 I sm looking for Dwarf Oyster plant like the one described about 3-4 inches in height, color green and purple. But the nurseries here in Clearwater FL don't seem to know what I am talking about. S... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Searching for a dye made from a French weed June 09, 2009 Dear Mr smarty plants, I watched a gardening show on cable and they talked about a place in France where they use a weed called Wod to make dye and dye fabric and several other items to sell. It was ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of a plant with opposite leaves in Washington June 09, 2009 My friend just bought a house and in the front yard are some bushes. I don't have a picture, but they are only 1-2 feet tall now. They have these unusual stems, throughout the entire bush. They are v... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fragrant night blooming plant June 09, 2009 My Grandmother use to have a night fragrant night blooming plant that she referred to as "baby Jesus being born" when it bloomed. Are you familiar with anything of this nature? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification--Mock Orange June 08, 2009 I "grew up" with what I was told was a "Mockorange Bush." I've been looking around to be able to try to identify what variety it was. To be specific, the one that I am familiar with had little... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification June 07, 2009 Having great difficulty identifying a perennial plant. Although it looks marvelous (coming in two shades), I haven't been able to correctly identify it. Local college feels it is Eupatorium Rugosum, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification June 03, 2009 We have a new vine growing on our fence. It eventually gets red balls (about 1" in dia) that are filled with small white seeds. Before the balls turn red, they are covered with a fine, thin fern (f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification June 01, 2009 I'm trying to identify a bush/shrub that is approx. 6 ft. with leaves like an azalea but has orange hot air balloon shaped balls that turn to small orange flowers. Blooming now in May. Dies back ea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about unknown house plant in Cleburne, TX May 29, 2009 Please,I have a green houseplant w/5-6 inch wide heartshaped leaves that grows small,green fingerling pods. Very long,zig-zaggy stems on this plant. No florist/gardener here can identify.Pretty and ge... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification May 29, 2009 I have a plant that I always thought was poison ivy. This spring however I saw an unusual flower on several of these plants. Three leaves and the flower almost looks like a wilted calla lily, but is a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification May 24, 2009 It is a small, thin vine growing in the grass in the shadier parts of the lawn. Every 3-4 inches it has two thin stems about three inches long sprouting from almost exactly the same place on the vine... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification. May 23, 2009 Looking for the name of a green, bamboo-like plant with narrow leaves. Have no pictures. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant ID in Champaign IL May 23, 2009 I am in search of the name of a flower. It is tall, believe on a single stem, if you ever have been in Champaign, Il it grows along the interstate near the overpasses, very pretty purple flowers. I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification May 19, 2009 I found a large shrub/tree behind an old building on my place. It has small smooth oval leaves 3/4-1 inch; x 1/2 inch, small somewhat clusters of a blue fruit 1/4-1/2 inch diam with one seed in it. Ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification May 13, 2009 Every spring I have pink evening primroses blooming near the curb where the soil is very poor - lots of clay, very dry. Along with the pink evening primroses, there is a vine that can spread about th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Who was Salvia clevelandii named for? May 12, 2009 Where does the term "clevelandii (as in the Salvia I recently saw for the first time) originate? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of a plant in Ohio May 11, 2009 Trying to identify a tree/shrub in Ohio. It grows from 6-8', and blooms through the summer. It has small green glossy leaves, and bell/trumpet shaped flowers in pink, white, or yellow with stripes. T... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellow lupine-like flowers May 10, 2009 I recently visited Hodges Gardens near Many, LA. There was a large plant, 2' tall with spikey yellow lupine-like flowers. Plant had hairy leaves and a big spread--I'm sure it is a wild perennial. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of a plant in SE Georgia May 06, 2009 Identity of a plant- This plant is growing wild in SE GA, but I have never seen it before until this year. The plant has a stolon "root" system it forms an upright stem and a cluster of flowers begi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Verifying safety of berries on a red mulberry tree in Austin May 06, 2009 I think I have a red mulberry tree on a newly purchased property. The property sits on Lake Austin and the tree is at least 40 feet tall with red fruits about an inch long that look like skinny black... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification May 01, 2009 Curious about the identification of the foxglove-looking plants flowering along the railroad tracks that parallel Lancaster in Handley. Some are white while others are purple. Leaves are about 2-3 inc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification April 26, 2009 My brother in law just bought a parcel of land that is bespeckled with shrubs we cannot identify. The land is located in south west Michigan. It is zoned agricultural. Due to the fact that it is ea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification April 25, 2009 What is: square stalk perennial with bright yellow flowers at the top (mainly)? Starts growing first thing in spring, invades surrounding areas, puts out long serrated leaves along the 7-8 ft stalks.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification April 16, 2009 There is a plant growing on the side of the road near my home. The stalk of it is thistle like with many prickles. The flower on it is white and has 6 petals. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification April 16, 2009 I have a vine in my flowerbed that has three leaves and thorns and it looks like poison ivy. How can I tell if it is? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identfication April 06, 2009 slow growing woody vine, yellow flowers, (grows butterfly shape leaves with seed in middle of it) in addition to the regular leaves. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification April 05, 2009 Today I was at Woodlawn Gardens, home of Nelly Custis, granddaughter to George Washington. There was a flowering plant there that had green (yes green) bell shaped flowers and very dark green leaves.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification April 04, 2009 I found a purple berry-like plant in my back yard. It has no leaves, and it is about 5 or 6 inches tall. Do you know what it is called? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification April 01, 2009 I have small shiny red berries growing on a tropical appearing shrub with green and marled yellow leaves. The leaves have widely serrated edges. The berries have a large seed inside and very little fl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification in Keller TX March 18, 2009 I'm trying to i.d. a wildflower found in Keller, Tx. It is about 8 in. tall, single upright stem with narrow, slender leaves up the stem, several red blooms at top of stem about 1 inch wide, 5 petals... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is the name of a green plantin Ohio with white flowers that kind of look like broccoli? March 13, 2009 Last summer I saw a plant that had very full, very light green almost white flowers that kind of looked like broccoli. Do you know the name of this plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Name of algae on ground that swells after a rain March 12, 2009 What is the name of the algae looking stuff on the ground that swells up after rain. I thought it was "nostock" but I can't locate that name anywhere. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification March 11, 2009 Hello. I don't know if this is a North American native plant, but here's my question: I have a soft, low groundcover that looks like a miniature version of Foxtail Fern. Lowe's folks suggested it m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification March 09, 2009 green stemmed,whorled leaf,compound leaf, ovate shaped, hairy stemmed thing is fastly taking over my sandy rocked based soil cactus garden. what could it be? i bought my garden in florida View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-blooming of an apparent yucca in Ohio March 09, 2009 I have what looks like a yucca plant in my flower bed. but in the 3 years we have lived here it has never bloomed. It did get a little bigger and has always been green. If it is a yucca, is there any ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| ID for Dill-like weed February 12, 2009 I live in Richmond,VA.and have a man made dam for a pond fed by several springs. There's a scruffy weed that looks like dill weed when it emerges in the spring but is so tough that I can't pull it u... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Proper spacing for planting yuccas January 10, 2009 We bought some yuccas and need to know how far apart to plant them View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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