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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| Tall plant with bell-shaped upside-down white flowers July 18, 2014 2 tall plants grew outside my suburban New York house in June, blossomed late June. They looked like giant asparagus stalks, and the flowers were white, bell shaped, upside down, look like fairy skirt... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why is Mentzelia oligosperma called chickenthief? July 15, 2014 Could you tell me why Mentzelia oligosperma is sometimes called chickenthief? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification July 10, 2014 I am trying to identify a wildflower that has popped up after a big rain. It is under a foot tall---blooms a yellow bloom in the evenings. It has long narrow leaves sort of like a rosemary. It grows f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of vine with orangish flowers July 09, 2014 I am looking to ID what I believe is a vine growing plant that blooms orangish flowers. I have pictures of the plant, and have attempted to use multiple plant ID websites. But have been unsuccessful. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of plant with white spike blooms and red berries July 06, 2014 I just came back from a hike in Dallas and found large areas where a lanceolate- to acuminate- leafed herb was blooming spikes of white, 4 petal flowers that quickly turn to bright red berries, someti... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How to solve a search problem on the Native Plant Database! July 01, 2014 When I use the LBJ Wildflower Center's Plant Identification Guide, it ALWAYS comes up with no results. It also ALWAYS comes up with Family: Acanthaceae. Could this be why NO question EVERY produces A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native flowers versus non-natives June 30, 2014 Native flowers versus non-natives. What guidelines do use for identification. I come across flowers in different habitats and can't identify them as natives. Also, how do you attach a image to a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of possible toxic plant in Austin, TX June 20, 2014 When we hike with our dogs along Turkey Creek in Austin, they seem to make a bee line to a small green leafy plant when they find it along the trail and eat a few leaves of it. We assume it's not dan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Differences between Desmodium and Lespedezda June 19, 2014 i am trying to determine the difference between lespedeza and desmodium in my full sun wildflower and tall grasses meadow. There appear to be a number of different types of these plants, and they are... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Key for Verbesina virginica June 16, 2014 Are the stems of Verbesina virginica hairy? My in-laws have what I believe is Verbesina virginica (blooms in September here in VA) and another wild flower that blooms before it and is yellow. I'd l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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