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 identification May 07, 2008 I have a green bush that us come up in the old garden spot it has littl green balls all over it with seeds like in them, what could it be? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant with long skinny stems and red flowers May 07, 2008 I keep seeing around this very pretty plant that has long skinny stems and bright red flowers that are tube like and skinny too. I would love to get this plant but do not know what it is called. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification May 07, 2008 I have a plant growing in my yard that I would like to know what it is. It has two very different leaf types on the same plant. One set of leaves is thick and oval in shape, the others look very much ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of low plant with like waterlily pad May 04, 2008 Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a low growing plant with leaves the shape of a waterlily pad, approx.1" growing all over my yard. I actually like them but would like to know the name of the plant. Thank y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Correct photos of Cynoglossum virginianum April 30, 2008 I recently found some "wild comfrey" (Cynoglossum virginianum) growing in woodlands in Atlanta,GA. When I used the photos on Wildflower Center website to ID this plant, I found what appears to be t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of a flower, perhaps a yarrow April 27, 2008 There is a a flower blooming now on the roadside and in fields here in Waco. It really looks like Yarrow, but I don't want to harvest any and make a mistake. Can I send a pic to you guys and see if... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Good website for identifying wildflowers April 27, 2008 What is a good website to identify wildflowers? I have done Google searches and none of the websites seem to help. Where should I go? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Locating Rhododendron calendulaceum April 26, 2008 Trying to locate Rhododendron calendulaceum View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is difference between Rhododendrons and Azaleas April 23, 2008 I am replanting my entire front yard as a native woodland garden (I am on Long Island, NY). I am having a hard time finding native rhododendrons and/or azaleas. I would prefer to remain true to the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for rattlesnake flower April 22, 2008 I taught school for many years. The students and I identified wildflowers. I had one I call Rattlesnake Flower. It was small and had a little blue flower. On the leaves were little seed cases that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant with purple leaves and yellow flowers April 21, 2008 I'd like to know the name of a plant that has purplish leaves and sends roots out underground to make new plants. It can be invasive. It has yellow flowers. Leaves are oval in shape. Almost looks lik... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of orange hydrangea-like flower April 19, 2008 I am trying to identify a tree...It is a tree like bush if that makes any sense...It has tree limbs and it is bushy like a bush...I thought it might be a hydrangea bush that grows straight up instead ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Backward blooming Jack-in-the-pulpit April 18, 2008 why does my jack in the pulpit plant bloom backwards View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of maroon flower taking over bluebonnets April 14, 2008 there is a maroon colored flowering weed at my ranch in Oakwood Texas. It is taking over the bluebonnets and indian paint brushes. Can you tell me what it is and how to get rid of it. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification from photos April 11, 2008 I have 3 photos of the same plant, and no one knows what it is. Can I send you the photos, they are small jpegs, for identification? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of pink flower near Austin April 10, 2008 My mother found a flower early this spring at Chrystal Falls park just outside of Austin. It was between red and salmon pink in color, tubular in shape and about 4 inches long. It smells very bad, a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of wildflower in Illinois April 03, 2008 I have a similar question to the one asking about the blue/lilac wildflower in Illinois. Every year here in IL a blue, stragly, petal-ed flower/weed blooms - particularly along the edge of curbs alon... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Spaeralcea sp. Globe Mallow March 31, 2008 Let's do it again....my computer had some "issues" and I lost your answer.... I purchased a mallow from the WFC about two years ago...I was told at the time they had not yet identified the plant... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Nomenclatural puzzles March 25, 2008 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants. I have been looking all day for this information. I am look for a plant that is in the genus Cucumis but not in the family Cucurbitacea. A plant that is in the family Cucurbit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of a plant similar to wild lettuc March 24, 2008 I have a plant that was growing by my swimming pool last summer. Its some sort of wild lettuce, but i have been unable to identify it with the resources i have. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of growth on possible oak tree March 24, 2008 We have photographed a very unusual bloom or growth on a tree we suspect may be an oak, and would like to submit photos of the bloom, bark, and (leafless) tree to someone for identification. My wild ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Distinguish between Huisache and Goldenball Leadtree March 23, 2008 How do you distinguish between Huisache (Acacia farnesiana) and Goldenball Leadtree (Leucaena retusa)? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Origin of name Bluedicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) March 21, 2008 Why are Blue Dicks called that? I do a weekly wildflower update on the radio and I don't know the answer! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Books for plant identification of native California species March 14, 2008 When I was going to college, many years ago, there was a field book for plant identification for California native species. I am trying to find that book again or at least a good pocket book on plant... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of a Globe Mallow March 14, 2008 Mr. SP, Two or three years ago I purchased a mallow at the Wildflower Center that (I was told) had not yet been identified. I have looked at your pictures of Sphaeralcea hastulata which has the same ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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