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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Cottage pink October 07, 2007 What is the flower cottage pink? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| plant identification, Portulaca pilosa, Kiss-me-quick October 02, 2007 There is a small plant with clusters of red-purple flowers and tubular succulent leaves on branching stems I found in the flower boxes at the top of the look-out tower there at the center. I forgot to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fungi in the flower bed October 01, 2007 Found a strange thing in my flower bed, while tilling. It was egg shape, white, with a little purple, soft but tough like leather on the outside, with a small 2 inch root. Curiosity got me so I cut it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identifcation and wants to know about weeds September 30, 2007 My son planted some seeds in pots before he left and I don't know if I am watering weeds/plants??? One plant has green & red (lateral) striped stalks with something on the end that to me from Texas ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification, possibly genus Lonicera September 30, 2007 My friend found a plant growing in her timber (in Iowa). It has round green leaves with groups of green balls (seed pods?) growing in the center of the leaves. The stems appear to attach to the cente... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 30, 2007 We found this plant or something or other in our yard, in the area we found it usually stays wet and it was behind a old tree that was done. It has three big green leaves with a white stem that kind ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification request September 15, 2007 I took a trip to Arizona in 9/06. While out walking through public land I encountered a beautiful plant with very distinctive leaves, color of woody stems and flowers. I have scoured the USDA plant ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification, possibly Datura September 07, 2007 I have a wide green-leafed plant that has white flowers. This plant also has some thorny fruits in the shape of mines that float on the ocean. At the moment it is 2 feet high. I'm beginning to wo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification, Chinese Lantern September 06, 2007 I have a plant growing along my fenceline that I am unsure of what it is. Some ppl have said it is a rare Chinese Lantern plant. I looked that up and it doesn't match. The plant right now sits about ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identifying September 01, 2007 i have a tree that i cannot identify. the leaf looks like a "pot plant"(yes, cannabis!!), but the leaf does not have serrated edges. it has a long bloom of numerous small white flowers that form a s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identifcation of four o clock-like flower August 25, 2007 I've run across a flower I cannot find any information on. I saw it in West Virginia. I know that a pix might be needed to identify, but, since this is somewhat unusual, I thought possibly you might... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant in Illinois August 13, 2007 I've found a plant that I cannot identify. The plant is is very short, 2 inches tall maybe, and has very fragile, thin leaves and stem. The leaves about 1" long, are pinnate, with about 20 leaflets ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Monotropa uniflora August 09, 2007 I found a peculiar flower in Nopoming Provincial Forest, Manitoba last weekend (August 4th). I found it growing in moss on top of rock (the Canadian shield). It was in shade. About 3 or 4 were clum... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Botanical name for \ August 05, 2007 A friend gave me a garden flower plant called "clown face". What is the botanical name and where can I get info about it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of rose campion August 04, 2007 My friend shared a plant with me and I cannot identify it. She said that it was Rose Campriow? or something like this. It has very small pink/purplish blooms with grey green foliage. It is a perenn... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant growing in Plumbago August 01, 2007 Help - I have a strange looking plant that recently shot up in a potted Plumbago. I planted the Plumbago in its pot with Miracle Gro potting soil, and have been fertilizing with Miracle Gro as well. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identificaation of volunteer plant in Maine July 31, 2007 I have a volunteer in my garden in Maine that I have been unable to identify. It is a perennial that grows in full sun. It has formed a thick mat of plants whose leaves are about and its leaves are d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of July 23, 2007 I'm trying to identify a plant and I'm having trouble doing so. The plant was called moss by my mother,but it looks like a succulent. It grows on the ground and looks like small vines with pink stem... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of possible edible huckleberry in Central Texas July 20, 2007 I'm trying to identify a plant in my backyard, and in particular, I'm wondering if it's an edible huckleberry of some kind. Given all the rain Austin has had this summer, I wonder if it's not bey... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible identification of native white buddlejas in Austin July 18, 2007 I am desperately trying to identify a plant. It looks perennial, is in full sun, is about 7 ft. tall, bloomed white blossoms (similar in form to buddleia) in June, which have now changed from rose-co... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of wildflowers in Wyoming July 15, 2007 I have taken some photos of wildflowers in Wyoming and although I have looked in several books and this website, I am still unable to identify a few. 1) very small white and lt. blue flower with 5 sep... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible identification of common mullein in New York July 06, 2007 OK I have a monster size plant, growing beside my patio, looked weedlike similar to a burdock when young, but different and interesting. So we let it grow its now about 7'2" tall grows about 2-3" ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Cercis canadensis or Cornus florida July 03, 2007 I have what I think is a dogwood tree of some sort but I'm not sure. I wondered if I sent you a picture you could identify it. So far no one has. It's different because of its branches. They are red... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mimosa pudica or \ July 02, 2007 I don't have a picture of a flower but I'm looking for a flower that I was told was called earthquake flower. It blooms at night. Could you help me? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible identification of Hydrocotyle bonariensis July 01, 2007 I went to Pedra Island two years ago I saw a plant that grew around the beach. It has a perfectly round leaf that has the stem in the middle of the back side of the leaf. It has small yellow flowers. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tentative identification of Echinacea purpurea June 29, 2007 We have a garden plant that is 18 inches high with a purple coned shaped flower sticking straight into the air. Can someone help us identify it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identifiation of Castela erecta ssp. texana as armagosa June 27, 2007 I am reading a document that includes the name Armagosa in a list of plants identified in a south Texas (Maverick Co.) vegetation analysis(shrub/sub-shrub layer). Unfortunately the list of species di... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tentative identification of Viola sagittata June 23, 2007 I am trying to find name of wildflower, Violet growing in adjoning woods. I have not been able to find it on internet. The non-basal leaves are very irregular in shape, grow to six inches, no two ali... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tentative identification of Ibervillea lindheimeri June 22, 2007 I live close to the Center and found a plant in the park near my house I'd like identified. It was a vine with bright red fruit on it. The fruit was about the size of a cherry tomato but was oblong... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recognizing poison ivy June 20, 2007 I am having a difficult time identifying poison ivy. It seems so many plants look like poison ivy can you help me I don't want to kill everything but on the same hand I don't want to itch. Thanks f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Control of Smilax bona-nox (saw greenbrier) June 15, 2007 We have some property near Round Mountain, Texas. Under and in the oak trees is a vine that has a heart-shaped, shiny leaf and nasty thorns. I'd like to know the name and how best to try to get rid... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Matelea reticulata June 08, 2007 I recently saw blooming in an Austin park a small white-green flower ( 3/4 ") with a center that looked like a small pearl. Any idea what it is. I can't find it in my flower book, It was on a waist... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flat leaf cedar, Thuja occidentalis (arborvitae) May 23, 2007 Hello, I am looking for the scientific name for what is commonly called flat leaf cedar. It has defined platelets, wonderful cedar smell, older trees have shaggy bark, in winter some of its sprays tu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of a flower with grape kool aid fragrance May 17, 2007 While I lived in Texas someone gave me a flower from a "tree" (i am not sure tree is the right word). It was a large white flower that closed up in the evenings and smelled sweet like grape kool ai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plants seen at Disneyworld May 11, 2007 I was hoping for the answer to a certain plant that i have been trying figure out the name of and where i might be able to purchase this particular plant. I have seen it in the Bahamas, Hawaii, and re... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Cryptomeria japonica for homeowners association May 09, 2007 Good morning. We are wondering if Cryptomeria japonica trees can fit under the term "pine like". We used the term pine like when asking for our home owners associations approval and we put in a Cr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Desert or littleleaf sumac (Rhus microphylla) on Texas State Capitol grounds May 07, 2007 I am trying to find out what kinds of plants are planted on the Texas State Capitol Grounds. There is a bush that grows around the Capitol Extension windows area and I don't know what they are. The... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Diamonds and Rubies plant (Lychnis coronaria) May 02, 2007 I recently purchased a plant from the Huntsville, AL Botanical Gardens at their annual plant sale. The name on the plant tag is "Rubies and Diamonds". No one at the Botanical Garden knew the scien... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Iris brevicaulis in Southwest Michigan April 22, 2007 We live in Kalamazoo, MI (Southwest Michigan Zone 6) and discovered last year that we have an iris brevicaulis (we think) growing (and very pretty) on our property. It has the "zig zag" stem. It see... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of wild plum found in Conroe, TX March 23, 2007 I have found a wild plum that has dirty pink flowers and reddish smooth bark in a field in the town of Conroe, Tx. Identification thru the Ag Man here was sketchy and inaccurate. Short stubby limbs w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Muscari neglectum image March 23, 2007 I am doing a school project and found a native plant on the native plant information network image gallery. It is plant NPIN Image Id 524. What is it's name? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native sedges for Texas March 07, 2007 What can you tell me about Texas Blue Sedge? What its true name and culture requirements? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| List of plants with January 30, 2007 Hello, Mr. Smarty Plants, I would like a list of all the plants which have been named for Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer. I would like to prepare this information for use at the Washington on the Brazos,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plants emerging from "wildflower mix" of seeds January 02, 2007 I planted a "wildflower mix" a couple months ago, and now I have a bunch of plants growing that I'm not sure what they are. Some of them are starting to make buds, and I've been looking on the in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Tacoma stans or Yellow Bells September 05, 2006 We have seen a plant along the freeway here in Round Rock...beautiful greens leaves and the most amazing yellow flowers. Someone told us it was an esperanza plant and drought tolerate; however, I can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Books on Lilies August 27, 2006 Dear Sir, I am looking for a book covering the Lily Family as a whole, i.e., it should preferably also discuss other Genera than Lilium only. I am especially interested in Lily members occurring in t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wild onions and garlic in Genus Allium June 25, 2006 My husband and I found a strange bulb like plant that when broken open it smells and tastes like strong onion or garlic. The heads are at the top of the plant though not at the root base like most wil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Name of epiphyte growing on oak trees June 15, 2006 Please tell me what the epiphyte growing on the oak trees is. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Existence of plant named May 30, 2006 My mother's middle name is Orabelle - "beautiful seacoast." Some variations are "Orabel" and "Ord." Is there a plant that is so named and where might I be able to purchase it? I live in Norf... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dodder, rootless, leafless, parisitic twining plants May 29, 2006 Hello, I have been studying wildflowers in California for many years. Yesterday I came across a surprise and I am thus far unable to identify it. As it is raining today, I cannot get a photo, but I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |