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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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topicquestion
Identification of Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) in Atlanta
May 28, 2006
I live in metro Atlanta. I have a rose variety growing wild in the woods that resembles a Cherokee Rose except it is pink and has seven leaves on the stem. Can you identify it from this description? T...
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Natural location of Ceanothus impressus in California
May 21, 2006
Where is Ceanothus impressus 'victoria' native? I need as specific as you can. Thanks much.
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Locating Rosa rugosa for Massachusetts
May 09, 2006
There is a shrub that grows out on the Cape especially at the beach. I have always called it Beach Rose and I have heard other people call it a Beach Plum. However, the most recent picture of a Beac...
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Difference between vetch and woolly loco
April 29, 2006
What is the difference between vetch and woolly loco?
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Differentiation between Amorpha roemeriana and A. fruticosa
April 25, 2006
How do I differentiate Amorpha roemeriana and A. fruticosa? Thank you.
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Drummonds wild onion growing along creek in St. Edwards Park
April 17, 2006
I live near St Edwards Park in Austin and was wondering what the name of the onion is that grows along the creek. Thanks
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Identification of Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) in Virginia
April 15, 2006
Hi, I am very curious about a bulb growing wild plant in our back yard. We have recently moved to the Woodbridge, VA area. There is a stream running trough our property. The plant looks almost like la...
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Assistance in photographing Turnera diffusa in Rio Grande Valley
March 20, 2006
Do you know where I can photograph a specimen of Turnera diffusa Willd. ex J.A. Schultes var. aphrodisiaca? I'll be in Texas in May and it is on my list to try and locate. I understand it grows in ...
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Identification of Beetleweed or Galax as
February 28, 2006
My mother will soon celebrate her 100th birthday. For her 1st birthday her mother decorated her highchair with "smilox". I am trying to find out what plant this is. I have found "smilax" but it is...
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State flower of Hawaii
January 04, 2006
What color is the state flower of Hawaii?
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Dfferences between Argemone arizonica and other Argemones
October 27, 2005
I am trying to find information about the differences between the Argemone arizonica which grows only in the Grand Canyon and the other Argemones which grow in the rest of the U.S. Do you have any...
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Smarty Plants on forbs
October 16, 2005
What kind of plant is a forb? I see the term used frequently in reference to grasses (I think), but I can't figure out exactly what a forb is.
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Smarty Plants on Hesperaloe parviflora
August 22, 2005
On your home website there is an orange flower that is tall and has tall leaves. is it a cactus? Thanks.
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Smarty Plants on milkweed
August 20, 2005
I am looking for a photo of the local milkweed in the state of North Carolina. The name would be a help also. I am raising butterflies and I am in dire need of plants.
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Smarty Plants on cross pollination
August 16, 2005
I live in Cosby, TN in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I plant native species of wildflowers and shrubs. My question to you is: I planted cucumbers in raised beds next to t...
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Smarty Plants on Jimsonweed
August 07, 2005
White flowers that are seen a lot along hwy 58 east towards Tehachapi; they look like "angel's trumpet" but not sure... they are big, white and have dark green leaves and cluster in a bush..any ideas?
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Smarty Plants on Americas national plant
August 07, 2005
What is America's national plant? (please answer this a.s.a.p because i can't figure it out and it's for homework)
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Smarty Plants on Hesperaloe parviflora
August 02, 2005
On the home page of this website (right of center) there is a plant with the long stems and pink flowers and with green pods or seeds, also. Could you please tell me the name of this flower? We have ...
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Smarty Plants on Smoke Tree
July 11, 2005
I live in Indianapolis Indiana and there is this wonderful tree on my street which has the most unusual flowers that I've ever seen. They look like pink and white fiber optics. Spencer gift stores us...
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Possible cinnamon-scented plants in Mississippi delta
July 11, 2005
I used to live in Mississippi and now live in Illinois. I am trying to find what plant or tree has a strong cinnamon-like scent that fills the air. I noticed this scent driving through the delta in Mi...
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Plant Identification
June 30, 2005
I have a plant that someone gave me and I don't have a clue what it is. I have a picture of it on my computer. If you can send me a email address where I can send the picture to you, that would be gre...
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Smarty Plants on Parkinsonia aculeata
June 11, 2005
What is the name of the tall shrub I see growing wild around Austin that is delicate, with thin stems and branches, and lacy, with multiple leaves, and yellow flowers? It looks lovely growing in a ma...
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Smarty Plants on Jewel of the Nile
June 04, 2005
My husband and I just returned from a short trip to San Francisco. While on a bus tour that took us to the Twin Peaks area, we saw some beautiful purple flowers growing on the hillside. Our tour guid...
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Smarty Plants on Resurrection Plant
June 03, 2005
Hello, I have a plant that my grandmother gave to me. When she gave me the plant it was a dried bundle; but, as soon as she put in water, the plant opened up and came to life again. Then, we let it...
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Smarty Plants on Plant Identification
April 25, 2005
We bought our house last October and there were beautiful pink flowers blooming along our sidewalk. They bloomed until past Thanksgiving. They resembled Azaleas but we don't know what they were. Th...
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Keys for identification of native plants in Ohio
April 22, 2005
Do you know of any good web sites that provide keys for the identification of native plants? I'm conducting a wetland plant inventory in southwestern Ohio.
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Differentiating between Spiraea betulifolia and Spiraea japonica
April 12, 2005
How can I tell the difference between Spiraea betulifolia var. corymbosa (an imperiled species) and Spiraea japonica (an invasive species) in the wild? They both seem to be the same size, color, habi...
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Smarty Plants on epiphyllums
March 25, 2005
I don't have a digital cameria, but I hope you can identify my plants easily by description. I believe they are called something similar to the word "epithelium". They look like a "mother-in-la...
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Identification of colicroot and yellow colic-root
March 23, 2005
There is a green flowering bush with yellow blooms off Taylor road in Dale, Texas (Caldwell County). What type of wildflower or weed is this? Could it possibly be Yellow Colic Root?
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Smarty Plants on wildflower identification
September 23, 2004
Can you recommend a good CD-ROM on wildflower identification? I live in Virginia and am constantly frustrated trying to identify the myriad wildflowers I encounter as I move around the state.
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Help with plant ID
September 01, 2004
I found this plant alongside the road in a field in North Dallas. The dirt was fairly dry, and image is attached.
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How common is white blooming Mountain Laurel
April 01, 2003
Is white blooming Mountain Laurel common?
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Smarty Plants on epiphytes
February 20, 2003
Can you identify the "air plants" that are hanging in the trees? They are grayish-green, and hang down like a necklace.
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Blue vervain native to Indiana
January 06, 2003
I have a species I need to know if it is native to my area (southern Indiana) - Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
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topicquestion

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