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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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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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Friday - March 27, 2015

From: Port Charlotte, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification, Vines
Title: Identification of ivy-like plant with large purplish leaves.
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Can you ID this ivy-like growing plant with a big purplish elephant ear type leaf and a big green stem pouch?

ANSWER:

This doesn't sound like any North American native (our focus and area of expertise) that I can think of, but I will see what I can find.  Here is one suggestion:

Colocasia esculenta ('Black Leaf' Taro) is native to Southeastern Asia.  Here is a photo and information from Floridata.  This isn't, however, a vine.

You can also look through the photos of plants with purple leaves on GardenPhotos.com.

Your best bet for identifying your plant is to take photos of it and then visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that accept photos of plants for identification.   Please be sure to read at the end of the page the "Important Notes..." about submitting photographs.

 

 

 

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