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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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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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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Saturday - May 16, 2015

From: Crosby, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Identity of grass-like plant with white or cream flowers in The Woodlands, TX?
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

What is the name of the tall grass-like plant with small white or cream flowers that is planted in most esplanades in The Woodlands, TX.?

ANSWER:

There is one possibility for a native grass-like plant with a spike of white or cream flowers—Nolina texana (Texas sacahuista). However, if it isn't this plant, I don't have a good idea about what it might be. Since I am not in or even near The Woodlands, I can't observe it myself. If you have a photograph of the plants, your best bet to learn their identity is to go to our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant Identification forums that accept photos of plants for identification.

From the Image Gallery

Texas sacahuista
Nolina texana