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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - November 13, 2015
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Spriranthes sp. blooming on rocky hilltop
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am not sure if my previous question went thru, so I am submitting it again. How unusual is it to find a few blooming specimens of Spiranthes sp. on a rocky hilltop west of Loop 360 near Bee Caves Rd. west of Austin?ANSWER:
As long as there is a source of moisture there, it is not too unusual. They are often associated with places with plenty of moisture but they also appear in drier, rockier areas. This is the time that they bloom (October and November) and they probably "welcomed" the abundant rain that we just had to get them off to a fine start. If there was a "vanilla-like" scent associated with the plants you saw, then they were probably Spiranthes magnicamporum (Great plains lady's-tresses). Here is more information from Minnesota Wildflowers, the North American Orchid Conservation Center and the Arkansas Native Plant Society.
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Will non-native and invasive Mexican petunias grow under oak trees from St. Augustine FL
March 24, 2013 - Will Mexican Petunias grow under an Oak tree?
view the full question and answer
Plants to grow in shady area near a pecan tree in Maryland
March 26, 2013 - I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I have planted only natives in my front lawn. My backyard, which sports a pecan tree, fir, fig tree, and others I can't identify is dirt, just dirt. I have...
view the full question and answer
Flowers for sandy soil and sun in Wharton Co., TX
March 23, 2010 - I live in Wharton County. I am looking for flowers to plant in beds that have sandy soil and are well drained. The area receives sun all day until 5-6 in the afternoon. I would like to have flowers t...
view the full question and answer
Plant ID from Foster RI
April 05, 2012 - I have a weed flowering plant in bloom in a moist semi-shaded area. I would like to send a photo but I do not know how to upload.
view the full question and answer
Poppies on Pflugerville, TX lake
April 26, 2008 - I live on the new Pflugerville Lake. We are trying to get wildflower seed to plant around the lake in the mitigation areas. Will Poppies grow here?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |