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?

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.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

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!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

Not Yet Rated

Saturday - April 07, 2007

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Identification of Diospyros texana at Enchanted Rock Park
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

I took pictures last year in April of one particular large shrub in Enchanted Rock Park. The flowers are extremely fragrant, sort of cluster of tiny creamy white bell shaped. We came back this last week-end, the blooming was just coming, flowers were not open yet. I visited many web sites to try to find the name or a variety but I am still looking for the name of this shrub. They are numerous in this park of Texas. I can send you one picture to help you... but without the fragrance.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants thinks your shrub is Diospyros texana (Texas persimmon). If this isn't the one you saw, please send us a photo and we will give it another try. Please see the lower right corner of the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page for instructions on sending photos for identification.