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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Tuesday - July 31, 2007
From: Searsmont, ME
Region: Northeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identificaation of volunteer plant in Maine
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a volunteer in my garden in Maine that I have been unable to identify. It is a perennial that grows in full sun. It has formed a thick mat of plants whose leaves are about and its leaves are dark green, 1.5 inches long with occasional white streaks. It doesn't get any higher than 2.5 inches. This year for the first time it has produced a tiny (.5") white flower. The plant showed up more than ten years ago. The flower appears to have four petals, though it may be two petals split and curving up and down from the center. Can you help me identify it?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants loves identifying mystery plants, but it is almost impossible to do from a description alone. If you could send us a photograph or two, we will do our very best to tell you what it is. Here are some guidelines for submitting photographs for plant identification:
1. Tell us where and when you found the plant and describe the site where it occurred.
2. Take several images including details of leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and the overall plant.
3. Save images in JPEG format, not more than 640 x 480 pixels in size, with resolution set at 300 pixels per inch.
4. Send email with images attached to [email protected] Put Plant Identification Request in the subject line of your email.
You can also read these instructions on the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page.
More Plant Identification Questions
Identity of and how to get rid of plant in planter in Indiana
May 17, 2013 - We moved to Mooresville Ind. (Brooklyn area) 3 yrs ago. In one of the 12x12 planters out back, these one THINGS keep cutting back and spreading everywhere. They are tall, hollow stem, seems like ther...
view the full question and answer
Help with plant identification.
September 01, 2008 - We need help identifying a perennial in our backyard, which we assume is a native/wildflower, but might not be. It has yellow flowers with 5/6 petals (delicatea, starlike/about 1-1.5 inches across) a...
view the full question and answer
Name of epiphyte growing on oak trees
June 15, 2006 - Please tell me what the epiphyte growing on the oak trees is.
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
July 28, 2012 - I have a plant that looks like a suculent tree with a canopy like an umbrella. It grows every summer & is no more than 5 ft tall. It has tiny spines on it's trunk, which has white spots on it. the en...
view the full question and answer
Identification of vine with green flowers
May 23, 2012 - Trying to identify a vine with 5-petaled ~1 cm dia green flowers (w/ barely perceptible white & black speckles). I have 3 photos I can send (showing flowers & leaves).
The flower petals are almost...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |