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
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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Thursday - April 03, 2008
From: Bartlett, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identification of wildflower in Illinois
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a similar question to the one asking about the blue/lilac wildflower in Illinois. Every year here in IL a blue, stragly, petal-ed flower/weed blooms - particularly along the edge of curbs along roads. I have a picture of it - and have been dying to figure out how to make it grow in my yard. I've already done the search you suggested and found no match in the 175 results that came up. Please help I've been searching the Internet for hours!ANSWER:
It's good that you have a picture. Hopefully, someone here will be able to identify your flower from that. There is always the possibility that it is either a non-native to North America that has naturalized, in which case it would not be in our Native Plant Database, or that we simply don't have a record of it. At the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center we are committed to the study and care of plants native to North America. Go to our Mr. Smarty Plants page and, under "Plant Identification" you will find instructions for sending us a picture.More Plant Identification Questions
Plant ID from Bracketville TX
June 23, 2010 - A volunteer plant, 3 feet. 4 to 5 Dark green leaves from a central point, diamond shaped very serrated leaves with dark spots within the the leave. Stem is reddish. flowers are pinkish, small and clus...
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Plant identification
April 04, 2010 - There is a wildflower growing in my pasture.
It is low growing, triangle leaves, flowers are blue, five petals with what looks like a white flower in the middle.
Gods blessings to all there.
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April 14, 2008 - there is a maroon colored flowering weed at my ranch in Oakwood Texas. It is taking over the bluebonnets and indian paint brushes. Can you tell me what it is and how to get rid of it.
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Plant Identification
May 01, 2009 - Curious about the identification of the foxglove-looking plants flowering along the railroad tracks that parallel Lancaster in Handley. Some are white while others are purple. Leaves are about 2-3 inc...
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Identification of spiny plant in Yucca Mesa, CA
March 02, 2011 - I have a very prickly bush on my property near Yucca Mesa, CA, (high desert). 2 to 3 feet high. Branches mostly starting from the center near ground. Lots of 1 to 2 inch spines on branches. Dormant in...
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