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!

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

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Wednesday - July 16, 2008

From: Vancouver, WA
Region: Northwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Purple bellshaped flowers in Washington state
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

on Larch mountain, in the state of Washington, I saw purple, bell shaped flowers growing on a stalk. what are they?

ANSWER:

Here are a few possibilities:

Gentiana affinis (pleated gentian)

Mertensia ciliata (tall fringed bluebells)

Mertensia longlflora (small bluebells)

Mertensia oblongifolia (oblongleaf bluebells)

Mertensia paniculata (tall bluebells)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell bellflower)

If your flower doesn't happen to be one of these and you have a photograph of it, please send it to us and we probably can identify it. Visit the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page and read the instructions for submitting photographs under "Plant Identification".

Gentiana affinis

Mertensia ciliata

Mertensia oblongifolia

Mertensia paniculata