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

Sunday - July 27, 2008

From: Newport, RI
Region: Northeast
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Small evergreen plants in Rhode Island
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Please name a few small flowering evergreen plants. Thanks.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants assumes you want these to be natives of Rhode Island. Here are a few in the Family Pyrolaceae (Wintergreen Family) that are only a few inches tall:

Chimaphila maculata (striped prince's pine)

Chimaphila umbellata (pipsissewa)

Orthilia secunda (sidebells wintergreen)

Moneses uniflora (single delight)

Pyrola americana (American wintergreen)

Pyrola asarifolia (liverleaf wintergreen)

Pyrola chlorantha (greenflowered wintergreen)

Pyrola elliptica (waxflower shinleaf)

Other evergreens not in the wintergreen family:

From the Family Rubiaceae (Madder Family)

Mitchella repens (partridgeberry)

From the Family Ericaceae (Heath Family). Some of these can reach 3 feet.