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
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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Tuesday - August 19, 2008
From: Paw Paw, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi, I live in South West Michigan and there is this plant I can't figure out. It has oval leaves in a row on each side of its stems, large thorns, and when the plant is grown it has what seems to be bark. It is not any of the plants pictured in a similar question, and it almost seems like a small-ish tree to me. Thanks for any help.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants loves to identify plants, but I'm afraid we're going to need photographs for this one. Please visit the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants Plant ID page to read the instructions for submitting photos.More Plant Identification Questions
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Identification of a flower with grape kool aid fragrance
May 17, 2007 - While I lived in Texas someone gave me a flower from a "tree" (i am not sure tree is the right word). It was a large white flower that closed up in the evenings and smelled sweet like grape kool ai...
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How to tell Monarda citriodora from Monarda punctata.
September 18, 2015 - Hello! I'm wondering if you could clarify the differences between Monarda citriodora and Monarda punctata. Perhaps they do a lot of hybridizing, but I have plenty of conflicting info on...
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