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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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!

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Thursday - August 28, 2008

From: Nitro, WV
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Tree with orange flower blooming in August in West Virginia
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

There is a tree with an orange flower in West Virginia. The orange is at the top of the tree and it blooms in August. I've searched your sight but cannot find it. Thanks!

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants thinks perhaps you are seeing the fruits of Rhus glabra (smooth sumac) or maybe Rhus copallinum (winged sumac). If one of these doesn't look like your tree, please take some photos and send them to us and we will do our best to identify your plant. Visit Mr. Smarty Plant's Plant Identification page to read the instruction for submitting photos.

Rhus glabra