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

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Wednesday - August 27, 2008

From: Ambler, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant with stalk of purple berries
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have a plant that just grows.large hollow purple stalk, purple berries in long clusters , grows very tall any thoughts.. it grows like a weed

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants thinks that this sounds like Phytolacca americana (American pokeweed). If this is not it, please take a photo or two and send them to us and we will do our best to identify it. You can read instructions for submitting photos on the Plant Identification page.