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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Thursday - September 11, 2008
From: Buena Park, CA
Region: California
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Pepper plants growing in California
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hello, I have several hot pepper plants growing in my yard. I would like to know what the pepper is called. I dry them out and grind them up to a powder and use it in many dishes. I have asked my local nursery and they cannot identify it. I would like to send you a picture and maybe you could tell me what it is. The pepper is very hot and adds a lot of flavor to whatever I add it to, I would just like to know what it is, thank you.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants thinks that it could be Capsicum annuum (cayenne pepper), also known as chile pequin, chile petin and bird pepper.If this doesn't look like your pepper, please send us photos and we will do our best to identify it. Visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page to read the instructions for submitting photos.
More Plant Identification Questions
What is the correct genus name for Fringe flower in North Myrtle Beach, SC?
September 14, 2010 - Is it Laura Pedlum or lorapetalum? I saw this shrub last week, and finally found a picture of it. The search engine listed about three different names for it! So what is the correct name, and does i...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on milkweed
August 20, 2005 - I am looking for a photo of the local milkweed in the state of North Carolina. The name would be a help also. I am raising butterflies and I am in dire need of plants.
view the full question and answer
A stinging plant in Moultrie, GA?
April 28, 2010 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I was walking along in my lawn in some flip-flops and my foot barely grazed my ankle. As soon as it had happened, I felt this horrible pain, like a million tiny, invisible splinter...
view the full question and answer
Identity of vine growing in New Jersey
July 03, 2012 - Hello!
I am hoping you may be able to help me out in identifying a vine plant that has started to grow from under my deck, through the lattice and up the outside of my deck. I bought the house 2 y...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification of tree in North Carolina
September 07, 2011 - I live in North Carolina have found a tree on our property that has thorny branches and round fruit (perfectly round) with a fuzzy outer layer that starts out green but then turns yellow. The inside r...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |