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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Wednesday - September 17, 2008

From: Garland, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification, possibly chile pequin
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Found in my back yard a plant about 18 inches tall. it has tiny white 5 petal flowers and small (smaller than a pea) fuits. The fruits smell just like bell pepper. My nose itched after smelling it. It is growing in a fairly shady spot, and though we are in North Texas, there has been a fair amount of rain, as of late. thank you

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants thinks this sounds like Capsicum annuum (chile pequin or cayenne pepper). Here are more photos.

If this isn't your plant, please send us photos and we will do our best to identify it. Visit the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page to read the instructions for submitting photos.