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.
rate this answer
Monday - December 01, 2008
From: Smithville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identification of Canopy Plant
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I recently adopted a large house plant from a neighbor who moved away. He called it a 'Canopy Plant', but I'm having no luck with that name when I search for care tips. It seems to be in poor health, almost completely defoliated. It is 5 or 6 feet tall, with a 3inch trunk all green color, and has some very rose-like thorns all the way from soil level up the single trunk, then spreads out with 3 or 4 thin limbs about 4 feet up. Heavily armed with these thorns. Do you have any idea what this plant is and how to care for it? Very unusual..thanks!ANSWER:
Sorry, we had no luck locating a plant of this common name, either. We did find a couple of really funny, tongue-in-cheek (we hope!) websites saying that the Canopy Plant was a neogen transforming plant with bionano capabilities that is dropped from planetary orbit. Not.
Perhaps someone here can identify your plant from a picture, and then we can try to find some information for you (real information). Here are instructions for sending Mr. Smarty Plants a photo of your mystery plant:
Plant Identification
Need help with a plant ID? Send us an email following the instructions below.
1. Tell us where and when you found the plant and describe the site where it occurred.
2. Take several high resolution images including details of leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and the overall plant.
3. Save images in JPEG format.
4. Send email with images attached to [email protected]. Please enter Plant ID Request on the subject line of your email.
More Plant Identification Questions
Identification of possible toxic plant in Austin, TX
June 20, 2014 - When we hike with our dogs along Turkey Creek in Austin, they seem to make a bee line to a small green leafy plant when they find it along the trail and eat a few leaves of it. We assume it's not dan...
view the full question and answer
Identification of orange flowering tree in West Virginia
May 21, 2008 - I was wondering if you might have any suggestions as to what small tree-like plant I saw over the last two weeks (mid May) in West Virginia, in the woods, in the mountains. With honeysuckle-like leav...
view the full question and answer
Possible identification of common mullein in New York
July 06, 2007 - OK I have a monster size plant, growing beside my patio, looked weedlike similar to a burdock when young, but different and interesting. So we let it grow its now about 7'2" tall grows about 2-3" ...
view the full question and answer
Identification of plant growing with purchased plant
September 23, 2013 - I purchased a heurchera and there was another plant that was growing in the pot with it. I planted both together in my garden. The "other" plant is growing and none of the gardeners around here has ...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification of 3-leaf plant with red berries in Utah
July 27, 2011 - I would like to send you a picture to ID a 3 leaf plant with red berries. Could you give me an email to do that? Thanks.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |
