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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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Sunday - April 05, 2009

From: Occoquan, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Today I was at Woodlawn Gardens, home of Nelly Custis, granddaughter to George Washington. There was a flowering plant there that had green (yes green) bell shaped flowers and very dark green leaves. The plant was about 18 inches tall. Any idea what this plant was? I'm thinking the flowers were green because they hadn't reached full maturity yet. Thanks.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants hopes you used your cellphone or camera to take photos of this flower because, as much as he likes to identify plants, it is very difficult—mostly impossible—to do by description alone.  Please visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page to read instructions on how to submit photos for identification.
 

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