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
Saturday - May 23, 2009
From: Ramona, CA
Region: California
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification.
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
Looking for the name of a green, bamboo-like plant with narrow leaves. Have no pictures.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants can't think of any native plants that fit your description, but can think of a few non-native plants that do. Chamaedorea seifrizii (Bamboo palm) is a native of Mexico and Central America. Here are more photos and more information about C. seifrizii. Another possibility is Dypsis lutescens (Golden cane palm), a native of Madagascar. Tamarisk or salt cedar trees, Tamarix sp. are invasive non-natives that also have the look of bamboo. If none of these are the plant you are looking for and you can find a photo of the plant, please send it to us and we will do our best to identify it for you. Visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page for information on submitting photos.
More Plant Identification Questions
Eliminating unwanted vine on arbor in San Francisco
November 20, 2012 - There is a vine growing on our arbor, it has sickle-shaped pods and is crushing the arbor, how do we get rid of it?
view the full question and answer
Identification of strange dark green blobs
February 03, 2012 - In my back yard I have a type of plant with no roots only around in the summer and when it rains. It looks like a person took a piece lettuce and put way too much water into it and wadded it up. It ...
view the full question and answer
Instructions for Plant ID
August 28, 2008 - Hi- I have an unidentified small white flowering plant photo to try to identify. Would you be willing to see what you think it is or refer me to someone to whom I could send it? It was photographed on...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
June 17, 2011 - I have an area of some plants growing wild in woods behind my house. It will creep onto adjoining plants and has a delicate lavender colored flower that is curled up similar to a sweetpea, has a very ...
view the full question and answer
Identification of plant from Tennessee
June 06, 2011 - I was trying to find the identity of a plant my Grandmother grew around her house in West Tennessee. It was a nonflowering plant, about 12-24 in tall, had thornless leaves similar in shape to holly l...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |