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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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.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

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Monday - June 15, 2009

From: Hilliard, OH
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Poison ivy in Hilliard OH?
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I found a plant with five jagged leaves growing close to the ground in the trees of Ohio. Is this poison ivy or a similar plant?

ANSWER:

We really don't know which plant you have, and are going to find some that are native to Ohio in our Native Plant Database, refer you to their webpages and give you some pictures to look at. If that still doesn't answer your question, go to our Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page for instructions on submitting a picture. Also, follow the instructions on describing where the plant is growing, berries, flowers, etc., and we will try to identify it for you.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) - five leaflets, occasionally 3 or 7, sometimes mistaken for poison ivy

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine) - closely related and very similar to Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) - pictures

Toxicodendron radicans (eastern poison ivy) - presents itself several different ways

Vitis labrusca (fox grape) - pictures

Parthenocissus quinquefolia