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!

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Monday - July 11, 2005

From: Scurry, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Smarty Plants on Hesperaloe parviflora
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I see these bright pink orange flowers on tall bracts everyday on the way to work. I have been searching for the name so I can buy one. I found a picture on your site at (http://www.wildflower.org/?nd=experience) {Display Gardens picture} which looks exactly like the flowers I see growing in the middle of HWY 75 in Richardson, Texas. The leaves look similar to a yucca but grow differently. They grow seed pods that are similar in shape to a walnut, inside there are dozens of black seeds. Please help me identify this plant.

ANSWER: