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.
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Tuesday - July 07, 2009
From: Clearfield , PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Mystery perennial in Clearfield, PA
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a perennial growing in my flower garden. I didn't plant extra seeds and don't know what it is..it has palm like leaves and long thin stem. It grows tall, maybe about 10 inches from the ground and I would like to know what it is..?ANSWER:
Unfortunately, that description would cover many, many different plants, native and non-native to Pennsylvania. It could even be a weed planted for you by your friendly neighborhood birds, who are very good about spreading seeds around. If it's really important to you, we suggest you go to the instructions for submitting a photo on the Mr. Smarty Plants Plant Identification page. Note the kind of additional information needed with the picture(s), and we will try to identify it for you.More Plant Identification Questions
Instructions for sending photos for identifying plants
October 23, 2007 - I purchased a plant in Athens, GA at the trial garden at UGA. I have two pictures that I can email. It's growing really tall (over 6"). It has big, dark green leaves that are rough to the touch. It ...
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Information about pre-1920s biodiversity near San Antonio
February 12, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants:
I am transforming my .3 acre urban yard three miles north of downtown San Antonio into a native wildscape. I am planting all native plants using your website, books, and nea...
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Muscari neglectum image
March 23, 2007 - I am doing a school project and found a native plant on the native plant information network image gallery. It is plant NPIN Image Id 524. What is it's name?
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What is Carolina Jessamine in San Antonio?
July 24, 2009 - Okay, so if Gelsemium sempervirens is the one photographed by Joe Marcus in the "Explore Plants" section, then what is the actual name of the plant that is in every other yard in San Antonio, widely...
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Differences in prostrate Mimosa species
May 27, 2013 - There are apparently a lot of little pink puffy-flowered prostrate plants with thorny stems and sensitive leaves: Mimosa microphylla, Mimosa roemeriana, Mimosa strigillosa. How does one tell them apar...
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