Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Your gift keeps resources like this database thriving!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

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.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Thursday - September 03, 2009

From: Toledo, OH
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Herbs/Forbs
Title: Vascular plants and mosses from Toledo OH
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Why do vascular plants grow taller and thicker than mosses?

ANSWER:

Since the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to the use, preservation and propagation of vascular plants native to North America and to the area in which they are being grown, non-vascular plants like mosses are out of our area of expertise. However, we will take a look online and see if we can find some websites that will help you answer that question.

U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station Vascular and non-vascular plant community

Diversity:Plants Non-vascular plants

U.S. Department of Energy: Ask a scientist Vascular vs. non-vascular

Cartage.org Non-vascular plants

Wikipedia Vascular plants

Wikipedia Non-vascular plants

 

 

 

More Herbs/Forbs Questions

Source for silver ponyfoot from Temple TX
March 19, 2013 - Where can I purchase dichondra argentea -- I live in Bell Co. but am willing to come to Austin if need be. Thank you.
view the full question and answer

Perennial blooming plants for Ashland MO
April 02, 2010 - I am beginning to create a flower bed in front of my house, I do not have a green thumb so I want to know what plants would come back yearly and I can plant now in Mid Missouri?
view the full question and answer

Gaura Plants Dying In PA
July 16, 2014 - I had six gaura plants. They were beautiful last year. Now I have one that is doing well and the others are dying slowly one at a time. I don't understand this. They are on a slight slope and have ...
view the full question and answer

Invasiveness of Oenothera speciosa?
October 02, 2015 - Hello! I received a large package of Oenothera speciosa seeds and would like to plant them this month. I've read elsewhere that they can choke out out other plants and am wondering to what degree thi...
view the full question and answer

Landscape color for Rialto, CA
May 11, 2009 - My sister-in-law lives in Rialto CA near the base of the San Bernardino Mt ranges and it gets very windy out there. She and I were trying to figure out the best native plants for her area. Her home fa...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.