Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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?

Share

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
1 rating

Monday - January 25, 2010

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflower Center
Title: Does the Wildflower Center sell Endangered Plant Species?
Answered by: Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

Do you guy's sell endangered plants in Austin? Such as the Basin Bellflower, or the Texabama Croton?

ANSWER:

No.  It is illegal to commerce in any plant species listed as Threatened or Endangered by the State of Texas or by the Federal government.  The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, as you would expect, carefully follows the law regarding Threatened and Endangered species.

However, neither Campanula reverchonii (basin bellflower) nor Croton alabamensis var. texensis (Texabama croton) - both rare, endemic species - are included on the Texas nor the US lists of Endangered and Threatened plants.  Nevertheless, we currently sell neither of these two species at our plant sales.

 

More Wildflower Center Questions

Update on Wildflower Center's Turffalo plot
February 11, 2010 - Hi, I was wondering if you can provide an update about the Turffalo grass installed at the Wildflower Center? The last update was June 26, 2009. We are investigating options for a lawn in South Aus...
view the full question and answer

Native plant education
February 18, 2003 - Do you provide resources about native plants to middle school educators?
view the full question and answer

When does Ziziphus obtusifolia leaf and flower in Austin?
March 22, 2010 - Hello Mr. S.P., Do you know when the Texas buckthorn, Ziziphus obtusifolia (I believe), flowers (and leafs out) in Austin? Is there one at the Wildflower Center?
view the full question and answer

Grass at Wildflower Center with purple glow
October 31, 2009 - What is the clumping grass along the WFC meadow trail that has a seedhead resembling bermudagrass and a glow similar to purple three-awn when backlit by the sun. I saw it yesterday (Oct. 2) and wonde...
view the full question and answer

Living lightly on the land
November 21, 2008 - Are most of the materials used in the Center recyclable materials? For instance, the wood floors and HVAC systems? Thanks, Joel Rodriguez
view the full question and answer

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