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.

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

2 ratings

Wednesday - January 04, 2006

From: Honolulu, HI
Region: Hawaii
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: State flower of Hawaii
Answered by: Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

What color is the state flower of Hawaii?

ANSWER:

Yellow. In 1988 the Hawaii state legislature adopted the yellow-flowered Hawaiian native, Ma'o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei) as its official state flower. Between 1922 and 1988 the entire Hibiscus genus - regardless of species, color and native and non-native alike -- was considered the Hawaiian state flower.

Hawaii's state tree, the Kukui tree (Aleurites moluccana) is the only non-native state tree in America. It is native to Malaysia and western Polynesia. Nevertheless, it is much-used and much-loved by the Hawaiian people.

Native Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

rate this answer

Wednesday - January 04, 2006

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

More Plant Identification Questions