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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 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!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
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Monday - May 03, 2010

From: Lewisburg, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have a 50 ft tree in my front forest apartment in Lewisburg, TN garden, that is blooming white cluster flowers. They are slightly fragrant. I thought Carolina silverbell but they have NO yellow stamen. This tree must be at least 20 to 30 years old. It's in clay dry soil in full sun. Any ideas?

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants is going tell you how to search our Native Plant Database for the identity of your tree.  Do a COMBINATION SEARCH, choosing Tennessee from the Select State or Province box, 'Tree' from the Habit (general appearance) box and 'White' from the Bloom Characteristics: Color area.  This will give you more than 60 trees to look through.  If you don't find it to be one of these, then please send us photos and we will do our best to identify it.  Visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page to read instructions for submitting photos.
 

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