Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

DONATE TODAY

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
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - May 26, 2010

From: Dallas, GA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Plant identification of shrub in Georgia
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have a bush that has red berries. It is evergreen and the leaves are a soft green. The berries are white at first and turn red. The bush is like a cluster of twigs that are in one area kind of like the yellow bell but it stands straight up and is about 5 ft. tall.

ANSWER:

First of all, it is very difficult—usually impossible—to identify a plant by a description only.  Nevertheless, I did a little search for something to match your description and came up with these evergreen shrubs with red berries native to Georgia:

Ilex myrtifolia (myrtle dahoon)

Ilex cassine (dahoon) and here are photos and more information.

It is also possible that the shrub is not a North American native—in which case, it would not be in our Native Plant Database or our area of expertise.

If your plant doesn't happen to be one of the suggested shrubs above, please send us photos and we will do our best to identify it.  To read instructions for submitting photos, visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page.

Here is a photo of Ilex myrtifolia.  You can see photos of Ilex cassine in the links above.


Ilex myrtifolia

 
 

More Shrubs Questions

Plant identification shrub with lavender flowers
August 28, 2009 - Looking for picture of flowering shrub,looks like a butterfly,two shades of lavender, don't know the name.
view the full question and answer

Non-native daylilies and pachysandra in same area from New York City
April 07, 2012 - Will daylilies and pachysandra thrive if planted in the same bed, or will they harm each other?
view the full question and answer

Hedge options for Sag Harbor, New York.
October 11, 2010 - Hello, My fiance and I live in Sag Harbor, NY on the East End of Long Island. We would like to plant a hedge across our yard to separate the front and back and have privacy. Here is a picture o...
view the full question and answer

Death of mature Eve's necklace in Fredericksburg, TX
July 12, 2010 - A friend mentioned his mature Eve's necklace had died this year. The next day I walked past my own mature Eve's necklace(about 5 years old)and it was dead! What could have happened? Thanks.
view the full question and answer

Is Savannah Holly poisonous to burn in Hanahan, SC.?
August 20, 2011 - Can you please tell me if the wood from a savannah holly bush is poisonous to burn?
view the full question and answer

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