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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Monday - June 07, 2010
From: Milford, OH
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant that smells like cinnamon in Milford OH
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Wanting to know what wildflower/weed would be so aromatic and smells like cinnamon? Always enjoy this wonderful smell when my husband and I ride the motorcycle, but don't know what it is. Would like to figure it out so I can plant it in my back yard, even if it is a weed ! Please help me ! Have been looking for years ! I need to know ! Thanks,ANSWER:
From a previous Mr. Smarty Plants answer to the same question:
"Here are some possibilities for your cinnamon-scented plant:
1. Dodecatheon meadia, Pride of Ohio or Shootingstar, native to Ohio
2. Dioscorea oppositifolia (formerly Dioscorea batatas), Cinnamon vine. Native to China, a tropical or sub-tropical plant, grows in Ohio, considered invasive.
3. Hesperis matronalis, Dame's Rocket, a Eurasian native and considered invasive.
The next time you smell the cinnamon-like scent, perhaps you will be able to determine which one it is (or if it is one) of these."
We found one more in our Native Plant Database, Calycanthus floridus. (eastern sweetshrub), native to Ohio.
Pictures of Dioscorea oppositifolia from Google
Pictures of Hesperis matronalis from Google
From our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Plant Identification Questions
Identification of blue flower
April 10, 2012 - I have two similar (but obviously different) wild flowers growing on my property. I have pictures of each. What email address can I use to send them to you to identify?
I thought one was blue-...
view the full question and answer
A stinging plant in Moultrie, GA?
April 28, 2010 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I was walking along in my lawn in some flip-flops and my foot barely grazed my ankle. As soon as it had happened, I felt this horrible pain, like a million tiny, invisible splinter...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
July 22, 2013 - I've lived at my apartment complex for a year now and this current spring/summer I noticed the grounds keeper leaving a fern like plant that is approx. 1-2 feet tall and approx. 1 foot wide. It's le...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
December 17, 2009 - For a few weeks now the front of our school has had an on and off smell that to some was like a dead animal. To others it smelled like dirty fish fry oil. Maintenance people came out and found the sou...
view the full question and answer
Identification of cattail look-alike, except red
June 21, 2008 - I would like help identify the wildflowers growing beside the highways in my area so I can plant some at my house.
We live in Sherwood Arkansas which is just north of Little
Rock.The Highway where ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |