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.
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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.
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Thursday - June 24, 2010
From: Coventry, CT
Region: Northeast
Topic: Plant Identification, Shrubs
Title: Identification of shrubs with red berries in Connecticut
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
In my yard there are bushes about 4 1/2' tall with red berries. The berries are bright red and somewhat translucent with striations visible through the skin.I thought they were gooseberries perhaps, but while they appear in two's (sometimes 3's)they are are more squat (like a blueberry) than the photos I've seen and the leaves are different. Their leaves are dark green, have pointed ends with a generally oval body (kind-of the classic "leaf shape") They are slightly fuzzy to touch, as are the brown, woody stems which grow from a wood-like stalk. Any ideas on what this plant may be?ANSWER:
Not really. Sorry. You can search our Native Plant Database by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH and selecting 'Connecticut' from the Select State or Province category and 'Shrub' from the Habit (general appearance) category. If you don't find your shrub there, please send us photos and we will do our best to identify it. Visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page for instructions on submitting photos.
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