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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Sunday - June 27, 2010

From: Louisville, KY
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I don't know if this plant is native, but it is a volunteer. It is a spiny , cane producing bramble . It produces tight clusters of inconspicuous fluffy reddish pink flowers about a centimeter across, groups of 7 or 9ish at the ends of branches.These are replaced by very shiny raspberry like fruit( on old wood). Last year they were bland, this year has been much hotter and they are all tangy goodness. The leaves are lobulate, heart shaped, and spined along the underside of the veins(not compound). The berries pick cleanly, and leave behind an orange stemless pith. I am very confused .

ANSWER: