Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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

Saturday - August 28, 2010

From: London, England
Region: Other
Topic: Edible Plants, Poisonous Plants
Title: Petals of flowers on cake from London
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Hi could you please confirm whether it is safe to position an amaryllis on top of a fresh cream cake (it will not be eaten, nor will the stem touch the cream, it will be positioned in a non toxic vial stuck into the cake), however the petals will come into contact with the cream. Thank you

ANSWER:

This sounds like a lovely design, but is out of our expertise. We are committed to the growth, protection and propagation of plants native to North America. All of the plants you mentioned in your two questions are non-native to North America. Just on a guess, we would not recommend it. You have no way of knowing what pesticides or preservatives might have been sprayed on those flowers, or whether some tiny insects might still be hiding in them.

 

More Edible Plants Questions

Toxicity of barren strawberries
April 30, 2012 - Are barren strawberries toxic? .
view the full question and answer

Red berries growing along county road in Caldwell County, Texas
September 06, 2014 - Hello, first I would like to thank you for your time. I thank it's great that you guys and girls answer questions (I'm sure y'all are busy). That being said I will get to the question. On the sides...
view the full question and answer

Rust on Blackberry
April 17, 2015 - I have two new blackberry bushes that I planted fall 2014. Only weeks after I planted the plant began to have rust color balls under the leaves then leaves began to die and fall off. When I returned t...
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants on edible and poisonous plants
June 06, 2005 - I am trying to gather information regarding edible and poisonous plants in Utah's Salt Lake City area. Can you help? Thanks.
view the full question and answer

Wild onions in southwest Michigan
June 06, 2007 - During the spring every year there are "Volunteer Onions" that grow in my lawn and garden. I live in Michigan, sw. question---are these onions? what are they--they smell like onions--- can they be e...
view the full question and answer

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