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
5 ratings

Wednesday - April 19, 2006

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflower Center
Title: Medicinal plants at the Wildflower Center
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Julie Krosley

QUESTION:

What kinds of medicinal plants do you have at the Wildflower Center?

ANSWER:

At the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center we have a bed of wildflowers called the Healing Garden. Currently growing in it are:

Lyre-leaf Sage (Salvia lyrata)
Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)
Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata)
Antelope Horns (Asclepias asperula ssp. capricornu)
Lindheimer's Senna (Senna lindheimeriana)
Liatris (Liatris mucronata)
Wild Garlic (Allium drummondii)
Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)
Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Evergreen Sumac (Rhus virens)
Clematis (Clematis pitcherii)
Cowpen Daisy (Verbesina encelioides)

You can visit the Native American Ethnobotany database from the Univeristy of Michigan to learn the uses of these plants by Native Americans. Purdue Univeristy in Indiana publishes A Guide to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, a database with information about many of the plants listed above. You can also find information on the National Park Service's Plant Conservation Alliance-Medicinal Plant Working Group.
 

More Wildflower Center Questions

Native plant landscaping
March 14, 2004 - How does native plant landscaping differ from xeriscaping?
view the full question and answer

Is installing irrigation with Habiturf a good idea in Round Rock Texas?
December 05, 2011 - Mr. Smarty Plants, I am in the process of planning a new lawn in my front yard. We have decided to plant the Habiturf seed mix (thank you, by the way). Originally, we planned on installing a spri...
view the full question and answer

Source for Signs at the Wildflower Center
January 24, 2011 - Hello. Where can we buy the black, metallic plant identification tags used at the Wildflower Center? Thanks in advance.
view the full question and answer

Online list of plants in Wildflower Center gardens
May 15, 2007 - Hi I was able to see some of the wonderful gardens on tour today (gardens on tour)..they were out of the list with plants listed but told me I could find it online...I can not find it..could you ...
view the full question and answer

Native plant education
February 18, 2003 - Do you provide resources about native plants to middle school educators?
view the full question and answer

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