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.

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?

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

2 ratings

Friday - May 06, 2011

From: Chesapeake, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Invasive Plants
Title: Looking for lunaria in VA
Answered by: Anne Bossart

QUESTION:

Where in the state of Virginia or North Carolina can I purchase the Lunaria annual plant? (the purple leaf lunaria annual plant)

ANSWER:

I suspect you are looking for what is commonly called the Honesty or Silver dollar plant, Lunaria annua. This is a biennial wildflower, native to the Balkans and southwest Asia that has naturalized pretty well everywhere else in the world.

Since the mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes, we cannot give you more information about the plant or where to find the plant or seeds (other than in your neighbor's yard!)