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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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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!

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Saturday - April 07, 2012

From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Managing Roadsides, Non-Natives
Title: Pictures of Bastard Cabbage from Dallas TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

HI! Re your March 12 posting: The USDA Plants website pictures two very different looking plants identified as Rapistrum rugosum (bastardcabbage). Would you please post a photo with leaf and bloom close-ups of the invasive one?

ANSWER:

Since Rapistrum rugosum is non-native to North America, not to speak of being invasive, we have no pictures in our Native Plant Image Gallery to post for you. We can, however, link you to some websites that do have pictures; hopefully that will give you what you need.

From our How-To Articles: Addressing Texas Invasive Plants

From Texas Invasives.org Rapistrum rugosum

From the Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group LEAST WANTED: Annual Bastard-Cabbage

From the University of California at Berkeley: CalPhotos