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.
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.
rate this answer
Tuesday - May 08, 2012
From: Leander, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification, Shrubs
Title: Yellow-blossomed Shrub that Occurs in Arizona and Texas
Answered by: Becky Ruppel
QUESTION:
What is the name of the large shrubs you will see in Arizona with the bright yellow blossoms. They grow wild everywhere, and I also see them in the town. Could you please tell me the name of them, so I can look them up and get more information about them.ANSWER:
There are a few kinds of shrubs that could be what you are seeing around. However, it is very difficult to identify a plant without a sample of the plant or a picture.
One thing that the shrub could be is a Palo Verde, Parkinsonia aculeata (Retama). This shrub has unusual green bark and pretty yellow flowers and occurs in both Arizona and Texas. Another shrub it could be is Larrea tridentata (Creosote bush), which is a much shorter than Palo Verde and has a very characteristic smell after it rains, though it may occur this far east. It is also possible that you are seeing a small version of Acacia farnesiana (Huisache), since they are prolific bloomers this year. Hopefully one of these is correct and it helps you find more information about this shrub.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Identification of possible edible huckleberry in Central Texas
July 20, 2007 - I'm trying to identify a plant in my backyard, and in particular, I'm wondering if it's an edible huckleberry of some kind. Given all the rain Austin has had this summer, I wonder if it's not bey...
view the full question and answer
Plant Identification in Tennessee
September 02, 2008 - I live in upper East Tennessee and all my life I have seen a flowering bush we call a Bubbie (or Bubby). It grows to an average approximate height of 6 feet and blooms in the early summer. The blooms ...
view the full question and answer
Does goldenball leadtree (Leucaena retusa) have thorns?
July 26, 2010 - I have a plant that I am told is a native Texas plant, but the person I got it from could not remember its name. They said it was very hardy and drought tolerant. It looks a little like goldenball lea...
view the full question and answer
Mystery flower in Mesquite NY
April 17, 2010 - My sister recently told me a story, that one day in the Mesquite, NV area she liked a white wildflower on the side of the road, so she went to smell it, and a car stopped and told her not to touch it,...
view the full question and answer
Plant Identification
October 13, 2008 - We have 105 acres in Mid Michigan. Part of this land is marshland. There is a plant-flower that I have never seen before and no one knows what it is. It is on a long stem with long skinny leaves (2...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |