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
Thursday - August 09, 2012
From: Wickenburg, AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a plant which has fern like leaves on the top and round broad leaves near the ground. What is it?ANSWER:
Sorry, but your brief description doesn't bring any native Arizona plant to mind. A little more information would have been useful. For instance, what is its size and is its origin (did you buy it or did it suddenly come up in a flower bed), is it woody or herbaceous, etc. Your best bet for identifying it is to take a photo or two and then visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification.
More Plant Identification Questions
Differentiating between Spiraea betulifolia and Spiraea japonica
April 12, 2005 - How can I tell the difference between Spiraea betulifolia var. corymbosa (an imperiled species) and Spiraea japonica (an invasive species) in the wild? They both seem to be the same size, color, habi...
view the full question and answer
Identification of plant on shores of Lake Erie
September 27, 2011 - I've used Newcomb's and several other guides but cannot ID:
Green small dot like flowers, found on the beach of Lake Erie in Dunkirk NY, many of them growing right in the sand. Smells very much, a...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
July 22, 2013 - I've lived at my apartment complex for a year now and this current spring/summer I noticed the grounds keeper leaving a fern like plant that is approx. 1-2 feet tall and approx. 1 foot wide. It's le...
view the full question and answer
Mystery plant in Scotland
June 01, 2008 - Hi
I have a plant which has self seeded - I think from a packet of mixed salad leaves planted last year.
The leaves are green turning to purple, about eight inches long and a bit like a savoy cabbag...
view the full question and answer
The most common wildflower in the United States
July 29, 2014 - What is the most common wildflower in the United States?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |