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 - August 14, 2012
From: Forsyth, GA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives, Plant Identification
Title: Identity of a plant at UGA Trial Gardens 15 years ago
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Looking to identify a plant that was in UGA trial gardens about 15 years ago, large plant with purple flowers, fuzzy leaves like a lambs ear. Thought it started with a Thiobana or something like thatANSWER:
I visited the website for the The Trial Gardens at UGA just to see if I could find anything that sounded like the plant you describe even though it has been about 15 years since you saw it. As you probably know, the Trial Gardens do research on ornamental plants to study and develop improved cultivars for the horicultural trade.
Their webpage shows results for perennials and annuals that they have been growing in their gardens. Their records online don't go back to 15 years ago, but I thought it was worth a look anyhow. I looked in both the perennials and the annuals that they had been testing and looked for a name that sounded something like "Thiobana" and lo, and behold, I found a plant called Tibouchina 'Athens Blue'. There were no photos with the report but I searched on the internet and found photos of the plant and it does have purple flowers and fuzzy leaves. Here is a photo of Tibouchina 'Athens Blue' and here is a photo of another species of Tibouchina, Tibouchina grandiflora (Glory Flower). Here is another photo and information from AlmostEden.com. According to the Almost Eden site, Tibouchina grandiflora is native to southeastern Brazil and, as such, isn't really in our purview since our focus and expertise are on plants native to North America. If Tibouchina isn't your plant, you might try contacting someone at the The Trial Gardens at UGA to see if they could help you.
More Non-Natives Questions
Identity of the mass fields of yellow flowers in North Texas
March 23, 2012 - Are the mass fields of yellow flowers we are seeing in north Texas now likely to be Indian Mustard (brassica juncea) or Charlock (brassica kaber or sinapis arvensis)?
We are teaching a wildflower ide...
view the full question and answer
Mediterranean Pines indigenous to Verde Valley AZ
January 01, 2012 - Are the tall, thin Mediterranean/Pencil Pines growing in the Verde Valley in Arizona indigenous to the area? They are so plentiful, but are not identified as an indigenous evergreen. If not, how did...
view the full question and answer
Information about non-native Feijoa sellowiana (pineapple guave)
April 01, 2010 - Does a pineapple guava thrive in Austin, zip 78735? What height does it grow and what watering is needed?
view the full question and answer
Non-native bougainvillea annual or perennial in Las Vegas?
April 04, 2010 - Are bouganvilleas annual or perianneal plants? What do you do w/them in the winter time. We live in Las Vegas NV
view the full question and answer
Problems in non- native weeping willow in Spokane WA
June 21, 2010 - My wife and I have a weeping willow tree that has done well for two years. This year some of the branches are loosing their leaves in late spring in Spokane, WA. I though it was from the wind but ha...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |