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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.

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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.

 
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Sunday - April 21, 2013

From: Villa Hills, KY
Region: Select Region
Topic: Plant Identification, Poisonous Plants, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Plant ID from Villa Hills KY
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Hello I have this plant but I don't know what it is. I want to know if it's edible or what it is. I think it's catnip.

ANSWER:

We are sorry, but that is not enough of a description for us to even hope to identify it. It might even be non-native to North America, which would put it out of our expertise. We are no longer able to accept pictures for ID, but if you go to our Plant Identification page you will find links to some websites that might be able to help you.

We urge you to eat NOTHING that has not been absolutely identified as a safe edible plant. And if you do have that identification, wash it first. It may have been sprayed with herbicide or pesticide that would do you no good, either.
 

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