Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Saturday - June 01, 2013
From: Madison, KS
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identity of pink bell-shaped flowers in Kansas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a beautiful array of pink bell shaped flowers with a white shaping on the inside of them they are about 2 feet tall. I cant seem to figure out what they are.ANSWER:
You didn't say where they are growing. If they are in a flower bed, it is probable that they are a garden cultivar and they aren't something I could identify since our focus and expertise are with plants native to North America. However, there are a few native plants that sound similar to your description.
Agalinis heterophylla (Prairie false foxglove)
Agalinis tenuifolia (Slenderleaf false foxglove)
Agalinis fasciculata (Beach false foxglove)
Callirhoe involucrata (Winecup)
Mertensia virginica (Virginia bluebells)
Penstemon cobaea (Wild foxglove)
Penstemon grandiflorus (Large beardtongue)
I found these by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database and choosing "Kansas" from Select State or Province, "Herb" from Habit (general appearance) and "Pink" under Bloom Color. You should try this search yourself to be sure I haven't overlooked a possibility.
If none of the flowers listed above is your flower, take photos of it and then visit our Plant Identification page. There you will find links to several plant identification forums that accept photos of plants for identification.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Identification of plant with speckled green leaf
June 21, 2015 - I have a purple (or brown) speckled green leaf plant with tiny yellow daisy-like flowers. The leaf is fuzzy looking on the edge. Self seeds freely in my shady garden.
view the full question and answer
Identification of a vine with 3 leaves and a red trunk
January 02, 2014 - What is a vine with 3 leaves that has a red trunk?
view the full question and answer
Identity of shrubs in Austin neighborhood
September 30, 2013 - I have run across two beautiful bushes in our neighborhood. They have flowering branches that daisy-chain out like a fountain. No one can tell me what they are. They are located in front and on the ...
view the full question and answer
Lycopodium digitatum for Christmas wreaths
December 21, 2008 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
That's it! The plant "Lycopodium Digitatum" posted on your website on Dec. 20, 2008 in response to my question about the proper name of "Crow's Feet" is indeed the pla...
view the full question and answer
Bleeding Heart-Like Plant Identification in PA
May 09, 2015 - Hi Mr. Smarty Plants. We have a plant that looks almost like the bleeding heart, as in the way the bell shaped (not heart) white flowers hang downward on the stem. However, the leaves are broader and...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |