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

Friday - July 19, 2013
From: Kirbyville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
My nephew bought an old farmhouse in Southeast Texas. There is a plant there that has glossy leaves similar to a lemon leaf. I cannot tell from the pic if it is a shrub or a vine. It is blooming now, and has ball shaped flowers that have "bottle brush type petals that are reddish in color. They fall off and leave a yellow-green ball. Obviously it is a perennial since it has been there a long time.ANSWER:
Our focus and expertise are with plants native to North America and your nephew's plant is probably an introduced cultivated escapee and not a North American native. I did a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database to look for it, selecting "Texas" in the Select State or Province slot and "All habits" in Habit (general appearance) and "Red" under Bloom Color and scanned through the thumbnail photos looking for a plant that has flowers like the ones you describe. I didn't see any, but I may have misinterpreted what you said about the flower; so it would be a good idea for you to try this search yourself.
If you don't find it, since you have a photo your best bet for identifying it is to visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification. Before you submit the photo, however, it would be a good idea to find out from your nephew whether the plant is a shrub or a vine. That will be very important in helping to identify the plant.
Best of luck!
More Plant Identification Questions
What is difference between Rhododendrons and Azaleas
April 23, 2008 - I am replanting my entire front yard as a native woodland garden (I am on Long Island, NY). I am having a hard time finding native rhododendrons and/or azaleas. I would prefer to remain true to the ...
view the full question and answer
Identification of groundcover plant in north Georgia mountains
September 16, 2011 - Was trail riding in N GA mountains - saw pretty ground cover plant ? vine - small green leaves with whitish borders almost look like clover leaves and has small bright red red berries - this was Aug 2...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification of chenille-like plant in Florida
July 27, 2011 - I live in Central Florida. I have a small, 8-10 inch plant that grows wild in the yard and has a 1 to 1-1/2 inch, bright red, feathery flower on it. I can't seem to find it on the internet and I'm ...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
August 11, 2008 - Just after the last little rain we got, I noticed a small, inconspicuous plant in my front yard that was sprouting a structure that looks for all the world like a pitcher plant. It is not, however, an...
view the full question and answer
Identification of plant with seed heads like goat head
February 17, 2013 - Sir,
I collected some bizarre seed heads from some rough weeds around a stock tank in SE New Mexico. They resemble goat heads, with two long curving horns. I have photos but couldn't figure out how ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |