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.
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?
Smarty Plants Question Topics
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Identification of a mint-like plant in California July 21, 2013 I found a plant growing near my apricot (in Fresno, California). It has a square stem which becomes more rounded toward the base. The leaves are smooth, opposite, and they have three to five leaflets ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification July 19, 2013 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, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification of purple flower in Washington state July 19, 2013 I need help. I am a 10 year old girl who just happens to have a brother. He has a deep purple flower with small, oval shaped petals. We would like to know what it is. We planted it in a garden thing a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of fast-growing weeds with orange flowers July 14, 2013 I have fast growing plants (weeds?) in my heavily wooded backyard. They reach heights of over 6 ft and have orange flowers. I have spent hours searching the web today with no success -the closest thin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of a plant with winged stems in Texas July 08, 2013 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, We live in Denton Texas & our backyard is being taken over by a very woody type weed or bush. The most distinguishing characteristic is that long thin vertical ridges or fins... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification of vine with fluffy-seeded pod July 05, 2013 I saw a fluffy seeded pod on our hike this morning. I have seen this vine before, but do not know the proper and scientific name of it. Its leaves appear to be opposite and heart shaped. Could it be a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification July 01, 2013 I picked a beautiful large red wildflower, & by the time I got home, the stem had turned "spikey" and dark black! Very ugly & a little scary as I had never heard of such a flower! Can you identify?? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of plant that smells like dill in California June 30, 2013 Whenever I drive over the Sonoma County, CA coastal range and to the beach (usually Bodega) as you get closer to the ocean the air is scented not just with the wonderful smell of the sea, but also of ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Photo identification from Sun Tan Valley AZ June 29, 2013 I just tried sending y'all some photos of a plant I'd like to identify. The email address failed. Please let me know how I can get these 3 photos sent. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of purple wildflower shaped like a bottle rocket June 19, 2013 Dear Smarty Plants, the other day while driving north on 281 from San Antonio I noticed a purple wildflower that was shaped sort of like a bottle rocket, seemed to have leaves similar to verbena and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| topic | question | |