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?
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 | |
Identity of and how to get rid of plant in planter in Indiana May 17, 2013 We moved to Mooresville Ind. (Brooklyn area) 3 yrs ago. In one of the 12x12 planters out back, these one THINGS keep cutting back and spreading everywhere. They are tall, hollow stem, seems like ther... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identification of tree or shrub in Massachusetts May 16, 2013 Good morning, We are in Zone 5 and have a tree/shrub I cannot identify in the backyard of our new home. Tall (6')and growing, green stems,and when the stems are broken the branches smell of lemon o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identity of an Astragalus species near Terlingua, TX May 14, 2013 I have been photographing as many of the wildflowers that I can this Spring 2013 season here in the Big Bend Area between BBNP, Terlingua and Alpine, TX. Two days ago I took a drive from Terlingua to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identification of plant with small lilac flowers in Laredo May 14, 2013 Need help identifying the following: small lilac flowers in a cluster with seed pods, unpleasant scent which can be up to 3 feet tall ..wild flower or weed? am interested if it attracts hummingbirds... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identification of artichoke-like plant in Idaho May 13, 2013 There is a plant/weed growing in the front yard, my mom says it is a flower I say a weed. It looks a lot like an open artichoke and is the same size. It is green except on the tips where it is deep pu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identification of Queen Anne's Lace look-alike May 13, 2013 I am trying to identify a plant/weed that grows here in Austin but I haven't found an exact match in your databases. It looks very similar to Queen Anne's lace and to your photos of yarrow but the l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant Identification from Clarksville TN May 04, 2013 We live on a north facing wooded ridge line in Middle TN. I have a single large (6') bush that is blooming now (late April) with beautiful 6" long, end of stem clusters of small pink flowers in 3-5... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identification of three-petaled lilac colored flower in Texas April 30, 2013 I found a single bloom. It has three petals, lilac colored with white spots toward the center with purple dots. The stamens are a greenish color. Bloom has an iris appearance. Can't find it in my... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identifying Rhus lanceolata in Texas April 28, 2013 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I think I've identified two small trees, 4 to 5 feet high at the back fence line and two in the front yard flower beds as prairie flameleaf sumac (or at least some kind of s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Want to identify thorny vines growing in Charlotte Hall, MD April 25, 2013 I have vines with thorns growing in my wood, vining around the trees and killing them. It grows and vines go up trees of any height all the way to the top. It has green pointy leaves. If it doesn't... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
topic | question |