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.
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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.
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| Plant ID in Crossville TN July 12, 2009 I live in Crossville TN and have found a common plant on hikes in the state park. It has long (1-1.5)narrow leaves that are green and deep red? What is it please? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant ID in Springfield OR July 08, 2009 I recently discovered a wildflower closely resembling the Oregon Lady Slipper, apparently a wild orchid, but with many blooms on a single long stem and with no apparent leaves. I'd like more informat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant ID in Woodbury TN July 07, 2009 Please help identify this unusual plant. I am in Middle TN, Cannon County. This plant comes up every year and looks like something tropical. It has huge leaves about 16 + inches wide. and grows abo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mystery perennial in Clearfield, PA July 07, 2009 I have a perennial growing in my flower garden. I didn't plant extra seeds and don't know what it is..it has palm like leaves and long thin stem. It grows tall, maybe about 10 inches from the ground... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification July 05, 2009 Large leaf plant over 5 feet tall red stems and purple almost black flat berries in large clumps. Any idea? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fringe tree appropriate for Libertyville IL July 05, 2009 I live in Libertyville Illinois and admired a fringe tree on the Biltmore Estate. Are the weather & soil conditions conducive to having a fringe tree in this area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification July 03, 2009 I have a tree growing in my backyard that has started to produce bean shaped blue berries the interior of the berry is red and the leaf shape is long and triangle and the stems the berries grow on are... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification called Touch-Me-Not, Impatiens sp. July 03, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: My grandmother used to have a bed of plants that would come up every year that she called "Touch Me Nots". The flower was about 1 1/2" across, orangey with flat green leav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fog fruit? June 29, 2009 In your native plant database listing for Phyla nodiflora one of the common names seems to be misspelled (fog instead of frog). FYI, if wrong, please let me know. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Botanical name for a kidney-shaped leaf June 25, 2009 Dear Mr Smarty Plants, I love the site.. but I was searching for id on this odd plant I have.. I have lived here a few years now, and have seen them before, never seemingly to have a flower..but ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification June 25, 2009 I found a low-growing plant with thick spoon shaped light green leaves. It was growing in the edged of a lawn, The leaves almost look like they have fine white hairs on them. It is very pretty, but wh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant ID in Flower Mound TX June 23, 2009 I have a large native tree in the back yard, leaves resembles a live oak, but evergreen,& small white flowers in the spring, very tall vase shaped tree. It had no acorns or berries. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Poison ivy in Hilliard OH? June 15, 2009 I found a plant with five jagged leaves growing close to the ground in the trees of Ohio. Is this poison ivy or a similar plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Question about dwarf oyster plant, Tradescantia spathacea June 12, 2009 I sm looking for Dwarf Oyster plant like the one described about 3-4 inches in height, color green and purple. But the nurseries here in Clearwater FL don't seem to know what I am talking about. S... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Searching for a dye made from a French weed June 09, 2009 Dear Mr smarty plants, I watched a gardening show on cable and they talked about a place in France where they use a weed called Wod to make dye and dye fabric and several other items to sell. It was ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of a plant with opposite leaves in Washington June 09, 2009 My friend just bought a house and in the front yard are some bushes. I don't have a picture, but they are only 1-2 feet tall now. They have these unusual stems, throughout the entire bush. They are v... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fragrant night blooming plant June 09, 2009 My Grandmother use to have a night fragrant night blooming plant that she referred to as "baby Jesus being born" when it bloomed. Are you familiar with anything of this nature? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification--Mock Orange June 08, 2009 I "grew up" with what I was told was a "Mockorange Bush." I've been looking around to be able to try to identify what variety it was. To be specific, the one that I am familiar with had little... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification June 07, 2009 Having great difficulty identifying a perennial plant. Although it looks marvelous (coming in two shades), I haven't been able to correctly identify it. Local college feels it is Eupatorium Rugosum, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification June 03, 2009 We have a new vine growing on our fence. It eventually gets red balls (about 1" in dia) that are filled with small white seeds. Before the balls turn red, they are covered with a fine, thin fern (f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification June 01, 2009 I'm trying to identify a bush/shrub that is approx. 6 ft. with leaves like an azalea but has orange hot air balloon shaped balls that turn to small orange flowers. Blooming now in May. Dies back ea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about unknown house plant in Cleburne, TX May 29, 2009 Please,I have a green houseplant w/5-6 inch wide heartshaped leaves that grows small,green fingerling pods. Very long,zig-zaggy stems on this plant. No florist/gardener here can identify.Pretty and ge... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification May 29, 2009 I have a plant that I always thought was poison ivy. This spring however I saw an unusual flower on several of these plants. Three leaves and the flower almost looks like a wilted calla lily, but is a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification May 24, 2009 It is a small, thin vine growing in the grass in the shadier parts of the lawn. Every 3-4 inches it has two thin stems about three inches long sprouting from almost exactly the same place on the vine... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification. May 23, 2009 Looking for the name of a green, bamboo-like plant with narrow leaves. Have no pictures. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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