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)
Thursday - August 09, 2012
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: General Botany
Title: Difference between class notes and size notes on website
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I enjoy using the native plant database in planning my flower beds. However, I don't know the difference between Class notes and size notes. Can you help me out?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants is very happy that you find our Native Plant Database useful in your planning. I think you are asking about the difference between Size Notes and Size Class found under PLANT CHARACTERISTICS on the species page for the different plants in our Native Plant Database. Size Class is a way to categorize the plants into size groups. One way this data can be used is to search for plants of a particular size in our Native Plant Database using the COMBINATION SEARCH option. For instance, if you were looking for shrubs in Texas no taller than 5 feet, you would enter "Texas" under Select State or Province, "Shrub" under Habit (general appearance) and "3-6 ft." under Size Characteristics to get a list of more than 70 shrubs within that size category. You can also search by size class if you use any of the lists on our RECOMMENDED SPECIES page by using the NARROW YOUR SEARCH in the side bar when you open any of the lists. Size Notes, on the other hand, gives you information about the size of the particular species for that page. For instance, on the page for Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper) you see that it is in the 12-36 ft. Size Class and its Size Notes say "Rarely grows over 30 feet tall." You will probably notice that most plants have data for the Size Class, but some do not have data for Size Notes since those are more specific. As we learn the specifics of the size of individual species they are added to the Native Plant Database.
More General Botany Questions
Failure of flameleaf sumacs to produce fruit
January 09, 2013 - Our two flame leaf sumacs produce none to little fruit. Both are about 4 years old, quite large, healthy looking; flowering this year was very good, but no fruit. What keeps them from producing fruit?
view the full question and answer
Checklist of native plants
March 03, 2008 - I have recently submitted my membership. I would like to know if there is a complete list of wildflowers, that one may check off as they are seen, such as the birders check off their lifetime list.
view the full question and answer
Dyes from native North American plants
November 29, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have been working as a textile designer for many years and am now interested in harvesting native North American plants in order to create natural dyes.
Which plant ...
view the full question and answer
How Do Persimmons Breed - Starkville, MS
August 14, 2012 - Thank you for your earlier response about the genders of native persimmon trees. We have two, a much larger one that has borne fruit for years and years and a smaller one that I'd just assumed was m...
view the full question and answer
Fragrant Texas wildflowers from Waco TX
July 28, 2013 - Hi,
I'm interested in looking at any Texas Wildflowers which have attractive aromas which I can distill essential oil from. Any ideas?
Thanks
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |