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

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

1 rating

Friday - September 07, 2012

From: West Palm Beach, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Seeds and Seeding, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Source for book on Mimosa pudica from West Palm Beach FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Where can I find the TickleMe Plant Book -the guide for growing the sensitive plant mimosa pudica seeds?This is the plant that plays dead when touched.

ANSWER:

Here is a link to the Amazon.com site where the book you are interested in is sold.

Mimosa pudica is native to Central and South America and therefore is not in our Native Plant Database. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, home of Mr. Smarty Plants, is dedicated to the growth, propagation and protection of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which those plants grow naturally.

There are three plants with "sensitive plant" in their common names that are in our Native Plant Database. They are:

Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge pea)

Mimosa rupertiana (Eastern sensitive plant) - not native to Florida

Mimosa strigillosa (Powderpuff)

From the Image Gallery

Partridge pea
Chamaecrista fasciculata

Eastern sensitive plant
Mimosa rupertiana

Powderpuff
Mimosa strigillosa