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)
Saturday - December 20, 2014
From: Santa Fe, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification, Wildflowers
Title: Identification of seedlings
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
So..last spring I spread out a bag of random Texas wildflower seed I bought at Home Depot. Bautiful things happened. Since that time I've collected seeds while out camping etc and just been chunking them in the garden patch.. All of a sudden I have a gazillion little seedlings popping up (all the same) and I can't figure out what they might be. I took a picture.. can I send it to you somewhere? Just want to know if it is something that will flower or if I should pull it all out.ANSWER:
Sorry, but we don't accept photos for plant identification anymore. We did this for a short time but soon we were inundated with photos and didn't have enough staff or volunteers to handle them all and continue answering our Mr. Smarty Plants' questions, too.
Seedilings can be difficult to identify, but if you remember the names of the wildflowers that you planted, you might be able to find photos of some of the seedlings. For instance, if you had bluebonnets, on the Lupinus texensis (Texas bluebonnet) page in the Images Gallery you will find several photos of seedlings. There are seedling photos on the Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed susan) Image Gallery page also. If you know the names of your wildflowers you can look in our Image Gallery to see if there are photos of seedlings there.
Here are some webpages that can help you find your seedlings:
Aggie Horitculture (Texas A&M) has a website Wildflowers in Bloom with seedling photos.
Central Region Seedling ID Guide for Native Prairie Plants from the National Resources Conservation Service has seedling photos.
Seedlings website of British plants also contains some North American wildflowers seedling photos.
You can also visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification
June 01, 2010 - I have a grandchild that said the seed pod on a plant that looks like a clover is edible. It has clover like leaves and a little yellow flower. I did taste it and it kind of taste like a pickle. Th...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
April 20, 2010 - I am trying to identify a flowering plant (usually potted) that is commonly seen around homes in Phoenix, AZ. It has a long (1 to 1.5 ft) bare woody stem topped by an umbel of perhaps 15-20 small red...
view the full question and answer
Identity of yellow-flowered plant with stickers
November 06, 2012 - I have yellow flowered plant taking over my lawn. I used weed killers last year and it has spread this year and still spreading. It has small burs (not as hard as a regular sticker bur but will stic...
view the full question and answer
Plant Identification
April 25, 2009 - What is: square stalk perennial with bright yellow flowers at the top (mainly)? Starts growing first thing in spring, invades surrounding areas, puts out long serrated leaves along the 7-8 ft stalks....
view the full question and answer
Identification of thorny plant in Michigan
June 16, 2008 - i live in southern michigan and have a thorny plant with oval leaves growing in my flower beds. this used to be a grassy area how did it get there. i live on the edge of town. what plants in my area h...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |