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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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.

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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.

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Monday - June 23, 2008

From: Wallingford, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Hi, I live in southeastern PA, and want to identify a wildflower . It about 36" tall, with a showy red spiked flower at the top, appox. 2" in diameter. Thanks, Robin

ANSWER:

Here are three possibilities for your flower:

Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower)

Chamerion angustifolium ssp. circumvagum (fireweed)

Monarda didyma (scarlet beebalm)

If one of these is not your flower and you have a photo of it, please send it to us and we will do our very best to identify it. Visit the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page to find instructions under "Plant Identification" for submitting photos.

Lobelia cardinalis

Chamerion angustifolium ssp. circumvagum