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 similar to a cattail June 06, 2012 I don't know where this plant grows normally, but I am looking for a plant that is similar to a cat tail, but the petals are not feathery, they are red and waxy and the petals are round almost. Plea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant with orange sap that glows at night June 06, 2012 I was just pulling up a plant and noticed that its sap was a kind of orange then I noticed it glowing orange at night. What kind of plant is this and is it dangerous? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is there an App for that? June 05, 2012 Do you have an app like leafsnap that my students can use to identify the plants around our school? I would like them to take a picture of the leaf of each plant with their iPads and have your data b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant Identification June 05, 2012 I have a plant that looks like a lamb ear leaf but with a carnation flower on top. What is it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Picture in newspaper from Austin June 02, 2012 Your gardening story for the Jan 21,2012 in the Austin American Statesman pictured a pale green bush with purple flowers, however the plant was not identified. Can you tell me what it is? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification May 30, 2012 I had a strange plant pop up in my yard this year, and I figured maybe you guys could help me out. This plant is spreading along the ground, and the stem is woody right where it is coming out of th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine with 4-petaled purple flower May 30, 2012 Does anybody know what vine has a purple four petaled flower with small bulb in middle?? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Do monarchs like Cynachum laeve in Austin, TX? May 29, 2012 I have found what I believe is Honeyvine (Cynanchum laeve) growing in my yard here in Austin. I tried using the LBJWC plant data base and could not find it. I also found the plant with a diff... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine with green flowers May 23, 2012 Trying to identify a vine with 5-petaled ~1 cm dia green flowers (w/ barely perceptible white & black speckles). I have 3 photos I can send (showing flowers & leaves). The flower petals are almost... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of a plant that looks like a watermelon. May 21, 2012 A wild plant came up in my bed that looked like a watermelon plant. It had small yellow blooms and then marble balls formed with prickly thorns. The balls were in clusters. What kind of plant is i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mystery forest plant in WV May 21, 2012 In the mountains of southern WV I have several acres of shady, moist land. It has never been developed and is COVERED with a low growing fern?ground cover?whatever. It creeps along on very shallow r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of mint impersonator in California May 20, 2012 Is there such a thing as a mint "impersonator"? There are random 'sprigs' of purple-stemmed, bright green leaf plants in my front yard. We just moved in to the house and I don't want to assume ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of rejuvenated plant May 19, 2012 I am having trouble identifying my plant which has lived at least two years now, often looking completely dead, actually hibernating for a few weeks then bursting back to life. Small sprouts that grow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant resembling garlic mustard, but with purple flowers May 18, 2012 While searching for the invasive garlic mustard I am finding a very similar looking plant (triangular, alternate, toothed leaves; four petals, same habitat of shaded roadside and interior woods) excep... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference between Convallaria majalis and Convallaria majuscula May 17, 2012 How do you tell the difference in the native convallaria from the European species? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine in New York May 15, 2012 I have a flowering vine that grows against my home and I'm not sure what it is, but it's beautiful with a delicate scent. The flowers look like clusters of mini purple pea pods hanging downward befo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of bluebonnet-like flower May 14, 2012 I have discovered a plant that looks like a bluebonnet but is much larger. It has leggy stems and similar leaf structure and the bonnet in more compact with purple vs blue flowers. The plant is growin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification May 12, 2012 I don't know if they are native or not, My mom bought some plants at an event at the Dallas Convention Center that all had rocks and little dirt that they sat on. The bases of the plants were large a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Unusual vine in San Diego County, California May 12, 2012 Dear Mr. or Ms. Smarty Pants, I came across an unusual vine winding through a young Zumaque growing off the edge of a mesa in San Diego (coastal sage scrub). The small (fingernail-sized)leaves rough... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of plant growing on deck May 12, 2012 I can't find the name of a plant that I had on my deck, it didn't come back this year. It was a bush like plant that grew wild, it bloomed May thru August with red small flowers. My deck gets full... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rash resulting from cutting trees in NC. May 08, 2012 My boyfriend was cutting some trees yesterday. He had thorns in his hands after he was done, and today he has a rash on his legs, a fever and he feels like throwing up. Can you tell me if its symptoms... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellow-blossomed Shrub that Occurs in Arizona and Texas May 08, 2012 What is the name of the large shrubs you will see in Arizona with the bright yellow blossoms. They grow wild everywhere, and I also see them in the town. Could you please tell me the name of them, s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification from Virginia May 03, 2012 We found lots of asparagus like stalks growing randomly in our field here in central Virginia. But, instead of an asparagus head it has a tight cluster of leaves that are small and roundish. Any idea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of tree in California May 02, 2012 A medium-size tree with shiny green leaves toward the bottom and garnet red ones toward the top of the tree. The leaves are narrow with saw-toothed edges. There are clustered small white flowers with ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How Can I Tell an Invasive Thistle from a Native May 01, 2012 Mr Smarty Plants, I have some thistles coming up in my yard. I'd like to keep them if they are native, but not if they are invasive or non-native. How can I tell? My yard is a wild area in West Lak... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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