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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| Vine with red berries in North Carolina November 04, 2011 I found a plant/ vine pink teardrop with red berries in the Pusgah Forest in North Carolina and no on knows the name of it. I have a photo, can you help? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of plant with light orange fruit November 03, 2011 Trying to identify a small, light orange, oval shaped fruit,light yellow/beige inside, many seeds, vine w/briars, behind an outbuilding in McNeill, MS. tks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating a Magnolia tree from a twig cutting in New Hampshire. November 02, 2011 I have a twig cutting from a rare magnolia tree I found on a farm in central New Hampshire. The tree seems to be at least one hundred years old. It was in full bloom in late August and I was told by t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification November 02, 2011 I have a plant that I would like to identify. It is a tall shrub/woody vine? (approx. 8-10 feet) that has very large thorns on its branches and stems. The stems remain green during winter. It loses it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus) in Jasper TX October 27, 2011 Carolina allspice (calycanthus floridus) grows in my yard in East Texas. It is native to the eastern U.S., but I notice there is a variety whose distribution extends through Louisiana. Since I live in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant similar to Lindheimer's senna (Senna lindheimeriana) October 27, 2011 I purchased "Lindheimer's Senna" at our MG plant sale in Williamson Co. two years ago. My three plants are now 6 ft. tall but I don't think they are Lindheimers. I've searched your plant files ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is there a red esperanza (Tecoma stans)? October 06, 2011 There is a red esperanza that I pass by everyday on my way home from work. I have never seen this plant anywhere but this particular spot. Is there really a variety that is red or do you think it is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification of a potted vine in California October 04, 2011 Hi, we have a tropical vine growing in a pot on our patio that my wife bought at the county fair. We've had it for a couple of years but I just noticed it now has a sort of pear like fruit on it. It ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of shrub looking like honeysuckle in Odessa TX October 02, 2011 Bought a shrub in Pecos, TX yesterday. It looks like honeysuckle but the brightest flat orange I have ever seen. Flower and greenery looked like honeysuckle but when I looked on the Internet under or... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dill-like plant in veggie garden in California September 28, 2011 I have a plant that appeared in my veggie garden. Looks like dill in spring when green, but the leaves smell more like turpentine! Now, 4-5 foot tall, brown, it produces lots of small, oval - not cr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant on shores of Lake Erie September 27, 2011 I've used Newcomb's and several other guides but cannot ID: Green small dot like flowers, found on the beach of Lake Erie in Dunkirk NY, many of them growing right in the sand. Smells very much, a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification of conifer-like low plant in Alabama September 27, 2011 When walking in woods of Alabama we found a plant that grows along the ground. looks like a conifer about 2 or 3 inches tall, has a trailing vine under the leaves and pops up little sprigs of greener... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of spiky red berry in Connecticut September 25, 2011 I found an odd berry outside of my school, none of the science teachers know what it is though. It kind of looks like a spiked cherry. It has spikes on the outside, a pit on the insde, and has pinkish... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant called beargrass from Granbury, TX September 24, 2011 I am not a native Texan. We have a clump of what my husband (from Big Spring) calls "Bear Grass." It is over to the side of our yard and we have always enjoyed it (moved here in 1982). It blooms ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of tree with strawberry-like fruit in North Carolina September 24, 2011 While visiting Boone, North Carolina we walked the Greenway in town. There were a few trees with a round red fruit similar to a strawberry. They were about the size of a penny and a dull red color dot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of groundcover plant in north Georgia mountains September 16, 2011 Was trail riding in N GA mountains - saw pretty ground cover plant ? vine - small green leaves with whitish borders almost look like clover leaves and has small bright red red berries - this was Aug 2... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification in Georgia September 14, 2011 I saw the same question that I was going to ask about the plant that folds its leaves at dusk, with sparse branches, rapid growth, small yellow flowers and long (whisker-like, but do not appear to be ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How can I distinguish Hibiscus laevis from Pavonia braziliensis in New Braunfels, TX? September 12, 2011 How can I distinguish Hibiscus laevis (Halberdleaf Hibiscus) from Pavonia braziliensis (Brazillian Rock Rose)? Earlier this year I was given the former by a friend and former NPSOT chap... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 09, 2011 In North Central Texas recommended plants, there are three coneflowers listed: Echinacea angustifolia-Black sampson E. purpurea-Purple coneflower E. purpurea-Eastern purple coneflower Is the Eas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification of tree in North Carolina September 07, 2011 I live in North Carolina have found a tree on our property that has thorny branches and round fruit (perfectly round) with a fuzzy outer layer that starts out green but then turns yellow. The inside r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification September 05, 2011 This incredible plant has grown up in the past two months. Considering the extreme heat of this summer, my husband assumes it must be a weed. We have had this skinny strip of dirt for four years, and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identifying a plant similar to sarsaparilla September 04, 2011 I am trying to identify a plant that looks very similar to sasparilla, but has a ring of blue berries at the end of a long stalk, and the plant itself is spreading, not an isolated herb like sasparill... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification for shrub in Florida September 03, 2011 On our street we have ornamental shrub planted in the median that has small waxy green leaves, produces small fragrant white flowers, and red berries with white pulp and small seeds on the inside. Th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Origin of thorned plant-like object falling from the sky September 01, 2011 This morning while walking I felt a prick on my arm, like something had bitten me. I looked and saw what appeared to be a very tiny little plant with a thorn on it sticking out of my arm. I pulled i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification of vine in Virginia September 01, 2011 Have vine that has small 3 pointed leaves somewhat like a grape but only an inch or 2 long. Adult fruit is black or purple egg shaped and only 3/4 of an inch long. Fruit is single in the middle of th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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