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.
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.
rate this answer
Monday - May 23, 2011
From: McKinney, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identification of small tree in McKinney TX with puffy red/pink bloom
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Looking for info on McKinney area sm/med size tree found at water's edge that has a puffy rd pink bloom. Thanks.ANSWER:
If I interpret your description correctly, the tree has puffy round (or could it be red?) pink blossoms. Here are some small native trees that occur in or near Collin County, Texas that have pinkish blooms that are somewhat round and puffy.
- Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera (Catclaw mimosa)
- Mimosa borealis (Fragrant mimosa)
- Chilopsis linearis (Desert willow)
- Robinia neomexicana (New Mexico locust)
- Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo)
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola)
- Ungnadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye)
A tree that is often found at the water's edge that has round, puffy white blooms and buds that are reddish pink is Cephalanthus occidentalis (Common buttonbush).
It is possible that the tree you saw is a non-native tree introduced as a landscape tree such as the invasive Albizia julibrissin (mimosa) from the Middle East and Asia or Lagerstroemia indica (crape mrytle), another introduced (but not considered invasive) tree. Crape myrtle comes in a variety of colors including red and pink.
If none of the above appears to be your tree, please visit our Plant Identification page where you will find links to several plant forums that have a plant identification feature that allows you to submit photos of plants for identification.
Here are photos from our Image Gallery of the native trees listed above:
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification
August 22, 2011 - I have a rather large berry growing on a tree-like bush in my back yard here in Williamsville Vermont, I've never seen anything like it! I have a picture.
view the full question and answer
A stinging plant in Moultrie, GA?
April 28, 2010 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I was walking along in my lawn in some flip-flops and my foot barely grazed my ankle. As soon as it had happened, I felt this horrible pain, like a million tiny, invisible splinter...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
September 30, 2008 - I was just in Alabama this weekend and all alongside the road-side were these georgeous pink flowers. I finally stopped to pick one and thet are even prettier up close! The stem is smooth and leafle...
view the full question and 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 the full question and answer
Plant identification in Mojave Desert
November 20, 2013 - I need help in identifying a shrub like plant that I found in SW Utah near Beaver Dam, UT (Which is near the Arizona/Nevada border). It is approximately 12 inches in height with profuse stems origina...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |