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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - June 19, 2010
From: Langley, BC
Region: Canada
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant Identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi there. I have a plant in my garden I'm trying to identify. It started out looking like a cabbage but now is huge, It has a large stalk going up the middle with purple bell looking flowers coming down it, there are several other stalk shooting out of it as well with flowers growing down the stem. The largest stem in the middle has grown to about 6 feet tall. What is this?ANSWER:
Our focus and expertise here at the Wildflower Center are with plants native to North America. From its description your plant doesn't sound too much like a North American native, but it could be, and Mr. Smarty Plants loves to identify plants. However, it is very difficult—if not impossible—to do so from a description alone; but, if you will send us photos of the plant we will do our best to identify it. Please visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page to read instructions for submitting photos.More Plant Identification Questions
Dyes from native North American plants
November 29, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have been working as a textile designer for many years and am now interested in harvesting native North American plants in order to create natural dyes.
Which plant ...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification for Montana
June 30, 2011 - I am in forestry and work by Flathead Lake MT. I came across a wildflower and cannot I.D. it. Two come close..the Low Larkspur and Mountain Bog Gentian. It is blue/purple, 5 rounded petals, leaves are...
view the full question and answer
Plant Identification
May 13, 2014 - I am trying to identify a plant. The leaves looks like cannabis, (I know its not) its has red flowers and grows a green seed pod that turns yellow and falls off. It usually contains 3 or 4 seeds in th...
view the full question and answer
Identifcation of flower in a bouquet
August 30, 2009 - My boyfriend bought a bouquet and I'd like to know the name of the kind of green flower that looks like a mum but the petals look like rich, full grass or like a tall shag carpet. It has a stem with ...
view the full question and answer
Identifiation of Castela erecta ssp. texana as armagosa
June 27, 2007 - I am reading a document that includes the name Armagosa in a list of plants identified in a south Texas (Maverick Co.) vegetation analysis(shrub/sub-shrub layer). Unfortunately the list of species di...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |