Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

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.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - January 19, 2011

From: New Braunfels, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Vines
Title: Plant identification of vine with hard brown bulb-shaped fruit
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I was given a brown hard bulb-looking ball with rough tiny dots on it and told it comes from a vine that changes to beautiful colors and these balls hang off the vine. A lady in Houston grows them and gave some to a friend who then gave some to me. There are no flowers. It is about the size of a kiwi fruit but hard and rounder. I couldn't find anything like it described in plant identification.

ANSWER:

Our focus and expertise here at the Wildflower Center are with plants that are native to North America and the vine that you describe does not sound like any vine native to Texas or North America that we know.  You can see for yourself a list (most with photos) of vines that are native to Texas by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database and choosing 'Texas' under Select State or Province and 'Vine' under Habit (general appearance).  If you have, or can take, a photo of the fruit that you describe, you might submit to one or more of the identification forums listed on our Plant Identification page.  Someone on one of the forums might be able to identify it for you.

 

More Vines Questions

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 the full question and answer

Discouraging Poison Ivy
June 27, 2015 - Is there a fern that discourages poison ivy from growing?
view the full question and answer

Vine for trellis in Brooklyn, New York
June 11, 2014 - Hello, I am looking for a native vine to grow on a trellis in a large container. I live in Brooklyn, NY, and the area is in part shade. Thank you.
view the full question and answer

Problems with non-native Potato vine from Morgan Hill CA
June 13, 2011 - Greetings from Morgan Hill. CA. I have moved into a home that has a fairly mature (10 years +/-) Potato Tree which has some blue/purple flowers but very few new leaves, it looks almost barren. It gets...
view the full question and answer

Need suggestions for a vine to grow on a fence in Crossville, TN
April 28, 2010 - I would like your suggestions on a vine to grow on a fence in part shade that would look good in winter as well as summer, if possible, for a site in Crossville, TN.
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.