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

Friday - June 17, 2011

From: HENDERSONVILLE, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

There is a sweet pea like vine that grows along the road in NC. IT is pink and looks much like a sweet pea. What is it?

ANSWER:

Here are three possibilities for a sweetpea-like vine with pink flowers that grows in Henderson County, North Carolina:

Clitoria mariana (Atlantic pigeonwings) and here are more photos.

Galactia volubilis (Downy milkpea) and here are more photos.

Vicia caroliniana (Carolina vetch) and here are more photos.

 If none of these looks like the vine you are seeing, take photos and then visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that accept photos for identification.

 

From the Image Gallery


Atlantic pigeonwings
Clitoria mariana

Atlantic pigeonwings
Clitoria mariana

Downy milkpea
Galactia volubilis

Downy milkpea
Galactia volubilis

Carolina vetch
Vicia caroliniana

Carolina vetch
Vicia caroliniana

More Plant Identification Questions

Plant identification
June 01, 2009 - I'm trying to identify a bush/shrub that is approx. 6 ft. with leaves like an azalea but has orange hot air balloon shaped balls that turn to small orange flowers. Blooming now in May. Dies back ea...
view the full question and answer

Identification of
July 23, 2007 - I'm trying to identify a plant and I'm having trouble doing so. The plant was called moss by my mother,but it looks like a succulent. It grows on the ground and looks like small vines with pink stem...
view the full question and answer

Visual differences among members of the Apiaceae
July 21, 2012 - What is the visual difference between queen anne's lace and hemlock and cowslip parsley? I live in Marin county, California and have often been confused as to which is what? Thank you!
view the full question and answer

Plant identification
July 29, 2008 - I have found what resembles a gooseberry growing from what appears to be a grapevine trellising on a fence beside a lake in East Texas. The stems are smooth and slender, nad as I stated before vine up...
view the full question and answer

Plant identification
August 07, 2008 - I have discovered a vine growing in my boysenberry patch, perhaps spread by birds, but I can't find it in any books. It has 5 smooth leaves with burgundy, pinkish racemes, much like snap dragon flow...
view the full question and answer

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