Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Sunday - May 04, 2008
From: Gatesville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identification of low plant with like waterlily pad
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a low growing plant with leaves the shape of a waterlily pad, approx.1" growing all over my yard. I actually like them but would like to know the name of the plant. Thank you,ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants thinks this sounds like one of the pennyworts, either Hydrocotyle umbellata (manyflower marshpennywort) or Hydrocotyle verticillata var. verticillata (whorled marshpennywort). Here is a photo of H. verticillata var. verticillata and here are a few more photos of H. umbellata. These usually occur in places where the soil is moist. They can even grow in shallow water.The other possibilities that come to Mr. SP's mind is Dichondra carolinensis (Carolina ponysfoot), Dichondra micrantha (Asian ponysfoot) or Dichondra recurvata (oakwoods ponysfoot).
If none of these look like your plant or you want us to confirm the identification, you can send us a photo. Look on the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page in the lower right corner and follow the directions for submitting photos under "Plant Identification".
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification
November 30, 2010 - I have had a plant for 37 years! It is a vine with leaves that grow in groups of three and they typically have 5 points. The leaves are dark green and shiny. I would love to know what this old friend ...
view the full question and answer
Locating Rosa rugosa for Massachusetts
May 09, 2006 - There is a shrub that grows out on the Cape especially at the beach. I have always called it Beach Rose and I have heard other people call it a Beach Plum. However, the most recent picture of a Beac...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
June 23, 2008 - Hi from Baton Rouge,
I was out in Livingston Parish a week ago and saw a small tree that I had never seen before. I can't paste a picture here. It's sort of like an Osage Orange but the flowers a...
view the full question and answer
Incomplete question from Austin TX
June 16, 2012 - If I asked this same question but in regards to Austin TX what would the answer be? My 2 plants have spent 2 winters indoors (they are huge now and never stop blooming), but am wondering about leaving...
view the full question and answer
Identification of plant with red berries toxic to dogs
August 29, 2011 - I recently retrieved my poor doggy from the Vet. He had eaten a berry from an invasive-commonly seen brushy plant growing along my neighbors fence line. We try to keep our side clear-but the small lar...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |