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
Wednesday - July 08, 2009
From: Springfield, OR
Region: Northwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant ID in Springfield OR
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I recently discovered a wildflower closely resembling the Oregon Lady Slipper, apparently a wild orchid, but with many blooms on a single long stem and with no apparent leaves. I'd like more information and a name? I've spent much time in forest land but never seen another like this. I have a picture, though I believe it is a bit past it's prime.ANSWER:
Even with the best description, it is nearly impossible to identify plants without a picture. Go to our Plant Identification site for instructions on submitting a photo. Meanwhile, check this American Orchid Society website which will give you help in identification, with pictures. Finally, we searched on our Native Plant Database for members of the Orchidaceae family native to Oregon, and got a list. You can do the same thing, follow each plant link on the list and get the description, growing conditions and look at pictures of orchids you might expect to find in your area.
More Plant Identification Questions
Identification of thorny plant in Michigan
June 16, 2008 - i live in southern michigan and have a thorny plant with oval leaves growing in my flower beds. this used to be a grassy area how did it get there. i live on the edge of town. what plants in my area h...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification of 3-leaf plant with red berries in Utah
July 27, 2011 - I would like to send you a picture to ID a 3 leaf plant with red berries. Could you give me an email to do that? Thanks.
view the full question and answer
Tall lily with dark berry at leaf attachment
June 25, 2012 - A lily showed up in my flower garden last year (central Illinois); about 3' tall, a single dark berry at the stem where each leaf is attached. It didn't flower. This year it's approaching 4' tall ...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on Plant Identification
April 25, 2005 - We bought our house last October and there were beautiful pink flowers blooming along our sidewalk. They bloomed until past Thanksgiving. They resembled Azaleas but we don't know what they were. Th...
view the full question and answer
Need to identify Cherry laurel varietyin Bee Caves, TX
March 29, 2016 - I recently had cherry laurels installed in my yard for privacy. Unfortunately, the landscaper does not know what type of cherry laurel they are. The tag from the tree says Che-Com which to me might in...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |