Native Plants
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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.
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Tuesday - September 01, 2009
From: Memphis, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Vines
Title: Flowering vine in Tennessee
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I'm in Memphis, TN & have a flowering vine growing wild behind my A/C unit. Not the sort of vine that twines. Small blue flowers bloom out of pods; flowers only have two petals. Blooms last only one day; by sunset they have disappeared, but the vine blooms again next morning. Flowers resemble columbine flowers. Thanks for your help.ANSWER:
Here are a few possibilities, although none of them fits your description exactly:Centrosema virginianum (spurred butterfly pea)
Clematis crispa (swamp leather flower)
Clitoria mariana (Atlantic pigeonwings)
If none of these is your mystery vine, please take photos and send them to us. We will do our best to identify your vine. To read instructions for submitting photos, please visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page.
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