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

Sunday - June 09, 2013

From: Attleboro, MA
Region: Northeast
Topic: Medicinal Plants, Shrubs
Title: Lippia alba for sale at Wildflower Center
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Do you have this plant for sale Lippia Alba. thanks

ANSWER:

Lippia alba (Bushy lippia), as you will see from this USDA Plant Profile map, is native only to  Texas and Florida, in the far southern tips of those two states. It probably could not survive in Massacusetts at all. 

The only times the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (home of Mr. Smarty Plants) sells plants are our two semi-annual sales, in Spring and Fall. That link will take you to information about our last sale, including a link to our Plant list, on which Lippia alba (Bushy lippia) does not appear. It grows naturally in only 2 counties in far South Texas, and our plant sales usually only carry plants native to Central Texas.

From the Texas A & M Native Plant Database, here is more information and a picture.

 

 

More Medicinal Plants Questions

Edible Plants of Florida
April 06, 2015 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants My name is Gabriel Bedoya; Im anthropologist, with large experience in research of traditional culinary, symbolic systems and native kitchens. Due to my experience in those s...
view the full question and answer

medicinal uses of Rudbeckia triloba
September 16, 2009 - Browneyed Susan, Brown-eyed-Susan, Thin-leaved coneflower, Three-lobed Rudbeckia Rudbeckia triloba L My question relates to the above species. I am doing research on historically medicinal plants...
view the full question and answer

Comptonia peregrina tea as topical treatment for poison ivy
July 19, 2007 - I have been told that Sweet Fern stewed into a tea is a great topical treatment for poision ivy. Is this true?
view the full question and answer

Medicinal plants used on Hispanic ranches
November 25, 2008 - Have you ever heard of a plant, possibly native to Texas or Mexico, called Drago? Or another called Greta? In a book on South Texas ranches after 1850, these are listed as the Spanish names for two ...
view the full question and answer

Medicinal Yerba de la Negrita (Sphaeralcea coccinea)
June 24, 2009 - When I make my own batch of Yerba de la Negrita how long will it keep in the refrigerator?
view the full question and answer

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