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.
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Monday - September 23, 2013
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identity of shrub growing wild in Austin Texas area
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi! I need help identifying a bush growing wild in my area. I have pictures of leaves fruit and bark. I cant find a good place to post these in order to ID plant. I'm in Austin TX area. Thanks!ANSWER:
You can visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that will accept photos of plant for purposes of identification. We did try to provide that service ourselves at one time, but we were soon overwhelmed with so many photos and identification requests that we did not have enough staff and volunteers to handle them and to answer all the other questions we receive as well.
You are welcome to send a description of the shrub with information about its size, the size and shape of its leaves and their arrangement on the branches/stems (opposite each other or alternate on the stem), description of any fruit and/or flowers, and any unusual features such as thorns and we might be able to give you at least some possibilities for its identity.
More Plant Identification Questions
Propagating a Magnolia tree from a twig cutting in New Hampshire.
November 02, 2011 - I have a twig cutting from a rare magnolia tree I found on a farm in central New Hampshire. The tree seems to be at least one hundred years old. It was in full bloom in late August and I was told by t...
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Tree purchased at LBJWC plant sale from Austin
November 10, 2009 - I bought a tree at the 2008 LBJ Wildflower plant sale,
it is growing great. I would like to plant it in the proper location/soil but lost the name tag and can't identify it. It has very fine leaves...
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Plant ID from Apex NC
June 16, 2012 - Can you identify this plant? It is growing in our backyard in Apex, North Carolina.
Picture of plant is here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZLJzQZyqq0dkU2HJQe50A9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?fea...
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Identification of shrub/small tree with small purple fruit
July 31, 2013 - Hi! I have a tree/bush that has come up on its own in the backyard. This year it set what looks like small purple plums. Is there any chance that they might be poisonous?
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Identification of landscape plants at malls in Waco and Temple
August 20, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty,
I am trying to identify a plant used in landscaping for several shopping centers within the Waco-Temple areas. It looks to be large mounding grass, but flowers June-July with shaft...
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