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

Tuesday - August 14, 2007

From: Fullerton, CA
Region: California
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Purchase of medicinal plants
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Hi. I am looking to buy some medicinal plants. One of them is Galium and the other is Thymus serpillum. Please advise me of where I can find them. Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.

ANSWER:

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the care and preservation of native plants. Mr. Smarty Plants is also happy to answer questions about non-native plants, their uses and care. However, the use of plants for medicinal purposes is out of our area of expertise, so we can neither encourage or discourage those uses. However, we understand that many people are interested in the uses of plants for medicinal purposes, so let us direct you to a couple of excellent websites that can give you a lot of information, and you can then do research on your own for a place to purchase plants.

Galium aparine is a North American native, and you will find a lot of information in the University of Michigan website on Native American Ethnobotany. Thymus serpyllum is not a native, but a website called Plants for a Future can give you some information on non-natives.

 

More Seed and Plant Sources Questions

Wildflower seed sources for Collinsia verna.
June 29, 2009 - Hello, I am looking for seeds of Collinsia verna to plant in my woodland wildflower garden. I live in NC, a bit out of the native range, so don't have immediate access to native seeds. Do you kno...
view the full question and answer

Source for Salvia greggii, Teresa
December 09, 2004 - My mother is trying to find a specific type of salvia that is pink and white striped. I haven't been able to find any information on it. Does it exist and if so, where can I find it.
view the full question and answer

Seeding the banks of a large pond
October 18, 2011 - I have a 2 acre surface pond that is mostly a hard clay bank all around. The water level is way down and I will begin filling it very soon. I need to somehow being affordable, plant something or thing...
view the full question and answer

Where to find Yarrow for sale in the area of Ft. Worth TX?
May 05, 2011 - I'm very fond of the native plant called "Yarrow." Where might I find this in the Fort Worth area, and what are the tips for growing it. Seems like I saw it in one of the gardens at the LBJ Wildf...
view the full question and answer

Purchase of frostweed in Staten Island NY
January 05, 2010 - My grandson would like to buy a frostweed plant. Can I buy this from you?
view the full question and answer

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