Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Friday - April 16, 2010
From: Durham, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
No pictures only memory. It looks like a dried flower and grows with other wildflowers along roadside. It is mostly purple or blue purple and sometimes called statis. Stems favor dandelions, only thicker, no thorns but slightly rough to touch. Texture of blooms remind me of tissue paper flowers. Is this its correct name? I would like some seeds if not a true weed.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants thinks that the plant is Limonium sinuatum, annual statice, a native of Europe. Here are some photos and more information from Malta and from Israel. Now would we consider it a weed? It is definitely a non-native but it doesn't appear to be invasive. If you do want to plant it, however, we would recommend that you plant it in a container and watch carefully to control its spread.
If you particularly like the color of the statice, may I recommend three beautiful plants of a similar color that are native to North Carolina:
Baptisia australis (blue wild indigo)
Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine)
Salvia azurea (azure blue sage)
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant Identification
May 13, 2014 - I am trying to identify a plant. The leaves looks like cannabis, (I know its not) its has red flowers and grows a green seed pod that turns yellow and falls off. It usually contains 3 or 4 seeds in th...
view the full question and answer
Identification of an Australian tree.
November 29, 2007 - i have a tree i cant seem to find any info on, the tree has large almost heart shaped leaves with pinkish veins running through them, its not shiney anywhere, sort of a mat finish,the edges of the lea...
view the full question and answer
Flower with spike of yellow flowers with hairy purple filaments
July 03, 2012 - Fuzzy purple stamens! I can't find this plant identified anywhere. Blooms abt 1" or a little more across. 5 yellow petals, 5 sepals, & 5 stamens with yellow anthers, & the filaments are covered wi...
view the full question and answer
How to have Mimosa and Yucca identified.
July 30, 2008 - Hello,
I have recently come across what I believe to be Mimosa microphylla in a very southwest corner of Mississippi. The only thing different about this patch is its brilliant white blooms! I can no...
view the full question and answer
Tree that looks like cedar elm but with smooth bark
August 09, 2014 - What tree looks like a cedar elm, but has smooth bark?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |