Explore Plants
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.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Wednesday - May 26, 2010
From: Three Rivers, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification in Michigan
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We are trying to identify a plant in our yard. It is seven inches tall in May, grows to about knee high, has red leaves, flowers in late June, early July. The flower is light pink. It is a perennial. The stem is red, and has two leaves growing out of the sides of stem at equal height. Thanks for your help.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Planst loves to identify plants, but identification of a plant by description alone is very difficult, if not impossible, to do. If it is a native plant, you might be able to find it yourself by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database. Select 'Michigan' from Select State or Province, 'Herb' from Habit (general appearance), 'Perennial' from Duration (lifespan), and the appropriate selections from Bloom characteristics and you may find it. If it isn't a native plant, however, it won't be in the database. You can send us a photo (see Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page for instructions) and, if it is a North American native, we will do our best to identify it. Since you say it doesn't bloom until June or July, you probably should wait until then to photograph it. Please be sure you take a photo of the entire plant as well as a close-up photo of the leaves and the blossom. Also, please send us in focus, high resolution photos to examine.More Plant Identification Questions
Fragrant night blooming plant
June 09, 2009 - My Grandmother use to have a night fragrant night blooming plant that she referred to as "baby Jesus being born" when it bloomed.
Are you familiar with anything of this nature?
view the full question and answer
Looking for the identification of spice or cinnamon bush
May 30, 2011 - My grandmother had a flowering bush that had little yellow flowers on it and smelled like cinnamon to me. She called it a spice bush. Could you help me name that bush?
view the full question and answer
Identifying a plant similar to sarsaparilla
September 04, 2011 - I am trying to identify a plant that looks very similar to sasparilla, but has a ring of blue berries at the end of a long stalk, and the plant itself is spreading, not an isolated herb like sasparill...
view the full question and answer
Identification of stinging plant in Central Texas
July 02, 2012 - I live on 15 acres on Nameless Road. When walking on property, occasionally my leg/ankle brushes against some plant that "stings" me. Like little needles in my skin. Doesn't last long, but becau...
view the full question and answer
Removing faded flowers from plants in Georgetown, DE
July 28, 2012 - I bought a chamase rose quartz that was in bloom. now the buds are dead, should i remove them or just leave them on the plant. they wont just fall off. and the tips of the plant has new growth.
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
