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.
From: Richfield, MN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Houseplant identification.
Answered by: Joe Marcus
We love helping people identify their native plants when we can, but it's difficult at best to identify most plant by a written description. Since very few houseplants are North American natives, your mystery plant is almost certainly outside our area of study and expertise anyway.
However, we may be able to help point you in the right direction to find an name for you plant. Please see our Plant Identification page for some resources that will probably be useful to you. The first website listed there, the UBC Botanical Gardens Forums is especially helpful in identifying houseplants.
Identification of native Texas plants from a list
February 09, 2008 - Please identify Texas Native Plants from the list below:
Cotoneaster, Bi-color Iris, Greencloud Sage, Dwarf Wax myrtle, Nolina, Spineless prickly pear, Gulf Muhly, Bamboo Muhly, Big Muhly, Maiden Gra...
view the full question and answer
Identity of very tall plants in Austin, TX
August 13, 2012 - I have these huge tall plants. They don't seem to want to bloom and they are shading out my other natives. They get very tall. 10 feet or so.
What is it?
view the full question and answer
Plant identification from Sarasota, FL.
August 23, 2010 - Hi I recently went to Discovery Cove in Orlando Florida and saw a purple flowering tree/shrub that had branches similar to okra shape or starfruit shape, the leaves were very grainy similar to alligat...
view the full question and answer
Identification of plant along Austin's Hike 'n' Bike Trail
March 28, 2011 - Can you identify the tall (5-6 feet) lanky woody shrub which is growing on the south side of the Hike'n'Bike Trail in Austin? It is in a small garden, adopted by Maggie and Karl Key, near the new p...
view the full question and answer
Identification of tree in Ovilla TX area
May 04, 2010 - Can you identify a tall,(wild?) tree covered with fragrant, pink/lavender blooms? Have seen several in the Ovilla area this spring.
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. |