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
Tuesday - January 08, 2013
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification, Wildflower Center
Title: Identification of pink flower photographed at the Wildflower Center
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Last August I took a photo at the Wildflower Center and now I'm trying to identify it. The flower has many pink petals that either stick straight out or downward and the center has pink frills edging white. Within the white area are dark spikes with pink at the ends. A stem of the flower may be split with several flowers at the end. The stems have fine hairs on them. What is the best way to identify this flower?ANSWER:
If you visit our Recommended Species page, you will find a section, WILDFLOWER CENTER: GARDENS, with links to a master list of all plants grown at the Wildflower Center and a list for each of several of the named sections of our gardens. When you open one of the lists you can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to search the list by flower color and for other criteria (such as bloom time) that you think will help you find your flower.
I did such a search and the best match to the description you give is:
Palafoxia callosa (Small palafox)
Here are more photos of Palafoxia callosa from School of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas, Ozark Edge Wildflowers, and Missouri Plants.
In case that isn't the flower you photographed, here are a few other possibilites below that match your description somewhat. You should also try the search yourself to be sure I didn't miss your flower.
Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (Purple prairie clover)
Gaura lindheimeri (Lindheimer's beeblossom)
Mimosa roemeriana (Roemer's mimosa)
Monarda citriodora (Lemon beebalm)
Monarda fistulosa (Wild bergamot)
From the Image Gallery
More Wildflower Center Questions
Wheelchair access to the Wildflower Center from Converse TX
March 09, 2013 - Hi. I hope you can help. I've written two emails to the Contact Dept but to no avail in receiving a response. I wanted to know if wheelchairs can access the flower fields and the trails? I get the fe...
view the full question and answer
Design and installation of trails at Wildflower Center
July 24, 2005 - I am a Park Commissioner in a city near Austin and am researching a firm to help design a trail system in our park. Would you please tell me who designed and installed the trails at the Wildflower Ce...
view the full question and answer
Color year round, welcome to Austin Texas.
December 04, 2011 - I am new to Austin and want to plant colorful flowers for fall and winter that get a "wow" reaction. I have not seen much at the local nurseries. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated!
view the full question and answer
Color of Englemann's daisy (Engelmannia peristenia)
April 11, 2010 - I'm in Austin and just bought some Engelmann's Daisies at the plant sale on Fri. The picture had them with white petals, and your plant database has them with yellow petals. I specifically wanted wh...
view the full question and answer
Information on green roof demonstration site at Wildflower Center
March 10, 2006 - I visited your green roof demonstration site and am interested in putting a green roof on a structure. There seemed to be at least two layers of growing medium in the planters; one layer looked like r...
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. |
