I received this questions on 9/9/09.

Ask the Expert:

Solanum Triflorum - Cutleaf Night Shade

Plant Expert Reply:

I am stumped. I have passed the picture on to some colleagues at the Wyoming Extension Service.  Hopefully, they will have an identification for us tomorrow.  I apologize for the delay in identifying this unique plant.

After sending this message to Connie, she replied back with this message:

Dear Jamie,

Attached are a few more photos of the plant.  The last photo shows the hilltop location of the plant which is in middle of a scoria rock outcrop.

One lady thought it might be a tenpetal starburst but I researched and the leaves are not at all rough but shiney and it makes no mention of the fruit that hangs along the underside of the leaves.  In fact, all of the starbursts I looked at did not have any fruits but had seeds which were not like little tomatoes.

thank you so much,

(I'm researching too still but come up with nothing).

Connie

Thanks to an email from Karen Panter, we finally have an identification. This is the email identification I received:

It's a weedy plant known as Solanum triflorum or cutleaf nightshade. It is native to North America east of the Cascades to the Great Plains. It inhabits waste places and cultivated fields as a weed.
Karen P.

Karen L. Panter, Ph.D., C.P.H.
Extension Horticulture and Specialty Crops
Plant Sciences - 3354
University of Wyoming

Thanks Karen for the identification!

Ask the Expert: What kind of plant is this and how can I save it?
Hi,

Do you know what kind of plant this is? It has flat 'catus-shaped' leaves.

Do you know how I can save it? It's losing a lot of leaves . . .

Please help!

Thanks,  Jen

Plant Expert Reply:

This has been a hard one for me.  It kind of looks like a fern but not exactly like a staghorn fern.  My guess would be either a Phlebodium aureum 'Mandaianum"  (Rabbit Foot Fern) or a Polypodium californiucum.

To make a better identification I would need photos of the back side of the leaves and the area where the leaves are coming from.

From what I can tell, the plant probably has a water stress issue.  Is the soil dry?  Is any excess water draining from the container?  If the soil is dry water it and keep it moist.  If the plant is sitting in water re-pot it into a container that has drain holes.  Then keep the soil moist but not soggy.  I also suggest exposing it to more light.

Ask the Expert: What is the name of this plant/flower?

Pinnate Leaves & Blooms

The growth habit is erect.  It's leaves are pinnate, in an alternate arrangement, they are oval, scalloped, have an uneven base and a blunt tip.  I live in zone 3, southern Alberta Canada.  Shelly

Plant Expert Reply:

Can you tell me a little more about this plant.  I am having trouble
identifying it.  It could be Agastache (hyssops) or Sanguisorba (burnet) or something in the mint family.  Does it have a scent? Are they growing in a high and dry environment or a low boggy environment?  In sun or shade?  The bloom-like structure in the picture - fresh or a spent bloom?

Once I get the answers to these questions, I should be able to pinpoint the
id.

Ask the Expert: What kind of plant is this?

Pink Kalanchoe

The leaves appear to be a succulent, because they are thick and spongy. The flowers are like heather…     Heather

Plant Expert Reply:

You have a succulent called Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.  This happens to have pink flowers but they also come in yellow, white, red and orange.  Give it bright filtered light and keep moist to the dry side.  Watch for pests like aphids and mealybugs.  If kept too wet, kalanchoes can develop powdery mildew, leaf spot, as well as , crown and root rot.

Ask the Expert: Can you identify this plant?

White Flowers & Berries

Hi - this plant has tiny white flowers with 5 petals and small green berry clusters (I don't know if the berries will change color eventually).  Can you identify it?

Thanks
Kimberly
Los Angeles

Plant Expert Reply:

It is a little difficult to tell from the picture, but I think it is Carolina Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense).  It is not actually a true nettle.  The berries should turn a yellowish color. Carolina Horsenettle has spines on the stems and is considered a noxious wedd in most states.  It also has toxic properties. Be careful when your handle it.  Take a look at the Carolina Horsenettle on the MissouriPlants.com site for a postivie identification.

Schefflera

Octopus Plant

Ask the Expert: Can you tell me what kind of plant this is???

I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of plant this is so that I can look up more information on the care of this plant. Thank you. Tammy

Plant Expert Reply:
This plant goes by many names Brassia arboricola, arboricola, schefflera, octopus plant and umbrella plant. We have great schefflera care instructions for this plant in our flower gallery.

Ask the Expert: Hi. I live in Florida and one of would you please answer my question?
Hi. I live in Florida and one of my students gave me this pretty plant with green leaves and pink spots. I would like to know how to take good care of it. Thank you so much. Isabel

Plant Care Expert:

Hypoetes phyllostachya

I believe your plant is a Polka Dot Plant (Hypoetes phyllostachys). Does your plant look similar to the picture shown?

If so the plant is relatively easy to take care of, just follow a few easy care instructions and your plant should thrive.

First keep the plant moist.  Make sure it is in a container that can drain off excess water. Mist around the plant every other day or keep in a humid environment.

Second,  give it plenty of light but no direct sun.  In thie summer time you can set it outside under shade. This plant likes warm temperatures and during the growing season it likes to be fed every two weeks.  During the winter feed it once a month.

To keep the plant shapely, trim leggy growth.

Although hypoetes is used as a garden plant, it makes a wonderful houseplant.

Good lucky with your plant and keep me posted.

Ask The Expert: I RECENTLY PURCHASED A HOUSEPLANT AT A LOCAL GARDEN CENTER. IT DID NOT HAVE
ANY TAG AND NO ONE AT THE CENTER WAS SURE WHAT IT WAS. IT WAS TOO INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL FOR ME TO PASS UP. IT IS GROWING IN A NEAT MOUND SO FAR. THE LEAVES ARE OVAL SHAPED, ABOUT 1"X 2". VERY DARK IN COLOR, THE UNDERSIDE IS DARK PLUM COLORED, THE TOP IS DARK GREEN WITH SILVER STRIPE
AND NICELY TEXTURED. THE NEW LEAVES ARE RATHER PLUM COLORED AND THEN GET DARKER. OVERALL IT LOOKS SIMILAR TO AN EMERALD RIPPLE OR SOME SORT OF PEPEROMIA. WOULD YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT IS?? PATTY

Plant Expert Reply:
Nothing is more challenging than identifying a plant without seeing it. Your awesome description makes it a little easier. There are two possibilities: a type Pilea or a type Peperomia. Below are some pictures of different types. See if any look like your plant. If not, send me a picture of yours and I'll try to make a better identification. My choice would be the Aluminum Plant.

Hoya Flower & Leaf

Ask the Expert: What is this plant?
Hi,
A friend of mine had a plant that he inherited with his office.  It had nice shiny leaves that grew on long vines.  They're about 4' long.  Green with small white spots.  I took a clipping.

It took some years (3), but it finally stared to grow.  It just grows and grows.  It never bloomed until a few weeks ago (3 more years), and then I got these little sprays of 5-petal pink flowers that are about 1/2' across.  There are 17 on one spray.

What is this and what do I do with the flowers?

Thanks,
Kevin Ansley

Plant Expert Reply:

Your plant goes by the name Hoya , wax flower, wax plant, wax vine.  The genus for this plant is Hoya and it has many species within this genus.  I believe from the bloom and the leaf that you have Hoya carnosa.

You probably have noticed that the blooms are very fragrant.  You don't have to do anything with the blooms until they are spent. When the bloom has deteriorated beyond attractiveness simply cut it away from the vine.

Ask the Expert: Can you help identify this plant? It was given. It's of the green plant family and has dark green leaves resembling 'cow itch'. I would like to know name and caring instructions. Thanks, Danny

Plant Expert Reply:

Radermachia sinica 'China Doll'

Does your plant look like this China Doll (Radermachera sinica) - sometimes Aralia is attached to the name.  If so, you have a delicate but interesting houseplant. The foliage texture and glossy green leaves are the reason this plant is quickly rising in popularity.

Although delicate, China Doll can make an excellent houseplant, if it is properly maintained.

China Doll Likes

It needs plenty of bright indirect light (at least 4 to 5 hours) and a moist well-drained soil. It is fussy about temperature. Keep it out of drafts. A normal house hold temperature of 65 to 75 degrees works well.

China Dolls like to be root-bound, so don't repot until the roots over flow the container.

Fertilize this plant once a month with a water soluble fertilizer like Schultz or Peters houseplant food. To maintain the fullness and shape of the plant prune it occasionally.

China Doll Issues

This houseplant hates changes.  Keep light, water and temperature as constant as possible.

Watch for Aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites.  If you develop a fungus gnat problem, let the soil dry out but not to the point of wilting.

When you water, make sure you pour the water evenly around the plant.  Uneven watering can lead to leaf drop.

It may sound like a high maintenance plant but really it is easy to care for once you get the rhythm.

***Speaking of rhythm - is anyone else hearing David Bowie's Chyna Doll song in their head?***