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Native Plant Trust: Go Botany Discover thousands of New England plants

PlantShare

Sightings Locator

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How to Use

Enter a plant name and we'll show where it's been seen recently.

You will see all recent sightings that others have marked for public view or for a PlantShare group that you belong to. Rare and endangered plants will not be displayed.

Ask the Botanist

Ace Acer

Our ace botanists are here to help you identify wild New England plants and to answer questions about their ecology and conservation. When posting a question, please provide the location, habitat (e.g. river, mountain, woodland), and photographs of the plant.

Everyone can read the answers, but only logged-in users can ask questions. Log in to ask a question.

Recently answered questions

  • Question
    Dear Mr. Botanist, I found this pretty little flower growing in a sunny wetland area in Breakheart Reservation, in Reading MA. These photos were taken a little over a week ago, and the plant itself is a little over a foot tall. Could you please identify?
    Answer
    Dear Stephan, the plant you have photographed is Rhexia virginica (Virginia meadow-beauty). This is a native member of the Melastoma Family. It is very frequent in the habitat you described (open wetlands and shorelines). Best wishes. (Monday, 16 September 2024)
  • Question
    I found what I think is Geranium sibiricum about two weeks ago in anthropogenic low growing grass on campus of High Mowing School, Wilton, NH, 03086. Took a picture of it with PlantNet, but it's not showing up in my Google Phots, alas, and I don't seem to be able to send it to you from PlantNet. Sorry.
    Answer
    Dear penelope+, good morning. If you are having trouble uploading images here, feel free to attach them to an email and send them to ahaines@nativeplanttrust.org and I will try to assist. (Monday, 9 September 2024)
  • Question
    Dear Mr. Botanist, I am clearing out a garden bed, and I found this sapling growing. I'd like to identify it, so I know whether it should stay or it should go. I think it might be a Linden tree, because there is a mature specimen nearby. However it also looks like a White Mulberry tree. Can you identify? Thank you.
    Answer
    Stephen, the winter buds look like those of Tilia (linden), which have a certain color and shape (often they have a red hue or a slight reddish infusion of a brown background and are asymmetrical, somewhat bulged on one side). I don't know which species of Tilia this is, but it looks like that genus to me. Best wishes. (Monday, 9 September 2024)

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