Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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Thursday - May 12, 2005
From: Belfast, ME
Region: Northeast
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Invasiveness of non-native gooseneck yellow loosetrife in Maine
Answered by: Damon Waitt
QUESTION:
I live in Maine, and purple loosestrife is invading our habitat. It outcompetes native species. Does gooseneck loosestrife have the same damaging qualities?ANSWER:
According to USDA Plants, gooseneck yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides Duby) is an ornamental perennial from Asia and is introduced to the Continental US. According to this source, this species does not appear to be currently listed as an invasive or noxious weed. That said, absence of information about invasiveness is not proof that it is not or won't become invasive. In some cases invasive ability is shared by related species or genera. However, relatedness among species or genera is not a good predictor alone.More Non-Natives Questions
Secretions of fluid from crepe myrtles
June 09, 2008 - On my crepe myrtle tree I have dozens of 1/2-inch-long narrow bugs that seem to secrete tiny drops of fluid. They appear on the branches of the tree. Are these harmful to the tree? Do I need to do ...
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Non-native, invasive Datura sprouting from compost
September 26, 2005 - Hi,
I have a plant growing out of some compost we purchased this spring and no one can tell me what it is.
It's about 4 ft. tall, the stem is maroon like rhubarb and it produces 4-5 in. tubular lig...
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Non-native zoysia and bermuda grasses in Austin
July 11, 2013 - We have Bermuda grass in the front and Zoysia in the back yards. The back grass is fine but the front yard Bermuda isn't. We have watered once each week during the spring and during the past 3 weeks...
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Problems with non-native Bradford pear in Austin
May 16, 2009 - Hi,
I planted a Bradford Pear tree about five years ago, and half of it is not filling out with leaves very well. Then about a month I noticed leaves here or there curling brown and dying, and causin...
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Smarty Plants on Pittosporum
August 05, 2005 - Need to know if "PITTOSPORUM" (TOBIRA VARIEGATA) will grow in my area of SE OK. I have purchased two of them and the nursery said that they would do great. Just needed an extra opinion.
Than...
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