Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - July 20, 2011

From: Alleyton, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Propagation, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Propagation of quincula lobata from Alleyton TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Quincula lobata..how to propagate and when?

ANSWER:

As you can see from this USDA Plant Profile MapQuincula lobata (Purple groundcherry) is more of a West Texas Plant. However, we see no reason why it wouldn't grow where you are. It is apparently used to living on a low-nutrient, rocky soil, so don't love it too much with fertilizers and rich soil. Sometimes, our webpage on each plant (which you can read by following the link above) will have Propagation Instructions, but this time it didn't. So, we went hunting on the Internet and found this article from eHow Chinese Lantern Plant Tips. Although we found no mention of it, we wouldn't be surprised if you could dig up a portion of the underground rhizones and propagate it with that, but the berries inside the "Chinese Lanterns" are the seeds.

 

From the Image Gallery


Purple groundcherry
Quincula lobata

Purple groundcherry
Quincula lobata

Purple groundcherry
Quincula lobata

More Propagation Questions

Revegetation with Rosa Woodsii in Heber UT
July 26, 2013 - I am using Woods Roses for a revegetation project (to stop trail short cutting) in a public picnic area. Growing them from seed was too slow so I am experimenting with transplanting and it is working ...
view the full question and answer

Native bulbs for the northeastern U. S.
November 23, 2007 - What native bulbs could we plant in the Northeast? Can they only be planted in the fall as Dutch bulbs are?
view the full question and answer

Propagation of Texas bluebells from seed
July 29, 2008 - I have a few Texas Bluebell seeds. I would like to grow these in my yard. What would be the best place..pot or flower bed? When should I plant? How to maintain?
view the full question and answer

Planting bluebonnets near pond area
April 26, 2008 - We want to scatter bluebonnet seeds on the banks of a pond area in a housing addition. Do we have to do anything special? How do they do it along highways?
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants on dutchmans pipe
July 24, 2005 - How do I care for and transplant dutchman pipe?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.