Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Thursday - March 22, 2012
From: San Dimas , CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives, Pollinators, Shrubs
Title: Alternative for Pittosporum limelight
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Is it ok to plant a Pittosporum limelight by pool? Don't want bees! Needs to be 6 feet. Thanks.ANSWER:
Pittosporum tenuifolium (limelight) is native to New Zealand. The focus and expertise of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center are plants native to North America so we wouldn't recommend planting this shrub. We can offer some shrubs with similar features that are native alternatives:
Arctostaphylos manzanita (Whiteleaf manzanita) and here are photos and more information
Baccharis pilularis (Coyotebrush) and here are more photos and information
Cercocarpus montanus var. minutiflorus [syn. Cercocarpus minutiflorus] (Smooth mountain mahogany) and here are photos and more information.
Frangula californica [syn. Rhamnus californica] (California buckthorn or coffeeberry) and here are photos and more information.
Most flowering plants are pollinated by some insect or other—many times it will be bees. This means that your plant, even Pittosporum limelight, will be visited by insects while in bloom—probably, this will include bees.
From the Image Gallery
More Non-Natives Questions
Care for 'Winchester' honeysuckle?
June 05, 2009 - I have a Winchester honeysuckle that is now in full bloom. Do I "deadhead" the blooms after they die off?
view the full question and answer
Various landscape problems in Omaha, NE.
June 18, 2015 - Thank you for your time, sorry i cant sort this out because my issue seems to fit many but also none of the issues I've read about. Some patches of grass in my lawn have yellow spots and dying and/or...
view the full question and answer
Are non-native Chinese pistache poisonous to alpacas from Galt CA
October 07, 2012 - Are Chinese Pistachio trees poisonous to alpacas?
view the full question and answer
Non-native Pride of Barbados from San Antonio
August 26, 2011 - I have some very successful wildly blooming "Dwarf Pride of Barbados" plants growing in my xeriscape garden. Each year I cut them back to the ground.
I have just purchased a new variety called "...
view the full question and answer
How to tell the difference between native and non-native thistles
March 13, 2013 - It's thistle time already. There are many plants in the aster family with thistle in their common name. Are "real" thistles only those in the genus Cirsium, or are there others as well? We are tryi...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |