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)
Friday - January 11, 2008
From: Saint Charles, MO
Region: Midwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Diseases and Disorders
Title: Promoting bloom in Chocolate Summer Mimosa
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Please help! I purchased a Chocolate Summer Mimosa from one of our local nurseries. It was a brand new plant to them and they don't really know much about them. I planted it just 3 years ago as an 18" twig. It is now almost 8 feet tall, lush with foliage and gorgeous! The problem is, it won't bloom! The year after planting we got three blossoms. The next year we got one blossom. Last year we didn't get any. The tree appears extremely healthy. Is there anything I can do to help it?ANSWER:
Chocolate mimosa must be getting more popular all the time, as we recently answered another question about it. If you go to that link, you will learn that this plant is not native to North America and therefore out of our expertise at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. However, we do try to help with plant care of non-natives that have already been purchased by referring gardeners to websites dealing with them. You will find a great deal of information on mimosas in general at this University of Florida Extension site. It sounds as though either your tree has not matured enough to be blooming or this is some sort of cultural problem, with soil, sun exposure, or nutrition of the plant, and hopefully you will get the information you need.
More Non-Natives Questions
Failure to thrive of non-native Confederate Jasmine in Tucson AZ
May 27, 2010 - My Star/Confederate Jasmine, a 30 foot long wall of it, for over 5 years now has one side of it losing leaves. I seem to remember it did this one other summer, but came back in??
What could be the pr...
view the full question and answer
Invasive non-native mulberry and groundcover in Jacksonville FL
October 02, 2011 - Northeast Florida (Jacksonville) inland. My mulberry tree provides dense shade in the summer and filtered light the other seasons, leaving sand in its growing area. What fast growing ground cover woul...
view the full question and answer
Non-native bamboo for a privacy fence in Smithville, TX
February 16, 2010 - I am considering planting bamboo along my privacy fence inside my back yard. I like the informality of it and durability. Is it safe for children and pets?
view the full question and answer
Lilac bush roots dangerous to house foundations
August 06, 2008 - Are lilac bushes dangerous to the foundation of a house? There is a lovely white-blooming lilac that grows against the house outside my bedroom window. My ex-husband said that the roots would destro...
view the full question and answer
Care of Ecuadorian penco century plant
December 17, 2007 - I was recently given a Penco, Century plant from Ecuador. It doesn't seem to be doing well. Two of the leaves have turned dark, then yellow, and died completely. Five remain, one seems to be dying as...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |