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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
rate this answer
Sunday - April 20, 2008
From: White Mills, KY
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Non-Natives, Pests, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Non-blooming toad lily in Kentucky
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have had a toad lily for three years and it has never bloomed. What do I need to do?ANSWER:
The genus Tricyrtis contains many sub-species, most of them referred to as "toad lilies." They are native to the mountain region of the Himalayas to Japan, Korea and Taiwan. They are not native to North America, and therefore do not appear in our Native Plant Database. We found this Garden Web site on Tricyrtis, which contains a lot of good information on the plant. They have been so extensively propagated and hybridized that it's hard to know exactly which plant you may be dealing with, but all have pretty similar cultural requirements. They need moist shade, and will respond to drought by going dormant and failing to bloom that year. Because it blooms so late, it needs extra watering all summer. Also, one gardener warned that rabbits love to snack on the buds. Do you have rabbits? That might explain the absence of flowers.
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Looking for a supplier of Commelina erecta.
May 29, 2009 - I'm looking for a nursery that sells Commelina erecta?
view the full question and answer
Horsetail Rush invasive in Santa Monica CA
January 16, 2012 - Mr. Smarty Plants:
I live about 3 miles from the beach in the Santa Monica area and have an 18inch deep planter area in my backyard that is adjacent to my garage. I like the look of horsetail rush. I...
view the full question and answer
Black-eyed Susans in potting soil on ground
November 12, 2010 - I would like to know if black eyed susans can be planted in just potting soil instead of mixing it in with dirt from the ground? I don't want to leave it in the pots. I want to plant it, but the grou...
view the full question and answer
Fiber and dye plants at the Wildflower Center from Round Rock TX
May 24, 2012 - When I visited the Wildflower Center recently I noticed a garden labeled as containing fiber and dye plants, but the individual plants and their uses were not all labeled. I would be very interested ...
view the full question and answer
Groundcovers for Kingsland TX
October 11, 2012 - I am looking for a list of native ground covers and grasses(not lawn grass).
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |