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
1 rating

Friday - July 03, 2009

From: Kingsport, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Poisonous Plants
Title: Plants to replace poison ivy in Kingsport TN
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Am in the process of killing off poison ivy that is growing vigorously. What do you recommend to plant in its place. I don't want to leave area open to other invasive plants. (Yes, poison ivy is a native but need to remove it since children frequent the area.) Would like to plant it with something that is an equally (if not more) vigorous plant.

ANSWER:

What you are asking for is a plant or plants that can suppress Toxicodendron radicans (eastern poison ivy), right? Sorry, fighting poison ivy is a never-ending battle, because the conditions it likes are also liked by many more desirable plants. And even when you have pulled out and/or killed the existing vines, the birds will deposit more seeds. We are going to suggest some plants for the area that flourish in the same semi-shady, moist conditions that the poison ivy does, and try to select some that look different enough from the leaves of the poison ivy that you will notice it quickly and get it out before it takes hold. Dense shrubs can hide the vine and the leaves will blend right in, so we are going to suggest some native grasses. They are tough, durable, with long, fibrous roots which will hopefully discourage the poison ivy and the grass blades certainly do not look like poison ivy leaves, so the invader will be visible and available for destroying.

We're going to go to our Native Plant Database, and do a Combination Search for Tennessee, specifying Grasses for Habit, and part shade (2 to 6 hours of sun a day) or shade (less than 2 hours of sun) for Light Requirement. We are also going to suggest a couple of low ground covers native to Tennessee. They won't suppress poison ivy, either, but the ivy leaves will stand out noticeably when they come up and these ground covers can tolerate light foot traffic. 

Native Grasses for Tennessee

Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) - perennial warm season grass, 2 to 3 ft. tall, sun or part shade

Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge) - evergreen, part shade

Carex texensis (Texas sedge) - sun or part shade

Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) - 2 to 4 ft. tall, deciduous, part shade or shade

Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill) - 1 to 2 ft., part shade or shade

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) - 3 to 6 ft., sun or part shade

Ground Covers for Tennessee

Dichondra carolinensis (Carolina ponysfoot)- sun or part shade, 3 to 4 inches tall

Hydrocotyle umbellata (manyflower marshpennywort) - to 1 ft. tall, sun, part shade or shade


Bouteloua curtipendula

Carex cherokeensis

Carex texensis

Chasmanthium latifolium

Muhlenbergia schreberi

Schizachyrium scoparium

Dichondra carolinensis

Hydrocotyle umbellata

 

 

 

 

 

More Poisonous Plants Questions

Pool-Side Plants for Miami
April 02, 2015 - I am looking for plants, along the line of ti plant cordyline features, to plant around my chlorinated pool area with full South Miami sun. We have a dog therefore they must be non-toxic plants. The...
view the full question and answer

Planting Mountain Laurel grown from seeds in Argentina
April 09, 2014 - Hello, I was transferred to Cordoba, Argentina 2 years ago from San Antonio, the climate hereis similar to S. TX, anyway I brought some mountain laurel seeds with me and they have been in 2 gallon pot...
view the full question and answer

Trees poisonous to horses from Landrum SC
April 15, 2012 - Please tell me if the following trees are poisonous to horses: hickory, beech, poplar, and redbud. Thank you very much.
view the full question and answer

Landscaping trees and shrubs non-toxic to dogs from Monticello FL
March 08, 2013 - We're landscaping and need advice on large and small evergreen trees and shrubs that are native to or will flourish in North Florida. We plan to put in a treeline (large and semi-large trees) as wel...
view the full question and answer

Local native plant for grave marker in Washington
December 30, 2005 - Dear wildflower expert, Our friend’s dog died, and is buried in western Washington, near the town of Monroe. My wife is from central Texas, and thought a Texas perennial would be a nice marker. ...
view the full question and answer

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