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
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 Diseases and Disorders Questions
Problems in non- native weeping willow in Spokane WA
June 21, 2010 - My wife and I have a weeping willow tree that has done well for two years. This year some of the branches are loosing their leaves in late spring in Spokane, WA. I though it was from the wind but ha...
view the full question and answer
Dying foliage on non-native Otto Luyken Laurel from Georgetown KY
April 09, 2014 - I have 5 luken laurel scrubs planted around foundation. They have done very well until this last winter..the foilage is now brown and crispy. Will they come back? Do I need to prune back the damage...
view the full question and answer
Leaf drop from maple tree in Minnesota
August 15, 2008 - I have about a 30 ft maple tree in my yard, last fall I trimmed it pretty good because the branches were getting low where you could not walk under it or get grass to grow. This is the 2nd time in abo...
view the full question and answer
Dying leaves on Autumn Blaze Maple tree in Littleton, CO
May 25, 2012 - I have an autumn blaze maple where for the last two years the left side of the tree turns light green, then brown, and leaves die. The right side is dark green, normal. Is this a water over/under pr...
view the full question and answer
Problems with Eves necklacepods (Styphnolobium affine)
March 25, 2008 - Mr. S-P,
I urgently need your advice regarding two Eve's necklacepods that appear to be dying. They are in two completely different areas of my yard. One began leafing out and then the leaves sh...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |