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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - February 12, 2008
From: Willard, MO
Region: Midwest
Topic: Invasive Plants
Title: Name of the rough-barked mimosa (Albizia kalkora)
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I read two years ago that there was two different mimosa trees one that is common and has the smooth bark and the other one had a rough bark. I am Interested in the one who has the rough bark and the name of it.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants thinks you are talking about Albizia kalkora (Kalkora mimosa). The smoother-trunked ones are Albizia julibrissin (Silktree mimosa) and Albizia lebbeck (Siris tree). All of these trees are introduced from Asia and both A. julibrissin and A. lebbeck are listed on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's Invasive Plant List as a Category I invasive. Category I is defined as: "Invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives." A. julibrissin is also listed on the TexasInvasives.org web site as well as the Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council's Invasive Exotic Pest Plants in Tennessee. Although A. kalkora is not listed on any invasives list, you should still be aware that it is not native to North America. There are a couple of trees that we would recommend substituting for your Albizia kalkora:Chilopsis linearis (desert willow)
Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite)
Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud)
More Invasive Plants Questions
Control of Acacia escaping cultivation in California
March 26, 2007 - My backyard has been overrun by acacia shrubs. How and what can I do to permanently rid the area of this weed? I hold an agricultural QAL so I have access to herbicides if there are effective ones a...
view the full question and answer
Nativity of Lantana camara and Strelitzia reginae
November 08, 2011 - I was wondering why Lantana Camara is not in the Wildflower's database. Multiple sources say it is native to the U.S. and North America.
I was also wondering if Strelitzia reginae (Bird-of-Paradise...
view the full question and answer
Root barriers for invasive plant roots from neighbor in Austin
July 24, 2011 - My neighbor's invasive plantings are invading my yard. He has Chinese parasol, China berry, Japanese honeysuckle, privets, ligustrums and native Mustang grape vines planted so closely together they ...
view the full question and answer
Invasive Indian paintbrushes in Grawn MI
June 04, 2012 - I have lots of Indian paintbrushes crowding my lawn and taking over the grass..what kills it without killing the grass?
view the full question and answer
Weeds from neighbor's yard are a problem.
May 11, 2015 - Our neighbor has let his front yard go wild. Many of these native wild plants are very invasive. How can I stop their spreading into our yard? There are too many to try & keep up with pulling them as ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |