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
Saturday - January 31, 2009
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Leaf problems on non-native Pachira aquatica
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a Pachira Aquatica. I have had it for 6 months and it has been thriving and growing very tall with nice leaves. Lately some of the leaves have become mottled yellowish green and fallen off. Can you tell me what's wrong? It looks like it has outgrown the pot, so I am planning on repotting anyway, but want to know if I need to do anything else. It is still getting new leaves at the top. Thanks for your help.ANSWER:
Pachira aquatica, as this site from Floridata will tell you, is a tropical wetland tree native to Central America and northern South America. At the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, we are committed to the use, propagation and protection of plants native not only to North America, but to the area in which they are being grown. This plant is, therefore, out of our expertise and experience. We can tell you that it is hardy to Zones 10 and 11; in Austin, we are in Zones 8a to 8b. Obviously, that is why it is often treated as a pot plant, but it will outgrow that pot, and it can't survive our winter weather outside. It is accustomed to actually standing in water, especially when the water will recede from time to time to allow the plant to access some oxygen. Since this plant will, of course, not appear in our Native Plant Database, we found an additional site, rareflora.com, on Pachira aquatica, with some pictures of it both outside and in containers.More Non-Natives Questions
Do non-native globe willows have a taproot from Midland TX
April 06, 2012 - Do globe willows have a tap root?
view the full question and answer
Eliminating non-native invasive Asian jasmine in Temple TX
February 06, 2010 - Hello, behind my backyard fence there is a large growth (about 300 to 400 sq feet) of Asian jasmine. It was planted by previous owners. It prevents growth of native plants like holly. What is the prac...
view the full question and answer
Care for non-native Mexican ruellia in Monroe LA
October 27, 2009 - Dwarf Mexican Petunia
I have found information that late in the season, when growth becomes leggy, cut back plants by as much as a half to force a new spurt of growth.
Watch for tobacco bud wo...
view the full question and answer
Invasive, non-native Bryophyllum spp. in Austin
May 13, 2010 - I was given two varieties of what I now believe are 'Mother of Millions' and saw that they're considered a noxious weed in Australia. Are these plants considered dangerous to TX if I keep them in ...
view the full question and answer
Sheet mulching before planting Habiturf from Grand Prairie, TX
March 03, 2014 - Have you tried sheet mulching as a bed prep and to kill bermuda grass before planting habituff?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |