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

Are the seeds of Texas ebony poisonous to dogs from Chandler AZ
October 30, 2009 - Please tell me if it is dangerous for my puppy to eat the seeds of a Texas ebony. She seems to be attracted to them.
view the full question and answer

Fast-growing tree for horse arena in Southern California
July 06, 2011 - I live in Trabuco Canyon, CA, and we just lost an old Sycamore in our horse arena. I would like to replace it with some thing that is fast growing, and will be able to withstand life around horses, o...
view the full question and answer

Wisteria and Non-Poisonous Native Vines
February 15, 2012 - I'm from central Texas and I'm wanting to plant a native vine that will work well around the public, mainly kids. It's a mostly sunny trellis that makes an arch. I'd like to plant the native Wiste...
view the full question and answer

Non-native astilbe resemblance to non-native poisonous castor bean from Tomslake BC
May 21, 2014 - I have a plant that looks like a castor bean but it has flowers like a Younique Silvery Pink Astilbe. Need to id because castor bean is poisonous. This plant grows up to 5 feet in height. Thank you !
view the full question and answer

Fall care for Fan Scarlet lobelia in Rock Island IL
November 09, 2009 - What do I do with Scarlet Fan lobelia in the fall; do I cut it back or let it go as is?
view the full question and answer

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