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
Not Yet Rated

Thursday - July 22, 2010

From: Bay Point, CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Suckers on non-native crape myrtle in Bay Point CA
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

How can I stop suckers on a Crepe Myrtle tree? I have bought sucker stopper in the past, but find it hard to locate now. Is there something else I can spray or paint on the base of the tree to stop the suckers? Thank you

ANSWER:

Legerstroemia indica, Crapemyrtle, is native to temperate and tropical Asia. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the growth, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the areas in which the plants are being grown. However, from The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension website, here is an article on Crape Myrtle Culture, Pages 3 and 4 of this document covers both pruning and control of suckers. They do mention a growth inhibitor for the suckers, but ordinarily just snipping them off will suffice, although you will have to keep doing it-there are no permanent fixes in Nature.
 

More Non-Natives Questions

Want to Grow Herbs in Pots on Balcony
November 26, 2011 - Nov. 20, 2011 I live in a large apartment with a front balcony. I was wondering what would grow well in pots and fresh herb this time of the year? And will lavendar work for a hanging plant as well...
view the full question and answer

Problem with non-native gerbera daisies
June 09, 2009 - My gerber daiseys leaf but they don't want to bloom. They come back. What am I doing wrong?
view the full question and answer

Wildflower Center work on non-native, invasive Bastard Cabbage from Austin
March 20, 2014 - Still have cabbage weeds that infiltrated Austin awhile back. How did Wildflower Center resolve it?
view the full question and answer

Problems with non-native Star Jasmine in Round Rock, TX
May 24, 2009 - I have two star jasmine plants in pots located just under the eaves of my Round Rock, Texas patio. They have been very healthy specimens until this year. They are thinning badly and the ends of the br...
view the full question and answer

Will the non-native tamarind tree survive in Austin?
October 11, 2010 - We live in the Texas Hill Country and we were given a Tamarind Tree as a gift (which the givers thought was a Pride of Barbados). Is it advisable to plant this in the ground, since it is sensitive to...
view the full question and answer

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