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
3 ratings

Sunday - September 05, 2010

From: Carmichael, CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Legal to kill non-native invasive fig ivy in Carmichael CA
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Is it legal to spray round-up on invasive fig ivy from my neighbor's yard? Will we be responsible for killing his plant? He refuses to install a barrier between us or discuss a remedy.

ANSWER:

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center makes no recommendations for nor against chemical products for destroying unwanted plants. What we are totally prepared to comment on is the undesirable invasive and non-native Ficus pumila, which is native to temperate and tropical Asia. The Wildflower Center does, indeed, make recommendations against the growth or propagation of any plant not native to North America and the area in which the plant is being grown, as well as any plant, native or non-native, that becomes invasive and detrimental to other plants. 

So, we are in total agreement with you on the subject of getting rid of the fig ivy, but we are not lawyers, so we have no idea what the legality of destroying someone else's plant is; it is not in our realm of expertise. We don't like the use of the word "spray" when dealing with herbicides. Sprayed herbicides make no differentiation between native or non-native, invasive or welcome, they just kill.

For some more detailed information on herbicide for this plant, please read this article from plantanswers.com The "friendly plant killers of choice". Then, we recommend you read the comments, especially the negative comments, from Dave's Garden Ficus pumila. You will note that many of the negative comments are from California. Note also this comment from the same website:

"Danger:
Seed is poisonous if ingested
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction"

Now, what to do? First, if you are on friendly enough terms with your neighbor, recommend these same articles for their reading. Next, there is no way it can be illegal for you to kill plants on your own property. It seems unlikely, considering the nature of the plant, that it is going to substantially damage your neighbors' plant. You can use the herbicide and some disposable sponge paintbrushes to attack the problem in two ways. This plant roots where it touches, and the roots go very deep. Killing the leaves will not kill the roots, and thus not kill the plant. First step, find where roots emerge from the ground, and cut them very close to the soil. Within 5 minutes, paint that cut stub with the undiluted herbicide. You do this quickly before the stub starts to heal over to protect itself, in the hope the poison will be taken up and transmitted to the roots. Just to make it easier to get at those roots, pull away all the vegetation you can and dispose of where it can't root itself or seed again. When you have gotten to all the roots you can on your side of the property, using a larger sponge brush, do a broad painting of all the leaves you can get at. This probably won't kill the roots on your neighbor's side, but the poison will spread through the stems to some extent. 

Of course, this will have to be periodically repeated, at least on your side, and even if the neighbors take out the plants on their side, it will continue to re-emerge from roots you have not been successful in killing. Patience and perseverence is your motto. 

Moral: The best way to get rid of invasive plants is to never plant them.

 

 

More Non-Natives Questions

Looking for Mimosa pudica plants in Austin, TX.
March 10, 2012 - Where can I buy a Mimosa pudica plant in or near Austin? I don't want seeds, but a few small actual plants. Thanks!
view the full question and answer

Is Viburnum dilatatum 'Henneke' (Cardinal Candy) toxic to horses?
July 01, 2014 - Is Viburnum-Cardinal Candy/Viburnum dilatatum 'Henneke' reported to be toxic or non-toxic to horses?
view the full question and answer

Possibility of invasiveness of blackberry bush
March 27, 2008 - I bought a blackberry bush from Home Depot last year. My sister said if I planted it in the ground it would take over my lawn. So I put it in a big planter up against my fence, but I'd like to put it...
view the full question and answer

Non-native, invasive Tree of Heaven in Central Texas?
April 07, 2011 - Has Ailanthus altissima been reported in Central Texas? I think we have found a few growing right here in Austin amongst a stand of cedars at a residential property off of 1826 (near where 1826 hits ...
view the full question and answer

Problems with non-native yellow lantana from Elgin TX
June 17, 2012 - Why do my yellow lantana buds turn brown and do not open fully? The sprinkler system does not spray onto the lantana.
view the full question and answer

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