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
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 - October 29, 2011
From: Leitchfield, KY
Region: Select Region
Topic: Invasive Plants, Non-Natives, Trees
Title: Non-native mimosa failing to bloom in Leitchfield KY
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a medium size mimosa tree here in KY that usually blooms beautifully; it did not bloom at all this year. It leafed out well, needs a few dead limbs pruned, but seems otherwise healthy. Please tell me she is not in trouble?ANSWER:
Albizia julibrissin, Mimosa is native to China and Korea and thereore falls out of our range of expertise. Mr. Smarty Plants recommends only plants native not only to North America but to the areas in which they grow naturally. In this case, we also don't recommend them because they are very invasive. For comments from other gardeners, read the 44 negative comments in this Dave's Garden forum on mimosa. For another take on the problem, here is the Plant Conservation Alliance's Plant Working Group LEAST WANTED article on invasive, non-native mimosa.
However, since you asked, here is an article from e-How Home on Mimosa Tree Pests. Failure to bloom sounds more like an environmental problem. This has been a strange weather year all over the country. We're afraid we have not kept up too well on what has been happening in Kentucky, but if you had torrential rains or flooding or late freezes at the time the blooms were developing, that could explain their failure to appear.
More Invasive Plants Questions
Why isn't Lantana camara in NPIN?
October 16, 2009 - Why don't you have Lantana camara in your data base? It is very common here, and is in the USDA database.
view the full question and answer
How to deal with suckers on Flame-leaf Sumac
May 20, 2013 - Hi! It seems you can have too much of a good thing! Our flameleaf sumac is taking over our yard. There are multiple shoots appearing in our flower beds and in the lawn. How do I get rid of the unwante...
view the full question and answer
Death of non-native eleaegnus from Austin
March 30, 2013 - We have a long hedge of elaeagnus, about 5 ft tall. Four of them died in the middle of the hedge. Where can we find such big plants? Is it advisable to unroot and transplant from another area?
view the full question and answer
Eliminating evasive Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet)
July 21, 2013 - I have Oriental Bittersweet growing pervasively in my shrub garden, strangling my shrubs and growing into my beautiful Victorian porch. I can't keep up with it! What can I do?
view the full question and answer
Plants for under pine trees in Colorado Springs CO
April 23, 2011 - What can I plant under pine trees in Colorado that will grow every year? Would like ground cover; tried bishop weed.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |