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
Wednesday - March 14, 2012
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Non-Natives, Plant Identification
Title: Removing non-native plants appearing in Austin in early spring
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
In order to know which plants to keep and which to remove, is there a source to look up and identify common non-native plants that are seen in Austin about this time of the year (late winter, early Spring)?ANSWER:
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center specializes in native plants, and our expertise in non-natives is limited. However, many of us pull them out of our gardens pretty regularly. So here are a few suggestions.
Texas Invasives keeps a web site showing the invasive plants found in the state. Many of the listed plants are large and perennial, and the long list is unwieldy to browse through. I have the feeling that you are referring to small "weeds" that suddenly appear in flower beds and lawns at this time of year. Many but not all of these are non-natives that happen to grow very well in our area. I recommend a list compiled by Texas A & M. It has the best images I know for identification. Look down the list of Annual Broadleaf Weeds and examine photos of the following (note that photo ref. 1 is not functional): Bur clover, Catchweed bedstraw, Common purslane, Ground spurge, Hedge parsley, Henbit, Scarlet gaura, Spiny sowthistle, Spurge (prostrate), Thistle (Malta star), and Wild lettuce. These are among the most common plants invading our flower beds and gardens right now. Among those not shown on the A & M list are the following common natives: Plantago major (Common plantain) and similar species, Taraxacum officinale (Common dandelion), Vicia ludoviciana (Louisiana vetch), Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus (Smallflower desert-chicory), also called Texas dandelion, and Parietaria pensylvanica (Pennsylvania pellitory). Images of these latter species are shown below.
I should mention an extremely invasive non-native that has overwhelmed the roadsides in Texas within just the past few years. It is called Bastard cabbage, and is very difficult to erradicate. If you happen to have that species, pull it up or cut it down quickly before it sets seeds.
I hope this limited information will be helpful to you. Good luck in your gardening.
From the Image Gallery
More Invasive Plants Questions
Trees to replace some non-native invasives in Deltona FL
February 02, 2012 - I would like to replace 3 large ChinaBerry & 3 large Chinese Tallow trees in my good sized back yard with some local wildlife friendly trees native to the Deltona area(first area.) What do you recomme...
view the full question and answer
Plant around Pittsburg from Weirton WV
September 19, 2009 - I have seen this plant outside of the Pittsburgh,PA area and was told it is called Midnight Cowboy. It has bright yellow flowers and long green leaves that only comes out at night(so I am told). Ca...
view the full question and answer
Poverty Weed in Wimberley, Texas
September 20, 2008 - I have seen differing reports about the native plant, Baccharis neglecta or Poverty Weed. Some reports say it is invasive and others consider it an acceptable native plant. I have quite a few Povert...
view the full question and answer
Will native Galium aparine be a problem in Austin garden?
March 25, 2014 - Should I be concerned that my yard is overrun with "sticky weed" (Galium aparine) in the early spring?
Specifically, about five years ago I undertook converting about half my back yard into a na...
view the full question and answer
Prairie remnant threatened by non-native Queen Anne's lace in Dallas
June 09, 2010 - A blackland prairie remnant is being invaded by Queen Ann's Lace. What are the best, least chemical, methods of getting rid of it without damaging the native grasses and wildflowers?
Thank you!
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |