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.
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Monday - November 12, 2012
From: Granbury, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Seed and Plant Sources, Shrubs
Title: Search for non-native Rosa Rugosa for Granbury TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I would like to find an old fashioned Rosa Rugosa (non-hybrid) to grow in central Texas. I know I've seen them occasionally when traveling in the central TX area. I want them for their rose hips.ANSWER:
We also like the old-fashioned roses, but surprise, surprise, Rosa rugosa is not a native to North America. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, home of Mr. Smarty Plants, is dedicated to the growth, propagation and protection of plants native only to North America but to the area in which those plant grow naturally. The reason for this is that plants that have grown for centuries in the same soils, climate and rainfall will require far fewer resources to prosper.
We do have a National Suppliers Directory, which you might try, as most of them are not restricted entirely to native plants. Enter your town and state or just your zip code in the "Enter Search Location" box, and you will get list of native plant nurseries, seed suppliers and consultants in your general area. You might also try the Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, TX. We became addicted to them while living in Brenham some years ago, but did understand that "antique" did not mean "native."
If you follow the Rosa rugosa link, you will get a page with lots of information on this plant, including that it is native to China, Korea and Japan. Unfortunately, that is no help in determining how the rose would do in Hood County.
More Non-Natives Questions
Crows foot plant for Christmas wreaths from Millsboro DE
November 04, 2012 - I am looking for a plant called crows foot to make wreaths for Christmas. Where do I find this plant.
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Growing Florist Roses
January 23, 2016 - Often I find that florist roses sprout for me, but I fail to get them to grow into a bush. Do you have the answer?
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Failure to bloom of lantanas in San Antonio
July 22, 2010 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
We have lantanas in our front yard. This summer the leaves have turned white and they die to a brown color all the while the leaves are "crispy". At the beginning of the season...
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Infestation of flies around euonymus in summer
March 02, 2008 - I have 3 shrubs planted in my backyard. I think they are a type of euonymus (but I'm not sure). My question is why do they attract huge nasty flies. The first year we had them they didn't. But the l...
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Need some help with a Plumbago plant in Mission, TX.
August 06, 2010 - Hello..I live in south South Texas and have a plumbago. It gets about 4 to 5 hours of direct sun and lately some of the branches and leaves turn bright green almost yellow. Am I over watering or is ...
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