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
1 rating

Thursday - August 08, 2013

From: Burton, TX
Region: Select Region
Topic: Invasive Plants, Propagation, Cacti and Succulents
Title: Killing a century plant from Burton TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

How do you kill the century plant, they are taking over?

ANSWER:

Believe it or not, you are not the first to ask us this question, and probably not the last, either. To save lazy us from a lot more typing, we are going to link you to several previous answers that may at least help you understand the process. We hope. There are apparently two towns in Texas named "Burton," and we hope that you live in the one on 290 west of Brenham, as that is the one we are familiar with, in Washington County.  Please follow all the links and read all the articles. Some of them will be repetitive, but maybe that will help you see what the problem is.

From Galveston TX - this has a number of additional links, and there are pictures in several of those links, so we will leave it at that.

 

More Propagation Questions

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?
view the full question and answer

Which seeds need to be scarified from Marble Falls TX
November 08, 2013 - Can I find out which seeds need to be scarified?
view the full question and answer

How does Graptopetalum filiferum produce seeds?
June 22, 2009 - Hi I have a Graptopetalum filiferum. I found a seed on top of one of the plants and it resembles something like a cantelope melon seed-about 1/3" long, orange. Do these succulents produce seeds i...
view the full question and answer

Flowers for Fall in Bosque County from Valley Mills TX
April 06, 2012 - What Wildflowers could we plant in Bosque County area to bloom in the Fall?
view the full question and answer

Mistake in propagation of Mustang grapes from Victoria TX
July 27, 2013 - I didn't read first! I planted dried mustang grape seeds in good potting soil, watered and put on tall clear plastic bags to retain moisture, will they ever come up? Should I get the seed out and r...
view the full question and answer

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