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
Friday - May 08, 2015
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Herbs/Forbs
Title: What to do about bastard cabbage in the Austin area?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
I am noticing bastard cabbage taking over roadsides and medians at an alarming rate where a mixture of native flowers used to bloom. Is it allowable to organize efforts to pull the invasive plants out along public roads? Or does the State of Texas have any plans to address this invasive plant that is elbowing out bluebonnets, paintbrush, etc.?ANSWER:
Lots of folks are dismayed by the invasion of this obnoxious plant into the Hill Country, but the State of Texas has problems probably more pressing than bastard cabbage.
Here is a link to an article from the May issue of “Wildflower Wire” that tells what the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center is doing about it. In the article, Dr. Simmons suggests that pulling up the pest is one way to address the problem, and this is where you come in.
You are probably familiar with the Adopt-A-Highway Program that was established by TXDOT to combat the litter problem along Texas roadways. If people can organize groups to pick up litter, it seems to Mr. Smarty Plants that they can organize groups to pull up bastard cabbage. This link to TEXDOT contains “Adopt-A-Highway Participation Guidelines”. Maybe you can form a group that does both; pick up litter as well as pull up bastard cabbage.
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Asclepias with whitish discoloration
May 26, 2008 - I have red/scarlett milkweed planted in my yard. The leaves have a whitish discoloration on the top of some of the leaves and it is spreading. What is it? What do I do about it?
view the full question and answer
When should salvia greggii be pruned from Austin
December 12, 2013 - Should salvia greggii be pruned in fall/winter? I thought I read onsite that all woody perennials should be left untouched or pruned to 6 inches. Does this apply to salvia greggii?
view the full question and answer
Evergreen for sunny, dry area under a maple in Connecticut
October 10, 2015 - I have a sloped, very sunny, dry area under a maple. I was wondering if Sweet Fern would be a likely candidate for this area. I would like it to
be evergreen and to be able to survive under mounds of...
view the full question and answer
Should Mexican milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) not be used to attract Monarch butterflies?
November 20, 2015 - Should I remove Asclepias curassavica (Mexican milkweed) in my garden for threat of OE parasitic protozoan threat to Monarch butterflies? Is this threat as widespread as Chronicle implies? I had great...
view the full question and answer
Mildew on phlox paniculata from Morrisville PA
May 30, 2014 - My Phlox paniculata, all 7, have powdery mildew. I read about using NEEM to combat the mildew. NEEM is organic but the bottle says it is also an insecticide. The phlox are near my milkweed and gold...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |