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
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - June 17, 2015

From: Sedona, AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: Problem Plants, Vines
Title: Will Crossvine damage stucco walls?
Answered by: Guy Thompson

QUESTION:

The Crossvine I planted about a month ago is doing well. It is growing up a stucco wall and its little tendrils are sticking to (or into?) the stucco. Is this going to grow into the stucco and damage the wall as it grows bigger?

ANSWER:

Yes, the disk-shaped holdfasts of Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine) are very capable of damaging stucco walls.  You might consider replacing your Crossvine with a vine less likely to cause damage.  I attach an answer to a previous Mr. Smarty Plants question that mentions some species you could choose.

"The kind of vine to look for is one that simply twines around its support or that uses tendrils to attach itself loosely to substrates as it climbs.  Tendrils are protuberences like tiny tentacles that wrap around twigs wires, etc. for support.  They would not penetrate stucco, but the vine would need a trellis or other means of support.  Many other species of vine attach by holdfasts, which do bind to almost any surface and often penetrate into it, and should be avoided.

Suggested native species for your situation include Passiflora incarnata (Purple passionflower)(a fairly rapid grower), Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina jessamine)Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle)Lonicera albiflora (Western white honeysuckle), and Wisteria frutescens (American wisteria)   Hopefully one of these will suit your requirements. Most of these plants should be available from your local nurseries."  

 

From the Image Gallery


Purple passionflower
Passiflora incarnata

Carolina jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens

Coral honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens

American wisteria
Wisteria frutescens

 

 

More Problem Plants Questions

Low Water Use Plants for a Pond Island
November 06, 2014 - We have a medium sized pond/tank with a small island covered in black willows. The pond loses a lot of water and we were told it was partially due to the willows. We want to remove them and replace ...
view the full question and answer

Controlling weeds in Habiturf lawn
May 16, 2015 - What's the best way to get rid of weeds in a Habiturf lawn? Habiturf seems like a great idea, but even with no extra water and no fertilizer, it seems the weeds take over - K.R. Bluestem and various...
view the full question and answer

Methods of controlling poison ivy
April 19, 2005 - What do you suggest for controlling poison oak (ivy)?
view the full question and answer

Proposal of marriage to Mr. Smarty Plants
April 21, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: Will you marry me? Garden bliss hangs in the balance.
view the full question and answer

removing paper mulberry shoots from lawn
August 09, 2011 - Dear Mr./Ms. Smartypants, I recently moved into an Austin home with the backyard taken over by paper mulberries. There were originally 2-3 large bush/trees, but now that I've removed them I realiz...
view the full question and answer

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