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.
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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.
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Thursday - March 17, 2016
From: Elk Grove, CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Abutilon or Podocarpus Toxic to Dogs?
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
Are either of these plants toxic to dogs? Flowering maple or the Podocarpus henkelii shrub.ANSWER:
Although both of these plants are not natives to North America and not found in the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centre database, Mr. Smarty Plants did do a search of the ASPCA toxic plants to dogs list and found that Podocarpus is toxic. So be wary of that plant if your dogs like to chew on plants. The flowering maple (Abutilon sp.) is not on the list.
More Non-Natives Questions
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April 24, 2015 - I believe I recently read that the orange flowering Mexican milkweed carries a virus(?) or something that harms monarch butterflies. What are recommendations if I use this plant in my northern CA yar...
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Containing Japanese Wisteria Roots
November 22, 2015 - I have some Japanese wisteria plants that I would like to plant inside root barriers but I cannot find any info on how deep the roots go. Do you know if a 2 ft deep root barrier for trees can contain ...
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Dying foliage on non-native Otto Luyken Laurel from Georgetown KY
April 09, 2014 - I have 5 luken laurel scrubs planted around foundation. They have done very well until this last winter..the foilage is now brown and crispy. Will they come back? Do I need to prune back the damage...
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Problem with non-native sweet vernal grass, Anthoxanthum odoratum
June 24, 2010 - Hello there Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a question about growing Anthoxanthum odoratum known as sweet vernal grass. I'm trying to get Anthoxanthum odoratum, sweet vernal grass, to grow in my yard becau...
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Pruning of non-native oxblood lilies from Austin
March 27, 2014 - My Oxblood Lilies flowered quite late last Fall. Their foliage is still very green. Can I cut it down now or do I have to wait until it goes brown?
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