Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Your gift keeps resources like this database thriving!

DONATE TODAY

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?

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

Sunday - June 08, 2008

From: Conroe, TX
Region: Other
Topic: Invasive Plants
Title: Growing bluebonnets in England
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I'm sending some bluebonnet seeds to Norwich England to a dear friend. What time of year should she plant them?

ANSWER:

You aren't the first person who has wanted to grow bluebonnets in England so, first of all, I would like to refer you to the answer to a previous question on the subject. In short, the answer tells you that we don't really recommend introducing a non-native plant into another environment where it might become invasive (see our "When Is a Guest a Pest?"), but we acknowledge that probably bluebonnets aren't going to take off and become invasive in England since their home climate in Texas is so different from that of England's. This is also a clue that they probably aren't going to grow very well or at all in England. But, in case your friend wants to try, I refer you to our "How to Articles" page where you can find three articles concerning bluebonnets: "How to Grow Bluebonnets", "Rhizobium FAQs", and "Scarification FAQs" that give you particulars about when and how to sow the seeds. Please counsel your friend to be vigilant to see that they don't spread out of her control if she is successful in getting them to grow.

 

 
 

More Invasive Plants Questions

Runaway Agave Americana from Pacific Palisades CA
April 29, 2013 - We live near open space on Santa Monica Mountain State Park. Our Association planted non-native, invasive Agave Americanas all over the adjacent slopes, and we are trying to get the exploding pups and...
view the full question and answer

Elimination of nutgrass from native flower bed
October 14, 2007 - Nutgrass!*#!* My new bed in NE Austin wraps around a hot sunny SW street corner. Grass wouldn't grow there [I wouldn't water it.] I removed the turf [mostly stickers] to a depth of about 4", carefu...
view the full question and answer

Ridding property of Dichelostemma Firecracker Plant from Cleburne TX
April 11, 2012 - How do we get rid of Dichelostemma-Firecracker plant? It has invaded our yard & we hate it! How do we kill it?
view the full question and answer

Landscaping a new yard in El Paso, TX
July 01, 2010 - I am starting my back yard, we want to plant some sod grass and shade trees. We were doing some research and came across the Paulownia and the Royal Empress tree. I like them since they grow very fast...
view the full question and answer

Is Jerusalem thorn native to Central Texas?
July 17, 2009 - I was reading about Retama (Parkinsonia aculeata) which is native to South America and naturalized throughout Texas and the southern US. I also read that it is considered an invasive plant spe...
view the full question and answer

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