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?

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
2 ratings

Sunday - June 08, 2008

From: Salt Lake City, UT
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Non-native Jasmine trachelospermum jasminoides in Utah
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Bought (4) Star Jasmine trachelospermum jasminoides at Costco. Want to use them in Salt Lake City, UT, brutal winters, on a fence in a retail center parking lot surrounded by trees. Will the leaves stay intact and keep a color through the winter? (thanks)

ANSWER:

Sigh. This is the sort of question we get ever so often when we wonder "Why didn't they ask this question before they bought/planted/lost the plant in question?" And the other question we'd like to ask is how the big box, non-nursery stores that sell plants, probably grown in California, that are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a (ave. min. temp. 10- 15 deg. F) to 11 (above 40 deg. F), can sell those in places that are Zone 4b (-25 to -20 deg F.) to 5b (-20 to -15 deg F.)? Salt Lake City, in north central Utah, is Zone 4b, surrounded by Zone 5a. In answer to your question, not only will the leaves not stay intact and keep color through the winter, but the plants will probably be dead by the first of November.

Just for your general information, here is a Floridata website about Trachelospermum jasminoides, Star Jasmine or Confederate Jasmine.

We're sorry you spent the money, but at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center we are committed to promoting the use of plants native to the area in which they are grown, and always native to North America. In the first place, if a plant is native to your area, you don't have to worry about hardiness zones. Beyond that, natives are good for the environment because they consume less water, fertilizer and maintenance.

As a consolation prize, we'd like to offer you some plants native to (and hardy in) Utah. The herbs (herbaceous plants) will not keep color through the winter; in fact, they will probably die to the ground, but will come up in the Spring. Three of the shrubs are evergreen, one deciduous. If you are interested in native plants for your location, go to our Suppliers section, type in your city and state in the Enter Search Location box, and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed companies and landscape professionals in your general area.

HERBS

Arnica cordifolia (heartleaf arnica)

Heuchera parvifolia (littleleaf alumroot)

Heuchera rubescens (pink alumroot)

Mirabilis multiflora (Colorado four o'clock)

SHRUBS

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick) - evergreen

Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush ceanothus) - evergreen

Lonicera involucrata (twinberry honeysuckle) - deciduous

Mahonia repens (creeping barberry) - evergreen


Arnica cordifolia

Heuchera parvifolia

Heuchera rubescens

Mirabilis multiflora

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Ceanothus velutinus

Lonicera involucrata

Mahonia repens

 

 

 

More Non-Natives Questions

Growing Giant Pumpkins in Georgia
April 15, 2013 - I have tried to grow giant pumpkins in the Atlanta, GA area. Each year I lose several strong plants to vine borers. I have tried tin foil wrapped around the stems, and I even painted the stems with Se...
view the full question and answer

Texas native bamboo vs. non-native for hedge.
August 25, 2008 - Why is Mr. Smarty Plants so against bamboo when there is a native American/Texan bamboo and an active bamboo society in the Austin area? I live in Central East Austin and I need the cheapest, fas...
view the full question and answer

Non-native carrotwood tree in Simi Valley CA
June 25, 2009 - We have a beautiful 40+ foot carrotwood tree that has been covered with small nut-like pods growing in bunches. They are a mess. Is there a spray that controls/eliminates this problem?
view the full question and answer

Transplant shock of non-native Bougainvillea
May 22, 2008 - Well I bought two Bougainvilleas, the first one I transplanted is doing great, the second one not so good when I was taking it out of the original pot the root ball stayed in the pot but the plant wit...
view the full question and answer

Non-native upside down tomatoes in Edmonton AB
September 19, 2010 - Due to early frost, I have brought my upside down tomato plant into the house & have hung it in the basement. What type of grow lamp can I use? I just have the overhead light & standard lamps at my di...
view the full question and answer

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