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
Thursday - January 27, 2005
From: The Netherlands, Other
Region: Other
Topic: Non-Natives, Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Smarty Plants on Kokias
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am searching for seeds of different Kokias (Kokia cookei, K. drynariodes and K. kauaiensis) and Thespesias (Thespesia grandiflora, T. thespesioides, T. nerifolia and T. populnea). Perhaps there are other Kokias and Thespesias. Can you help me, please? Perhaps you know other people or botanical gardens who can help me. I am living in Holland and have a greenhouse.ANSWER:
One of the species of Thespesia (T. grandiflora, common name "maga") is native to Hawaii and one (T. populnea, Portia tree) grows in Florida and Hawaii, but is not native. Its origin is India. T. thespesiodes or T. nerifolia are not native to the U. S. The three Kokias, treecottons, (Kokia cookei, K. drynariodes and K. kauaiensis) as well as K. lanceolata are all natives of Hawaii. K. drynariodes is considered endangered in Hawaii and K. cookei is even rarer so it may be difficult to find seeds of these. K. kauaiensis is also listed as endangered but in somewhat better shape than the other two. K. lanceolata became extinct in the late 1800s or 1900s.
Since all these species are native or grow in Hawaii, you might have success in locating seeds by contacting arboreta such as Lyon Arboretum at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and botanical gardens in Hawaii.
More Non-Natives Questions
Non-native Senna corymbosa
September 28, 2008 - I have a large Texas Senna tree - at least 7'x8'. It is covered in beautiful yellow blooms; however, it will need to be pruned in the winter. Please let me know how much to prune it and when is th...
view the full question and answer
Replacement for non-native Italian Cypress in Austin
July 10, 2011 - I would appreciate your assistance with some native plant options to replace Italian Cypress trees in the Arboretum area of Austin, TX. I have 12 of the trees on the north side of the house to obstru...
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
Edibility of native and non-native wild onions
July 07, 2006 - I'd like to know if the seeds of the wild onions found in southeastern Pennsylvania (possibly called Allium ascalonicum) are edible at all- these are the seeds that
grow on top of the stalk, after ...
view the full question and answer
Problem with non-native peach tree in Willingboro NJ
September 02, 2009 - I have a peach tree in my back yard. The tree was in the yard when I bought the house. I have lived at my address almost six years. This year the peach tree is dripping a thick jelly-like sap from ...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |