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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Tuesday - September 23, 2008
From: Goose Creek, SC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Invasive Plants
Title: Is the mimosa tree poisonous?
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Is the mimosa tree poisonous ? If you burn the trimmed limbs is the smoke noxious ?ANSWER:
There are mimosa plants (Genus Mimosa) that are native to North America, but I suspect you are referring to the non-native, invasive mimosa, also called silk tree (Albizia julibrissin). I could find no listing in my favorite toxic plant databases for the native mimosas. However, I did find an entry in the Texas Toxic Plant Database for Albizia julibrissin indicating that the beans when ingested are a neurotoxin for livestock and dogs. There is a tree, another non-native, that is poisonous and burning the plant produces toxic smoke—oleander (Nerium oleander). See the entries in the Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System and in Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States. You can check the following databases:Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
Cornell University Plants Poisonous to Livestock
University of Pennsylvania's Poisonous Plants
Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System
Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States
More Invasive Plants Questions
Getting rid of invasive Florida betony from Myrtle Beach SC
April 28, 2012 - How can I get rid of Florida Betony from my lawn and flower beds/ garden area. Garden area was thoroughly dug up and hand picked of all tubules last year at least a foot deep. They are much worse now....
view the full question and answer
Will native plants become invasive from Grapevine TX
February 23, 2013 - Main Question - I want to convert my front and back yards into a native plant sanctuary but worry about if these plants growing out of control/invasive and if neighbors will complain about these "wee...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants Exotic Species
March 26, 2004 - What Makes an Exotic Species Invasive? (When is a Guest a Pest?)
view the full question and answer
How Can I Tell an Invasive Thistle from a Native
May 01, 2012 - Mr Smarty Plants,
I have some thistles coming up in my yard. I'd like to keep them if they are native, but not if they are invasive or non-native. How can I tell? My yard is a wild area in West Lak...
view the full question and answer
Conversion of patch of bermuda grass to native perennial garden in Texas
March 20, 2006 - My wife and I want to take a section of our front lawn that is currently in Bermuda grass and plant some native perennials with lots of flowers. The area will be a quarter-circle in a corner of the la...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |