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?

Share

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
1 rating

Sunday - October 12, 2008

From: Pflugerville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Texas frogfruit vs. non-native St. Augustine grass
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Can Texas frogfruit resist invasion by St. Augustine grass, or will I need to create a barrier?

ANSWER:

St. Augustine grass is almost a textbook example of what invasive non-native plants can do. At least, it's not quite as bad as Bermudagrass, which spreads both by stolons and underground rhizomes. However, Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit) is often found growing as a "weed" in St. Augustine, and is pretty tough and self-sufficient. We don't know that a barrier is necessary, but we would certainly keep the St. Augustine pulled out when it approaches the Frogfruit. Once they intermingle, you will find it more difficult to pull out the St. Augustine without damaging the Frogfruit. If you don't mind their co-existing, be assured that they can, and don't worry about it. 


Phyla nodiflora

Phyla nodiflora

 

 

More Non-Natives Questions

Frost damage to non-native Mexican Maradol papaya from San Antonio
March 31, 2011 - I planted Mexican Maradol papaya in my San Antonio garden last year. The plants grew about 5' tall and were starting to flower. Then the winter freezes blasted them; now there's nothing left but stu...
view the full question and answer

Pruning blue potato tree (Lycianthus rantonnei)
July 14, 2008 - I wrote earlier about a blue potato tree(Lycianthus rantonnei) the top appears dead but if you break a branch it is still green, what would happen to it if I cut all the branches forming at the bottom...
view the full question and answer

Mexican feathergrass from Pflugerville, TX
January 23, 2013 - How deep are the roots of Nassella tenuissima? I'm looking for something that could possibly discourage my neighbors' bermuda grass from encroaching into my native plantings.
view the full question and answer

Damage to Yucca rostrata from Nottingham, England
February 26, 2014 - Hi, I have a yucca rostrata which has had its head snapped off in high winds (we live in Nottingham, England) we have left the trunk in the ground, will this re grow?? What is the best thing to do wit...
view the full question and answer

Pruning of non-native chocolate mimosa
August 07, 2008 - I have a one year old chocolate mimosa that has grown 2.5 feet in height. It has seven leaf stems two feet from the bottom and only three at the top canopy. The trunk is only three quarters of an inch...
view the full question and answer

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