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

Saturday - October 25, 2008

From: Kapolei, HI
Region: Other
Topic: Invasive Plants
Title: Care for iceplant in Hawaii
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Good morning Mr. Smarty Plants( I love the name) I live in Hawaii and have iceplant on the hill behind my house. Its established pretty well.I weed it often. How much water do I need and how can I get it to flower and should I fertilize? Thank you so much for any help.

ANSWER:

Please note that we have inserted an "l" in our name in your question. Smarty Plants, Plants, Plants, please, please, please.

You put us in something of a dilemma. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center focuses on plants native to North America. While Hawaii is a State, it is not in North America. So, we'll tell you what little we know about Ice Plant, and that it is invasive, especially in places like California. Hawaii is really plagued with invasive plants, to the extent that the natural habitat of Hawaii has become very altered. There are several botanical names that all refer to members of the same succulent family, and all of which apparently originated in South Africa. Hopefully, one of these sites will give you the information you need.

Carpobrotus chilensis- common name sea fig, South African species considered succulent ground cover

Botany.com - Lampranthus

Delosperma cooperi

 

 

More Invasive Plants Questions

Plant identification, Cuscuta sp., Dodder
August 18, 2009 - A neighbor of mine has a vine with no leaves that is attaching itself to her flowering plants. It is yellow in color, just larger than fishing line and has no leaves. It corkscrews itself around the p...
view the full question and answer

East Texas grasses for holding soils
September 17, 2008 - Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a question about the East Texas area: Specifically, which natvie grasses can be planted to hold the soil/new roads through the winter? Here is the situation: (Against...
view the full question and answer

Killing oak sprouts from El Paso TX
August 16, 2011 - I want to know how to kill oak root sprouts and seedlings. Very dense and out-of-control in huge area of front lawn. I had tree cut down and I still cannot get rid of them. They're only getting wors...
view the full question and answer

How to get rid of Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
July 28, 2008 - We have an enormous stand of japanese polygonum that we are trying to get rid of. What soil type is the most inhospitable to this aggressive and highly invasive species? Were thinking of planting so...
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants Exotic Species
March 26, 2004 - What is an Exotic Species?
view the full question and answer

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