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
Friday - November 14, 2008
From: Livermore, CA
Region: California
Topic: Poisonous Plants, Ferns, Herbs/Forbs, Trees
Title: Tropical looking plants for pool area in California
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am looking for small tropical looking plants, groundcover, and 2-small trees for around my pool. They have to be non-toxic to dogs,cats, and people. They can't attract bees/wasps, or have a root system that may crack the pool walls. I am having a hard time finding what are safe. Plants with colorful leaves are great, since most flowers would be out. I live in Livermore, CA 94551. I think it is zone 10 (not sure). Thank you for your help.ANSWER:
Well, you've given Mr. Smarty Plants a tough assignment. First of all, unless we pick ferns and mosses, the plants are going to have flowers of some kind. And, if they have flowers, it will difficult to find ones that aren't polinated by insects of some sort. Additionally, truly tropical plants aren't going to do well in your climate. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows Alameda County, California in Zones 9a (20 to 25 °) and 9B (25 to 30 °). You could consider ferns for some of the plants around your pool. They do not produce flowers and do not attract insects as pollinators. Most ferns grow in shade or part shade and require at least a moderate amount of moisture. Here are a few ferns native to California and Alameda County. None of them appears on any of the toxic databases listed below and they do look rather tropical:
Ferns:
Athyrium filix-femina (common ladyfern
Dryopteris arguta (coastal woodfern) and photos
Pellaea andromedifolia (coffee cliffbrake)
Polystichum munitum (western swordfern)
Woodwardia fimbriata (giant chainfern) with photos from Stanford University
The following small trees are native to your area. None of them appear on any of the following toxic databases, but I don't guarantee that they won't be visited by bees and other insects.
Small Trees:
Umbellularia californica (California laurel)
Heteromeles arbutifolia (toyon)
Acacia farnesiana (sweet acacia)
Arctostaphylos glauca (big berry manzanita)
Morella californica (California wax myrtle) with photos
Groundcover. The following are recommended as groundcover. Neither of them appear on any of the following toxic databases, but I don't guarantee that they won't be visited by bees and other insects.
Ribes viburnifolium (island gooseberry)
Salvia spathacea (hummingbird sage)
Toxic databases:
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina, Cornell University Plants Poisonous to Livestock, Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, University of Pennsylvania's Poisonous Plants, and Texas Toxic Plants Database.
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Trimming of Pineapple Sage and Salvia Greggii
October 07, 2007 - I live in Central Austin. My question is: When is the
best time to trim back Pineapple Sage and Salvia Gregii? How far back should these plants be trimmed?
view the full question and answer
Color in non-native portulaca from Beach Haven NJ
July 21, 2011 - I bought a portulaca in a hanging basket and divided it up and planted it in my garden. It is doing ok..but I have almost entirely orange flowers..maybe two reds. I was hoping for multi-colored..red...
view the full question and answer
Information on non-native caladiums from Austin
June 21, 2012 - Have you a leaflet on growing caladiums in the Austin area?
view the full question and answer
Research on Atriplex confertifolia in Austin
January 21, 2010 - I have heard a lot about Atriplex confertifolia (Shadscale). Has the Center done any research/trial growing of this plant for possible adaptability to Hill Country (west Austin) area? If this is a ca...
view the full question and answer
Need help fighting grass burs in La Grange, TX.
January 22, 2013 - I have 4 acres of wildflowers planted in my front yard. Unfortunately, grassburs have crept in & I need to control them with a pre-emergent. Will this keep the wildflowers from blooming? Also, would l...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |