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

Saturday - April 18, 2009
From: Tyler, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Problems with non-native Indian hawthorn
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
We have some Indian Hawthorns that were planted for us by a landscape company. The first year we got a little bit of bloom. Since then the shrubs don't bloom at all. They are in a flower bed up against a brick wall in afternoon sun. The soil is mostly clay. What is the problem? Should I start over? I've had trouble growing anything in this spot because of the heat from the brick wall.ANSWER:
Rhaphiolepis indica, Indian hawthorn, is native to temperate and tropical Asia, including China and Cambodia, and therefore out of our range of expertise at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. We are committed to the care, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which they are being grown. Plants already adapted to an area by eons of experience with the climate, rainfall and soils will have fewer pests and diseases and need less maintenance.
You will probably find some answers to your question from this University of Florida Extension website, Indian Hawthorne Brings Spring Flowers by Daniel F. Cuthbert.
Perhaps we could suggest some plants native to East Texas that might do better in that situation than the Indian hawthorns, or other plants you have tried. We are going to go to Recommended Species for East Texas, select on sun (6 hours or more of sun a day) and part shade (2 to 6 hours of sun a day) and look for shrubs that could take the heat, as it were.
Native Shrubs for Tyler, Texas
Hibiscus laevis (halberdleaf rosemallow) - deciduous, 3 to 6 ft. tall, blooms white, pink May to November
Ilex vomitoria (yaupon) - evergreen, blooms white April and May
Lantana urticoides (West Indian shrubverbena) - deciduous, 3 to 6 ft., blooms red, orange, yellow April to October
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) - evergreen fragrant foliage, 6 to 12 ft., blooms green March and April
More Non-Natives Questions
Problem with crapemyrtle shoots in Victoria, TX
May 13, 2009 - I have a problem with crepe myrtle shoots coming up in my flowerbed. I had to remove a large crepe myrtle tree (18" diameter stump) and digging out the stump was not possible. I killed the stump wi...
view the full question and answer
Can non-native Jacaranda be grown in San Antonio
May 17, 2011 - Can I grow a jacaranda tree in San Antonio? Wonder if it can handle heat, occasional freezes, & dry seasons.
view the full question and answer
Problems with non-native navel orange
October 03, 2008 - Hello Green Guru,
Question: Why hasn't Navel Orange Tree grown or sprouted new branches? It's 3 years old and is about 5 feet tall and has remained this size. It hasn't grown at all. It only ha...
view the full question and answer
Problems with non-native Chinese pistache tree in San Jose CA
May 30, 2009 - We have a Chinese Pistache tree that is between 25 and 30 years-old. Over the past couple years, we have observed more and more branches dying. They turn black, and remain leafless in the spring, when...
view the full question and answer
Care of non-native Easter lily, Lilium longiflorum
June 03, 2006 - I have a white lily that is in a pot and has already bloomed four flowers. will it bloom again? Can I replant this outside right now or what should I do with it?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |