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.

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Wednesday - May 20, 2009

From: Rockford, MN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders
Title: Grasshopper-resistant landscape plants?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

We have a ton of grasshoppers in our area. I would like to plant bushes and flowers that the grasshoppers will not eat. Can you suggest any??

ANSWER:

Eating plants is what grasshoppers do, and if the insect is hungry enough, there's not much it won't eat. A llist of plants that grasshoppers won't eat includes cilantro, squash, peas, tomato leaves and most nitrogen fixing crops. Not a large list, and not plants that will fit well into your landscape. So the way to protect your plants is to control the grasshopper population using cultural, biological, or chemical means. The links below describe the use of these methods in large agricultural settings as well as the home and garden.

University of Minnesota Extension

Colorado State University Extension

Texas A&M Extension Service