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
Thursday - June 11, 2009
From: Greensboro, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Care for non-native mandevilla in Greensboro, NC
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I bought two potted mandevilla vines last year and read on a website for winter care to cut the vine back at least a foot from the soil. However this spring going into summer it has barely produced anything except for a few leaves. It appears to be healthy and I lightly fertilized both in early spring. They were beautiful last year growing on triangular vine posts, but I'm afraid by doing what the website said they won't bloom this year. Any ideas?ANSWER:
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the care and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which they are being grown. According to this University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service website Mandevilla senderi originated in Brazil and is therefore out of our range of expertise. It is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11; Greensboro is in Zone 7a to 7b, and this tropical plant would not be hardy outside in your area. Possibly digging it up and potting it so it can be brought inside in the winter will permit it to survive.More Non-Natives Questions
Care of non-native house plant, probably Coleus
September 16, 2007 - What would cause the new leaves of a house plant to be solid green? When I bought it, the original leaves were almost like a "tie-dye" fabric (green,yellow,orange, and red).
view the full question and answer
Problems with non-native privet in Austin
November 15, 2010 - My 2 privet shrubs/bushes facing the east in a shady area seem to be have less leaves and dead flowers, while across a walk way that 1 privet shrub/bush has lots of green leaves with lots of dying flo...
view the full question and answer
Cuttings from non-native weeping willow in California
October 01, 2008 - I have a large area to plant, I have a flourishing Weeping Willow and would like to harvest cuttings from it to start new trees. What is the best time of year for this in Central California?
view the full question and answer
Shriveling and dying of non-native impatiens
July 14, 2008 - Several years now many of my impatiens after a month or so seem to shrivel up and eventually die. They are planted in a row and not all are affected. I am not noticing any slug evidence which I would...
view the full question and answer
Leaves on non-native Rose Cactus
January 30, 2009 - I have a Rose Cactus (Pereskia grandifolia). The leaves have all dropped off. I was wondering if this is normal in the winter. Also, is the pear shaped fruit edible.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |
