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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Sunday - March 21, 2010
From: Houston, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Best of Smarty, Wildlife Gardens, Shrubs
Title: Will shoes pick up American Beautyberry fruit and stain carpets?
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Do the berries from American Beautyberry fall on the ground so your shoes pick up the berries to stain the carpet in my house?ANSWER:
We once belonged to a club where the use of any red or pink juices in punch for refreshments was prohibited, because those colored juices would, indeed, stain the carpet in the meeting room.
So, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To begin with, birds adore those gorgeous Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) berries that appear in the Fall and Winter, so many will never get to the ground for you to step in. Second, those that do fall will probably be gobbled up by ground-feeding birds. Third, you would do well to not be walking in the soil around your shrubs, because that compacts the soil, and will get mulch and dirt on your shoes. And, finally, if we may make a suggestion, you might invest in an inexpensive hemp mat that can sit outside and take off any further residue from shoes entering the carpeted area. Or, don't plant the Beautyberry.
From the Image Gallery
More Shrubs Questions
Mountain laurel planting over Frederickburg limestone
March 22, 2012 - We have rocky limestone shelves on our property. We want to plant a mountain laurel. Are the roots strong enough to break through the limestone or should we try to find another location? The limestone...
view the full question and answer
Evergreen screening plant for California
May 08, 2012 - I am looking for an evergreen plant that can be used as a screen. Maybe something wispy. Any suggestions?
view the full question and answer
Male and female possumhaws for berries from Georgetown TX
April 23, 2012 - Do I need to plant two ilex decidua (possumhaws), a male and female to have red berries on the tree in the winter?
view the full question and answer
Dead woody plants in wildlife garden in Austin
March 02, 2011 - I am an enthusiastic and pretty successful wildlife gardener, have studied my Wasowski "Bible", but I can't get any evergreens established in my yard! We live on blackland clay, which I amend with ...
view the full question and answer
Non-blooming climbing rose in Conroe, TX
October 09, 2009 - I have a climbing rose and it has never bloomed and has no thorns, it was a cutting from another rose bush. I have given it water and fertilize and have mulch around it also.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |