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 17, 2010
From: White Plains, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: What will grow under non-native, invasive Norway Maple in White Plains NY?
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Is there anything that will grow under a Norway Maple? The soil is dry and the area is small hill next to my driveway. It is an eye sore! Thank you!ANSWER:
The Acer platanoides, Norway Maple, releases chemicals to discourage undergrowth which tends to create bare, muddy run-off conditions immediately beneath the tree. This is known as allelopathy and is also present in black walnut trees, magnolias, oaks and other trees that don't want competition. The websites we found on this plant referred to it as a non-native invasive. It is native to eastern and central Europe and southeast Asia; the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the use, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which they are being grown. The advice several of those sites on control of this tree was "don't plant it." So, it's not a case of what can be planted under it, but the tree itself.
Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas: Acer platanoides, Norway Maple
USDA Forest Service Weed of the Week
More Non-Natives Questions
Non-native bougainvillea from Austin
June 25, 2012 - Bougainvillea isn't a native, but since they are so prevalent here, I hope you can help. I have three, one established in-the-ground, which is pruned almost to the ground every winter; two new this y...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
August 04, 2012 - Hello Mr. Smarty Plants! I have a plant that was given to me and told it was spider plant, but I don't believe it is. The plat grows up and has leaves coming out like a spider plant but they are gree...
view the full question and answer
Water requirements for fruit trees in California
January 15, 2013 - Dear Sir;
In which of these options (fruit trees) the need for watering in irrigation process is higher than the others:
-Olive tree
-Nectarines and peaches trees
-Hazelnut trees
-Pistachios and ...
view the full question and answer
Damage to plants after sudden freeze in Redway CA
January 02, 2010 - I live on the North Coast of California near "The Avenue of the Giants" and Redwoods State Park along the Eel River. We recently have had below freezing weather, constant rain and even snow! I have...
view the full question and answer
Can non-native Epiphyllum (Orchid Cactus) be grown in Round Rock, Texas?
July 01, 2014 - Can the Epiphyllum (Orchid Cactus) be grown in the Round Rock Texas area or is this area too hot for it?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |