Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Your gift keeps resources like this database thriving!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Thursday - May 27, 2010

From: Tucson , AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Failure to thrive of non-native Confederate Jasmine in Tucson AZ
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

My Star/Confederate Jasmine, a 30 foot long wall of it, for over 5 years now has one side of it losing leaves. I seem to remember it did this one other summer, but came back in?? What could be the problem. I have inspected it for mites, cant see any, it gets ample water, the other side looks fine. I am perplexed. I don't want to rip out any of the full wall of this fragrant plant. Can you tell me some things it might be? We have clay here after a foot or so, but that has never bothered it before. We also have those awful Japanese beetles here, would they invade the roots of this? Thanks!

ANSWER:

This article, Tracelospermum jasminoides, from Floridata, will tell you it is not a true Jasmine and, in spite of its name is not native to North America but to China. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to the growth, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which it is being grown, so this plant is out of our range of expertise and not in our Native Plant Database. We have heard that it should be fertilized with a balanced fertilizer for acid-loving plants, especially if your soil is alkaline, which it probably is in Tucson. As for the Japanese beetle, that is also out of our line, as we are gardeners and botanists, not entomologists. We found one article about it from the USDA Animal and Plant Inpection Service. According to the Floridata site, this plant is hardy from USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10, which should be all right for Tucson, and that it does not have any serious pests. Since beetles can't read, we would suggest you contact the Arizona Cooperative Extension Office for Pima County to see if there is some sort of infestation. It seems unlikely that beetles or some other pest would only work on one side of the plant and ignore the other.
 

More Non-Natives Questions

Problems with beheaded non-native Gerbera daisies in Cooperstown, NY
May 31, 2009 - I planted my gerberas in my perennial bed - as usual. Something is beheading them and leaving the blooms along side the plant. Some of the bloom is eaten but most of it is right there. I have t...
view the full question and answer

Plants for a nursing home resident from LaQuinta CA
July 26, 2013 - I take care of an elderly woman with dementia. She is in a nursing home and she's always LOVES flowers and plants. Do you have any suggestions for potted outdoor blooming plants for the summer in...
view the full question and answer

California plants poisonous to dogs from Sacramento
July 01, 2012 - Found dodonea viscosa purple. Is it poisonous to dogs? Also Gold Star Potentilla. Going drought tolerant and need small trees, shrubs and plants not poisonous to dogs for sun and partial sun.
view the full question and answer

Problems with tomatoes in tubs in Campbellton, TX
May 30, 2009 - I have my tomatoes planted in big black plastic tubs, they are starting to wilt and dry up. I have put Sevin dust on them for bugs. I haven't been over watering. Could you please tell me why they are...
view the full question and answer

Japanese Wineberry in Maryland
July 16, 2014 - Hello, we were at Cunningham Falls in Maryland and I can not identify this plant. If you could I would greatly appreciate it, thank you. It looks like a raspberry but the berries are inside small leav...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.