Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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
Not Yet Rated

Tuesday - July 27, 2010

From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Invasive Plants
Title: Kudzu for Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I just inherited a piece of land and am very much interested in starting some kind of homeopathic herbs. Can you tell me about Kudzu and where I can purchase some of these seeds?

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants likes to think he has a good sense of humor, but that is not funny! Florida, along with California, is already the world capital of invasive non-native plants, both of which the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is firmly against. Read this Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group LEAST WANTED on Pueria montana var. lobata (kudzu).

Two more articles you should read:

The Kudzu Plant FAQ

Gardening Tips from Down South - How to Grow Kudzu

And lest you misunderstand, these are both satire. 

You are very fortunate to have inherited a great resource-land. Please be wise in your stewardship, planting and cultivating plants that are native to your area of Florida, eliminating invasive non-natives in non-polluting ways, improving the quality of life and contributing to environmental health.

 

More Invasive Plants Questions

Eliminating wisteria invading from neighboring yard
October 12, 2008 - How can I get rid of Wisteria vine? It originates in my neighbor's yard. Have tried everything; gets in my Oak tree and has almost killed it. Thanks.
view the full question and answer

Replacement of Arizona ash in Austin
October 28, 2011 - We have two Arizona Ashes in our yard that probably have maybe a decade left in them. We want to get a couple new trees started, so they will be well established once the Ashes are near their end. In ...
view the full question and answer

Elimination of nutgrass from native flower bed
October 14, 2007 - Nutgrass!*#!* My new bed in NE Austin wraps around a hot sunny SW street corner. Grass wouldn't grow there [I wouldn't water it.] I removed the turf [mostly stickers] to a depth of about 4", carefu...
view the full question and answer

Information on edible tubers of hog potato from Austin
November 10, 2011 - I inquired a while back about hog potato or Hoffmannseggia glauca. You gave me some information on the plant but no information on when the plant produces the edible tubers. Also how long does it take...
view the full question and answer

Invasive iceplant in Hawaii
October 29, 2008 - Last time I checked Hawaii was in North America. Invasive or not, iceplant continues to be a much used ground cover etc for golf courses, sides of the freeway and many many City and County projects pr...
view the full question and answer

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