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

Sunday - August 01, 2010
From: Mt Pleasant, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Dogwood under a black walnut in Mt.Pleasant MI
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Can I grow red or yellow twigged dogwood near a black walnut?ANSWER:
You can plant a Cornus sericea (redosier dogwood) anywhere you choose; whether it will thrive or even live more than a year or so under a Juglans nigra (black walnut) is another question entirely. Both are native or near your area of Isabella County, in central Michigan, USDA Hardiness Zones 4a to 5a.
The problem, as you may know, is a characteristic of black walnut to emit juglones, substances intended to discourage or prohibit competition from other plants. We found an excellent article from Virginia Cooperative Extension Black Walnut and Allelopathy which fully explains this procedure. Even plants some distance away can be affected because every part of the tree exudes the juglones, including roots which may extend 3 times the size of the crown. However, this same article had a chart of plants that were resistant to the effects of allelopathy, including trees and shrubs. On this chart of resistant plants "dogwood, flowering" was listed. There are 14 members of the genus cornus, dogwood, native to North America, and all of them appear to us to be flowering including Cornus sericea (redosier dogwood).
Therefore, we are assuming that it would indeed be okay to plant the dogwood in the area of the black walnut. If the dogwood does fail to thrive, you can always blame moles or bugs or too much rain or too little rain, just don't blame the researchers or Mr. Smarty Plants.
From the Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Shrubs Questions
Privacy screen for Sedona AZ
August 02, 2013 - I live In Sedona Az. A builder just built a house next to my house and the new house is ugly to look at. What plant or tree would grow fast and reach 18 foot in height fast. It can be about 5 to 6 foo...
view the full question and answer
Pruning buttonbush from Pottsville PA
December 10, 2013 - In a formally planted park, a small area has become swampy. I have choosen to plant it with wet tolerant native plants. I would appreciate any suggestions on pruning the buttonbush [Cephalanthus occ...
view the full question and answer
Epiphytic or halophytic trees and shrubs
December 10, 2008 - Hello
I was searching on this issue, but couldn't find what I really want, and I would be great full for your assistance.
Please could you help me to find the scientific name for the "Trees" or...
view the full question and answer
Companion Plants for Texas Mountain Laurel
March 12, 2015 - I am building a garden from scratch and need help. I want to plant a Texas mountain laurel on each front section of my house in front of a window, and I also want to use Thumbelina Leigh English laven...
view the full question and answer
Are Eve's Necklace seeds poisonous to dogs from Plano TX
May 09, 2013 - Are the seed pods on eve's necklace poisionous to dogs?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |