Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

DONATE TODAY

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?

Share

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

Thursday - April 20, 2006

From: San Angelo, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Poisonous Plants
Title: Propagation of Mountain Laurel by seed
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have a Texas Mountain Laurel. I found on this website that the beans are poisonous, but if you plant them, will they grow another Mountain Laurel?

ANSWER:

Yes, they certainly have the potential to grow into another Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora). If you select "Growing Conditions" from the menu at the top of the Texas mountain laurel page, you can find instructions for collecting, treating, planting and growing the seeds. Jill Nokes in How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest says:

"Pretreated seeds will germinate within 2 weeks in a greenhouse or outdoors after the soil has warmed. Plant the seeds in individiual containers that are deep enough to accommodate a relatively long initial root. The soil medium should be extremely well drained and drenched with a fungicide before the seeds are sown....Seedlings should be given light (30%) shade the first spring and summer to encourage more elongated shoot growth."
 

More Poisonous Plants Questions

Do palm trees put off a toxic smoke when burnt?
December 09, 2008 - do palm trees put off a toxic smoke when burnt
view the full question and answer

Plants in wheelbarrow dying in Jacksonville, FL
June 22, 2011 - I planted a wheelbarrow with daisies, petunias and black and blue salvia. the salvia is thriving, but the others died. Is the salvia toxic to them?
view the full question and answer

Plants poisonous to dogs from Marion TX
April 24, 2012 - Is the desert willow poisonous to dogs?
view the full question and answer

Is Viburnum dentatum (Chicago Lustre) toxic to horses
May 26, 2009 - Are Chicago Lustre Viburnum -- Viburnum Dentatum -- toxic to horses?
view the full question and answer

Pruning the leaves of Sago Palm.
March 10, 2010 - Is it a cardinal sin to remove all the sago palm branches? This winter they were so badly scorched by the cold that hardly a frond went unaffected. So I cut them all off as I needed to get around the...
view the full question and answer

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