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.
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Saturday - March 19, 2011
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Searching for seeds or plants of non-native Euphorbia peplus seeds from Austin
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I am looking for Euphorbia Peplus seeds or plants to grow for skin cancer treatment. Do you have seeds or plants? Thanks!!ANSWER:
Some website somewhere must be posting this as the next wonder cure, because this is the second question on that plant in just a few days. It was a short answer, so we'll just copy it verbatim:
"Euphorbia peplus, Petty Spurge, is native to Africa, Asia and Europe and therefore out of our area of expertise. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the growth, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which those plants are being grown. This USDA Plant Profile map shows that it grows wild (introduced) in many areas of the United States, but not including Florida. We searched the Internet on "seeds for euphorbia peplus" and got a number of listings; you might try that. We have a National Suppliers Directory, but they sell predominantly native plants and seeds."
The USDA Plant Profile map referenced above shows that it also does not grow in Texas. Our Plant Sales in April and October sell only plants native to Central Texas, and those are the only times we sell plants. We sell no seeds at all, except for maybe the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Mix at the Store.
More Non-Natives Questions
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July 19, 2012 - I live in a part of California where the summers can be very hot and dry but quite cool and wet during the rainy seasons in the wintertime. The soil around my home is very dry, rocky and infertile. I...
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Removing non-native plants appearing in Austin in early spring
March 14, 2012 - In order to know which plants to keep and which to remove, is there a source to look up and identify common non-native plants that are seen in Austin about this time of the year (late winter, early Sp...
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Identity of a plant at UGA Trial Gardens 15 years ago
August 14, 2012 - Looking to identify a plant that was in UGA trial gardens about 15 years ago, large plant with purple flowers, fuzzy leaves like a lambs ear. Thought it started with a Thiobana or something like that
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Non-native pomegranate failing to fruit from Highland Village TX
October 20, 2012 - Last spring I planted a pomegranate tree (type: Wonderful) which is supposed to produce edible fruit. It had 5 or 6 absolutely beautiful blooms, but each of them dropped off and no sign of fruit. Is...
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