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
Thursday - March 22, 2012
From: San Dimas , CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives, Pollinators, Shrubs
Title: Alternative for Pittosporum limelight
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Is it ok to plant a Pittosporum limelight by pool? Don't want bees! Needs to be 6 feet. Thanks.ANSWER:
Pittosporum tenuifolium (limelight) is native to New Zealand. The focus and expertise of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center are plants native to North America so we wouldn't recommend planting this shrub. We can offer some shrubs with similar features that are native alternatives:
Arctostaphylos manzanita (Whiteleaf manzanita) and here are photos and more information
Baccharis pilularis (Coyotebrush) and here are more photos and information
Cercocarpus montanus var. minutiflorus [syn. Cercocarpus minutiflorus] (Smooth mountain mahogany) and here are photos and more information.
Frangula californica [syn. Rhamnus californica] (California buckthorn or coffeeberry) and here are photos and more information.
Most flowering plants are pollinated by some insect or other—many times it will be bees. This means that your plant, even Pittosporum limelight, will be visited by insects while in bloom—probably, this will include bees.
From the Image Gallery
More Shrubs Questions
Specimen evergreen for sun in Central Texas
August 28, 2010 - I'm soliciting suggestions for a specimen plant for a new garden we're building. It will be planted in a 3' square raised (18") Limestone bed. It will be full sun, Western exposure, and relative...
view the full question and answer
Small shrubs and perennials, low maintenance, for San Antonio
February 06, 2010 - I am helping my 87 year old father landscape his yard in San Antonio. His small yard is about a block from the SA River, near the zoo, and has clay and loam from the river. He wants very low to low wa...
view the full question and answer
Growing non-native Knockout roses and golden euonymus together from Crystal City MO
May 19, 2013 - Can you plant knock out roses and golden euonymus together?
view the full question and answer
Pruning Citrus Suckers
October 06, 2014 - Mr. Smarty Plants, you are the only person that has "not" insisted that the little balls on Satsuma and lemon trees were clumps of bugs. They are surely what you described in the answer to my previo...
view the full question and answer
Dwarf foundation plants for St. Augustine FL
May 03, 2010 - Need to put in fast, low growing (3' max) foundation plants that would be frost hardy and work well in the St. Augustine area of Northeast Florida.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |