Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Wednesday - June 06, 2012
From: Woodbridge, ON
Region: Canada
Topic: General Botany, Soils, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Weak stems on asters and ironweed from Woodbridge ON
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
My question is in regards to plants flopping over. My smooth asters and ironweeds never seem to have strong stems. Is because the soil is too fertile or maybe too shallow?ANSWER:
You may be eligible for the "I stumped Mr. Smarty Plants award!" We found an answer but it was talking about marigolds, but we think it's possible the same answer may be true for your plants. Read this article from eHow Why do Flowers on Marigolds Bend? From that article:
"Overhead watering may cause stem breakage and bending if blossoms become saturated; always water at the base of the plants.
Marigolds are heliotropic, meaning their flowers and leaves turn toward the sunlight whether the plants are grown indoors or out. Cells near the base of the blossoms control the bending, by shrinking or enlarging to move the flowers toward the light source. By keeping marigolds in full sunlight all day, you'll help avoid this survival mechanism and keep flowers from possibly bending away from main focal areas of the garden."
There are four species of the gender Vernonia (ironweed) native to Ontario: Vernonia fasciculata (Prairie ironweed), Vernonia gigantea (Giant ironweed), Vernonia missurica (Missouri ironweed) and Vernonia noveboracensis (New york ironweed). Symphyotrichum laeve var. laeve (Smooth blue aster) is also native to Ontario. You can follow each plant link to our webpage on that plant to see if you get any clues of what you might be doing wrong in terms of soil or watering of those plants. We did some extra research on heliotropism, which obviously occurs in many plants.
We checked all of these ourselves and concluded that all could do well in moist, fertile soils and full sun. About the only possibility that presents itself to us, since we cannot see the plants, is the caution against overhead watering, which can weigh down large heads of flowers, thus bending the stem.
From the Image Gallery
More General Botany Questions
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone of Worcester, Massachusetts
November 11, 2008 - What zone is Worcester, Massachusetts?
view the full question and answer
What is more important for plant growth; sunlight, water, soil or what?
February 20, 2009 - What is more important for plant growth generally. Sunlight, water, good soil what ? please write back I need an answer I am 13 doing a science project.
view the full question and answer
How many seeds in a Balsam Gourd fruit?
January 12, 2016 - How many seeds should I expect to find inside the fruit of Ibervillea Londoners?
view the full question and answer
Classes for a nature lover in Frisco TX
August 16, 2009 - I have a question which I don't think is available in this website. I love plants & flowers,trees etc- just like you, I've only studied till my higher secondary school; now would love to study as we...
view the full question and answer
Does Nolina lindheimeriana have separate male and female plants
June 30, 2013 - RE: NOLINA LINDHEIMERIANA
You show several pictures, with flowers & with seed pods. I have one plant that has only flowers and one that has only seed pods. Are they male and female? I don't see ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |