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 - June 17, 2012
From: Elgin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Pests, Shrubs
Title: Problems with non-native yellow lantana from Elgin TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Why do my yellow lantana buds turn brown and do not open fully? The sprinkler system does not spray onto the lantana.ANSWER:
While there are 4 lantanas native to North America and 3 native to Texas, none of them are yellow, which may mean that you have the hybrid Lantana camara 'New Gold', which is not considered native. Our focus is on plants native not only to North America but also to the areas in which the plant grows natively. Since you live in Elgin, you might have purchased Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana) from the Wildflower Center Plant Sale, but it is not yellow. The other two native to Texas are Lantana achyranthifolia (Brushland shrubverbena) and Lantana canescens (Hammock shrubverbena).
Although this sounds like an insect problem, possibly whiteflies, it also could have to do with how much sun the plants are getting. The natives require full sun, which is 6 hours or more of sun a day, and are low water plants.
From Texas A&M University Extension Lantana and Verbena - How to Combat Insects and Mite Pests.
Pictures of Lantana camara 'New Gold"
From the Image Gallery
More Shrubs Questions
Low growing erosion control plants for lakeside in Washington Township NJ
May 12, 2013 - I live on a small lake in Northern NJ and have installed beautiful Boulders along the water to help stop erosion. Now I want to add plants along the property but would like low growing, soil retentio...
view the full question and answer
Various holly hybrids or selections for Pflugerville TX
March 24, 2011 - I love Savannah Hollies. I used them all the time in the Dallas area. Now that I have moved to Austin, I am wondering if I can plant them in this area. I have a soil pH of 7 and drainage is moderate. ...
view the full question and answer
Pride of Barbados seed for Ft. Worth TX
February 07, 2013 - When can you plant the Pride of Barbados plant seeds and how to go about it in Fort Worth Texas?
view the full question and answer
Failure to bloom of Tecoma stans in Austin
August 02, 2008 - We Planted a Yellow Esperanza shrub 2 years ago that was blooming when we purchased it. It bloomed very little last year and not at all this year. It looks very healthy and each year gets about 10 f...
view the full question and answer
Propagation of blackberry from Williamsport PA
January 18, 2014 - I have been told that if you cut a branch off of a black berry bush and stick it in water for a few days, and then put it in the ground it will grow into another bush. Please tell me if this is true a...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |