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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Saturday - October 20, 2012
From: Lawrenceville, NJ
Region: Northeast
Topic: General Botany, Soils, Watering
Title: Native New Jersey plants to remove iron water from Lawrenceville NJ
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Are there any native New Jersey plants that can remove iron waterANSWER:
While this is a native plant question, the answer is not native plants. We get many, many questions in which our correspondents ask us for a plant that will do something that plants don't do. Just a few days ago, we got a question from someone who wanted a list of 40 or more plants that ate smog. Unfortunately, there is no such list because there is no such plant.
If your question means remove iron FROM water, we can give you some links to help with that, but not plants that will do it by themselves. To some extent plants need iron; please read this University of Illinois Extension article on Chlorosis.
Since we are unclear in exactly why or where you want to remove iron - whether it is excess iron in well water or city water, or just iron stains appearing on sinks or laundry - we will link you to some articles on iron, water and plants, and see if you can locate information that will help you.
From Virginia Tech University: Iron-rich soil can help remove lead
North Dakota State University: Treatment Systems for Household Water Supplies
eHow: How to Remove Rust and Iron from Water
Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Office for Mercer County
More Soils Questions
Will wood shavings in the soil require nitrogen from Charleston MO
May 04, 2011 - I cut down a big maple tree and a lot of the wood shavings was left in the soil. I planted a flower bed over the area this spring. I later read that the wood chips in the soil would use a lot of nitro...
view the full question and answer
Disagreement with HOA on raised beds placed beneath mature oak from Tequesta FL
April 05, 2014 - I have mature 30 year old oak trees on my property and I put a raised bed under each with very good soil and I used pavers for retaining the soil about about 1.5 ft high. I planted a perennial begonia...
view the full question and answer
Poor drainage in wildflower bed
November 10, 2004 - I have a flower bed that has given me difficulty because it has poor drainage but typically receives sun for most of the day. Salvia gregii was the only survivors for the initial landscaping attempt. ...
view the full question and answer
Soil for native Chilopsis linearis and Salvia greggii
February 08, 2010 - I want to plant a desert willow and a salvia greggii in my small lot. The developer used sandy loam to fill in the small garden in the front. I am 73 and a bit impaired. Do I really need to remove ...
view the full question and answer
Non-flowering plants in Scottsdale AZ
July 01, 2013 - I have three plants that are supposed to do well in Arizona but mine are not flowering. The yellow bells and orange jubilee I have get full sun, drip watered 3 x a week for 1 1/2 hrs (at 4am) and are...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |