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
Thursday - October 03, 2013
From: Cosby, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification, Shrubs
Title: Plant identification of thorny shrub in Tennessee
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a mid to dark green thorny type bush growing on my land in Cosby, Tennessee. I am originaly from NJ and I have never seen it before. The stalk is varigated and the thorns are plentiful and very large. Thank you in advance for your help.ANSWER:
This sound a bit like Poncirus trifoliata (Trifoliate orange), an Asian native that is considered invasive. It does have formidable long thorns on it.
There are several hawthorns that are native to Tennessee. Here are four of them:
Crataegus flava (Summer hawthorn) Here are photos and more information from Plants for a Future.
Crataegus phaenopyrum (Washington hawthorn)
Crataegus spathulata (Littlehip hawthorn)
Crataegus crus-galli (Cockspur hawthorn)
Here is a list of all 39 of the Crataegus species on our database. You can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to see the 14 that grow in Tennessee.
Ribes cynosbati (Eastern prickly gooseberry)
Smilax rotundifolia (Roundleaf greenbrier) Here are photos from Vanderbilt University.
Smilax tamnoides (Bristly greenbrier) Here are photos from DiscoverLife.org.
Zanthoxylum americanum (Common pricklyash) Here are more photos from Iowa State University.
Aralia spinosa (Devil's walkingstick)
Maclura pomifera (Osage orange)
There are several species of roses (Rosa sp.) and blackberrie/raspberries (Rubus sp.)
If none of these appears to be the thorny shrub that you have seen, please visit our Plant Identification page to find links to plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification.
From the Image Gallery
More Shrubs Questions
Dogwood under a black walnut in Mt.Pleasant MI
August 01, 2010 - Can I grow red or yellow twigged dogwood near a black walnut?
view the full question and answer
Beautyberries not poisonous to cats and dogs from Haddonfield NJ
December 11, 2012 - Are beauty berry plants poisonous to cats/dogs? Would like to use branches w/berries and leaves as indoor decorations.
view the full question and answer
Should flower stems of Texas mountain laurel be removed after they bloom?
March 02, 2016 - Should I trim off the old flower stems from this years bloom on a Texas Mountain Laurel?
view the full question and answer
Yellowing leaves of Texas Sage (Cenizo) from Las Vegas NV
November 21, 2013 - Leaves of Texas Sage are turning yellow. Can you tell me why?
view the full question and answer
Landscaping for a wedding in Memphis MO
October 13, 2009 - I am pretty new at this landscaping flower thing, but I love it. We just moved out to the country in NE Missouri from Colorado (Huge difference, but love it). We have decided to have our wedding at o...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |