Explore Plants
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.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Thursday - December 02, 2010
From: Venice, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Selective herbicide for non-native bermudagrass from Venice FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Is there a selective herbicide that can be used for grasses like Floratam and Bermuda along with various weeds that will not damage Wedelia?ANSWER:
No.
Wedelia texana (Zexmenia) is endemic to Texas, not natively growing anywhere else. Wedelia trilobata, which is probably what you have is, like St. Augustine 'Floratam' and bermudagrass, non-native to North America and invasive as well.
"Selective" herbicides, in terms of killing only broad-leaf (dicot) or only narrow-leaf (monocot) plants, do exist. Wedelia is a dicot, but so likely are the "various weeds" you also want to kill. No matter what kind of herbicide you apply, it will no doubt kill other, more desirable plants in the area, possibly contaminate the water supply with runoff into rivers and lakes, and still not rid you of the undesirable plants. The University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants classifies Wedelia trilobata as an invasive, non-native plant. The Center does make some chemical recommendations, but in your landscape situation would probably not be practical.
So, you have three non-native, invasive plants. Perhaps you will have to select which one you want to keep, and manually remove the others. Good luck with that.
From our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Non-Natives Questions
Native replacement for non-native Bermudagrass in Leander TX
October 16, 2011 - We have Bermuda grass. Large patches have died due to the drought and our yard has been taken over by weeds and St. Augustine grass whose seeds must have blown in. Even when the grass was in great con...
view the full question and answer
Moving "lily of the valley" from MD to TX. Is that OK?
January 17, 2012 - My question pertains to lily of the valley. From your database, I learned that it is a native plant but only the following states were listed: GA , KY , NC , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV. I am moving from...
view the full question and answer
Non-native Senna corymbosa
September 28, 2008 - I have a large Texas Senna tree - at least 7'x8'. It is covered in beautiful yellow blooms; however, it will need to be pruned in the winter. Please let me know how much to prune it and when is th...
view the full question and answer
Yellow leaves on non-native pittisporum in Wharton TX
March 17, 2009 - Green pittisporum that I planted 2 years ago and 1 year ago are getting a lot of yellow leaves. Variegated pittisporum that I planted at the same 2 times are doing fine.
view the full question and answer
Problems with non-native mandevilla in Southport NC
July 11, 2009 - I have planted a mandevilla and the leaves look healthy. It produces buds, but something is cutting them off. Right next to it is a mandevilla that is blooming profusely. Any ideas?
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
