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Friday - March 16, 2012
From: Driftwood, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Shrubs
Title: Non-native Lorapetalum chinense from Driftwood TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
In a previous response you said that it would not be wise to plant any trees with the word Chinese in it. Does this apply to Lorapetalum (Chinese Fringe Flower)? I would like to use this plant as a divider between our lot and the next one in Hays County (Driftwood, TX).ANSWER:
Actually, you have reached a wrong number. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, home of Mr. Smarty Plants, is dedicated to the growth, propagation and protection of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which those plants are being grown.
Lorapetalum, Lorapetalum chinense, is native to the Hunan province of China. We always suspect anything with the words "China," "Chinese" or "Chinense" in their names; they are not only non-native but many are invasive.
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