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 - March 24, 2013
From: St. Augustine, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Invasive Plants, Non-Natives, Herbs/Forbs, Trees
Title: Will non-native and invasive Mexican petunias grow under oak trees from St. Augustine FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Will Mexican Petunias grow under an Oak tree?ANSWER:
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, home of Mr. Smarty Plants. recommends only plants native not only to North America (excluding Mexico) but to those areas in which the plants will be grown; in your case St. Johns County on the northeastern Florida coast. Ruellia brittonia (Mexican petunia) is native to, well, Mexico. Since you live in Florida you should read the following two articles:
Floridata Ruellia brittoniana, see the Warning at the bottom of the article.
Florida Invasive Plant Education
We just learned that petunias are considered to exhibit allelopathy, as well as oaks. Allelopathy is the release of chemicals by the plant which discourages competition from other plants. Maybe the oak and petunia would duke it out, but we are rooting for the tree.
Please note that it is difficult to impossible to grow anything under any tree, including grass, because of the needs of the tree roots for moisture and nutrients from the soil and because of the shade from the tree. Here in Texas, we would vote for the trees and spread mulch under the shade of the tree. See our How-To Article Under Cover with Mulch.
More Non-Natives Questions
Identity of plant in Kentucky with fuzzy grayish-green leaves
September 03, 2012 - I would like to know about a plant that I do not know what it is.
I had this plant just come up in my flowerbed, that looked like a tobacco plant but the leaves looked like a lambs ear plant. It was ...
view the full question and answer
Will non-native poisonous oleander grow through non-native invasive bermudagrass in Ft. Worth?
February 20, 2011 - I was wondering if you knew which flowering plants would grow through grass. I have bermuda, have tried raised beds but due to uneven yard with lots of rock it would be too expensive to do properly. ...
view the full question and answer
Death of non-native eleaegnus from Austin
March 30, 2013 - We have a long hedge of elaeagnus, about 5 ft tall. Four of them died in the middle of the hedge. Where can we find such big plants? Is it advisable to unroot and transplant from another area?
view the full question and answer
Winter damage to non-native Jasminum mesnyi
May 09, 2007 - I planted 6 shrubs in 2006 that I think are some type of jasmine that have yellow flowers. Can't remember the name. I live in Lago Vista TX just outside Austin. This year 3 are doing really well a...
view the full question and answer
Leaves on non-native Chinese pistashe tree yellowing in San Antonio TX
August 11, 2010 - My chinese pistashe tree leaves are turning yellow. The tree is about 25 years old. the last time it did this I applied some iron granules into the ground around it. However I have forgotten how mu...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |