Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Tuesday - September 23, 2008
From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Region: California
Topic: Diseases and Disorders
Title: Plant to repel snakes
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
name of a plant or plants that repell snakes.ANSWER:
Sorry, but Mr. Smarty Plants doesn't know of any plant that will repel snakes. You are not, however, the first person to ask this question—see the answer to a previous question. Your best bet for avoiding snakes is to be ever watchful about where you step and put your hands and by modifying your habitat. Make sure the vegetation around your house is open enough that you it doesn't provide hiding places for snakes or for the rodents that many of them like to eat. Keep your area clear of brush piles and keep your grass cut—a snake that you can see is a snake you can avoid. The article "Reducing Snake Problems around Homes" from Mississippi State University has useful advice for identifying, excluding, and capturing unwanted serpents.
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) has formulated an effective snake repellent using cinnamon oil, clove oil or eugenol. This was developed for reducing the numbers of brown tree snakes near shipping ports on Gaum to minimize accidentally including them in shipments to the US. There are also commercial snake repellents advertised that you can search for on the internet, but we do not know if they are effective.
More Diseases and Disorders Questions
What about the brown dots on my Silver sage?
June 27, 2008 - During the past year, the leaves on my silver sage bushes around the perimeter of the front of my house have turned yellow in places and there are tiny brown dots on virtually all of the leaves. If I ...
view the full question and answer
Loss of leaves on yaupon in Austin
August 05, 2008 - Last winter I planted a Pride of Houston yaupon. Currently, the leaves at the tips of its stems are green and healthy, but the leaves along the stems are turning dark brown and falling off.
Does...
view the full question and answer
Possible reasons for death of Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) in Austin
April 04, 2006 - Several wax myrtles in my neighborhood appear to have died. Should we have the soil or tree checked for fungus, or should we atrribute the death to freeze or age of the trees?
view the full question and answer
Small tan balls on oak from Pipe Creek TX
May 21, 2014 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, our spanish oak is growing tan colored lumpy balls about the size and weight of a marshmallow..sometimes just one at the end of a short stem and sometimes 2-3 clumped together....
view the full question and answer
Problems with non-native Chinaberry tree from Tucson AZ
September 05, 2013 - I have a 30+ year old Chinaberry tree and this year the branches are much sparser with leaves and there are a lot of small dead branches. Should I fertilize and what should I use? Thank you
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |