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)
Friday - June 05, 2015
From: Parker, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Problem Plants
Title: Controlling Devil's Bit in Collin County, TX
Answered by: Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
I live in Collin County and our pasture has a growing section of Devils Bit taking over everything. I've been using 2,4-D on it with some success. What is the best method of control for this demon weed?ANSWER:
We think you're referring to Sucissa pratensis. We were a bit surprised to hear of it being in Collin County, Texas until we remembered answering a related question from Plano, Texas in 2013. The news you bring is not good.
Previously, this Eurasian native's invasion of North America has been largely limited to New England. We suspect that someone brought the plant to Texas for horticultural reasons and now you and others are left trying stop its spread. We encourage you in the strongest terms to make every effort to eradicate it before the problem gets out of hand.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center encourages everyone to use the least toxic means necessary to control weeds and pests. Hoeing, pulling or hand-rogueing are often adequate and preferred control methods. Of course, we realize that chemical controls are sometimes necessary and may actually be safer for humans and the enviroment than non-chemical methods. But, we are not experts on the use of herbicides and other chemical controls.
We encourage you to visit with your county's AgriLife Extension Service agent and stress how important it is to you and to the State of Texas that this nascent problem be eliminated before it becomes a much larger and impossible problem in the future. Your County Agent should be able to give you very specific recommendations for addressing the problem and eradicating your "demon weed."
Finally, please encourage your neighbors to also take whatever measures are necessary to eliminate Devil's Bit from their property.
More Problem Plants Questions
Seed pod of Proboscidea louisianica (Deveil's claw) in New Mexico
August 30, 2014 - I found the most amazing seed pods of the devil's claw right here in Albuquerque. I thought it was a wood skeleton of a pterodactyl (flying dinosaur, I believe), but heard it's a devil's claw. Ok...
view the full question and answer
removing paper mulberry shoots from lawn
August 09, 2011 - Dear Mr./Ms. Smartypants,
I recently moved into an Austin home with the backyard taken over by paper mulberries. There were originally 2-3 large bush/trees, but now that I've removed them I realiz...
view the full question and answer
Management practices to eradicate Johnson grass
September 02, 2006 - Please suggest some eradication methods for Johnson grass. It is established in a field that I want to encourage native wildflowers/plants such as goldenrod, prairie coneflower, blue eyed grass, milkw...
view the full question and answer
cultivating the invasive Passiflora incense
July 16, 2014 - Hello! I have been collecting passiflora for a while now, recently I purchased a "P. Incarnata" from a local nursery where I have gotten a few other species to grow along my herb garden recently. No...
view the full question and answer
Getting rid of skunk cabbage in Hopedale OH
April 22, 2010 - How can someone get rid of skunk cabbage?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |