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.
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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.
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Sunday - May 16, 2010
From: Cat Spring, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Can non-native star jasmine attract snakes?
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have star jasmine climbing up my house. Can it attract snakes?ANSWER:
Trachelospermum jasminoides (star or Confederate jasmine), native to China, is no more attractive to snakes than any other plant. The main reason for any plant being attractive to snakes is because the plant attracts rodents, birds, lizards or other potential snake food. Snakes also might use plants as a place to optimize their personal environmental space—for sun to warm them or for shade to cool them. Although snakes can climb trees and walls that are rough enough for their scales to get a good purchase, most snakes spend the majority of their time on the ground hidden under rocks, plants or in holes.
More Non-Natives Questions
Non-native Empress trees in Beaumont TX
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Pruning non-native Japanese maple
June 03, 2008 - Can you tell me how to properly prune a Japanese maple?
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Care of non-native Oleander
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How Can I Tell an Invasive Thistle from a Native
May 01, 2012 - Mr Smarty Plants,
I have some thistles coming up in my yard. I'd like to keep them if they are native, but not if they are invasive or non-native. How can I tell? My yard is a wild area in West Lak...
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Pruning Citrus Suckers
October 06, 2014 - Mr. Smarty Plants, you are the only person that has "not" insisted that the little balls on Satsuma and lemon trees were clumps of bugs. They are surely what you described in the answer to my previo...
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