Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Friday - July 29, 2011

From: Fort Davis, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Non-Natives
Title: Non-native Silver lace vine invasive from Ft. Davis TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Is silver lace vine invasive?

ANSWER:

Fallopia baldschuanica, Silver Lace Vine, originated in Western China and Tibet, so it is not in our Native Plant Database. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center only recommends plants native not only to North America but to the area in which they grow natively. Here is an article on the vine, which does, indeed, include a warning about its invasiveness. Another common name for it is Russian Vine. We found an article referring to that name; although this article came from the U.K., we couldn't resist the title A Swine of a Vine.

Since you live in Jeff Davis County, which is in the Chihuahuan Desert, you might be safe planting it, since we saw another reference that said if planted in the desert, deep irrigation must be provided to keep it alive. But we don't recommend invasive plants, native or not.

 

More Invasive Plants Questions

Most invasive, noxious plant in U.S. from New York City.
November 26, 2012 - I was wondering, what is the most invasive/ noxious plant in the U.S? Thanks in advance.
view the full question and answer

Native replacement for non-native Bermudagrass in Leander TX
October 16, 2011 - We have Bermuda grass. Large patches have died due to the drought and our yard has been taken over by weeds and St. Augustine grass whose seeds must have blown in. Even when the grass was in great con...
view the full question and answer

Replacing non-native invasives with native grasses and wildflowers from Round Rock TX
April 04, 2012 - I have a small piece of property (1.5 AC) East of Austin, Texas that get's overgrown with weedy vegetation (johnson grass, dandelion, and some tall yellow flowering plant that I see all over the medi...
view the full question and answer

Removing invasive Dichelostemma firecracker plant from Austin
April 12, 2012 - We have dichelostemma firecracker plant & cannot kill it. We need help in getting rid of this plant. Spent another 3 hours digging up corms this afternoon. It is invading our backyard & want it kil...
view the full question and answer

Identity of Dwarf Oyster Plant.
June 02, 2009 - I purchased a plant from the local Home Depot, and it said on the sticker in was a Dwarf Oyster Plant. I can't seem to find any information on that name, so maybe it was marked wrong. See if you ca...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.