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)
Monday - November 21, 2011
From: Santa Rosa, NM
Region: Southwest
Topic: Poisonous Plants
Title: poisonous landscaping plants in New Mexico
Answered by: Anne Ruggles
QUESTION:
Mr. Smarty Plants, I have been given the task of finding non poisonous plants and shrubbery to add to our new children's playground. This is a Head Start playground so I have to make sure anything we plant there is safe for our children. Your advice is most appreciated. Thanks, Jo AnnANSWER:
Congratulations on the new playground. What a fine opportunity to plant with plants that are both native and xeric (adapted to hot, dry growing conditions). Here is a link at the Wildflower Center that lists and describes plants native to New Mexico that you might consider using.
In addition to choosing landscaping plants carefully you might also take a look at what is growing around the new play area and make sure there are no poisonous plants in that environment. Seeds from them could also germinate in the play area. New Mexico State University has a PowerPoint presentation available that has excellent photos of common range and “weed” plants in your area that are poisonous. To download the powerpoint go here, scroll down to "Poisonous Plants" and click on it. This will initiate the download of a ppt presentation titled "Poisonous Range Plants" by: Kelly W. Allred (Range Science Herbarium, Department of Animal &Range Sciences, New Mexico State University).
The New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Program has agents in each county in New Mexico. These folks should be able to help you identify plants found in your area that you want to avoid. The Guadalupe County Extension office is in Santa Rosa:
244 S. 4th Street - Suite 110
Santa Rosa, NM 88435
Phone: 575-472-3652
Fax: 575-472-3652
Email: [email protected]
URL: http://guadalupeextension.nmsu.edu
Lists of common landscaping plants that are poisonous are available at:
1. the Texas A&M Cooperative Extension website
2. University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension website
3. The College of Pharmacy of the University of Arizona also has a good list, with descriptions and photos, of poisonous ornamental/ horticultural plants.
More Poisonous Plants Questions
Could hickory leaves be used as seasoning from Waynesboro VA
September 17, 2011 - I have a hickory tree. If I pull a leaf off and rip it then smell, there is a strong wonderful scent of hickory much like when I rip a mint leaf there is a strong smell of mint. So my question is, can...
view the full question and answer
Is it safe to eat vegetables grown in the same bed as foxgloves?
August 12, 2012 - I have foxglove in my flower beds and have planted tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and cantaloupe in the flower bed and now I am concerned about the shared root system. Also, my tomatoes are touching the...
view the full question and answer
Identification of a cucumber-like vine with fruit
November 16, 2011 - We found tiny, grape-size white melon-like fruit on a vine, with tomato-like/cucumber-like seeds. The leaves on the vine were similar to grape or cucumber leaves, but not spiny. They were behind our...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on Texas cherry tomato
April 24, 2005 - We just bought 2 Texas cherry tomato plants at the plant sale. We have to container garden in a walled courtyard due to deer. (Would deer be attracted to the plants in a garden with herbs and high de...
view the full question and answer
Non-floweriing vines not poisonous to dogs from Pittsburgh PA
June 10, 2013 - Are there any vines or crawlers (nothing that flowers) that are non poisonous to dogs? Everything I am finding is poisonous, I want to plant some vines up a chain link fence around a swimming pool.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |