Native Plants
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Friday - March 06, 2009
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Non-native begonias and Texas summer
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I live in Austin, TX. I have two flower beds that each get plenty of sun during the day (8 to 10 hours in summer time). I love Begonias and was considering planting Begonias in my flowerbeds. Will Begonias survive the sun and heat of Texas summers?ANSWER:
There are about 1500 species of begonias, which occur in subtropical and tropical climates in South and Central America, Africa and Southern Asia. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is focused on the care and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which they are being grown. A plant adapted to the area where it is being grown will require less fertilizer, water and maintenance. Generally speaking, it sounds like you have too much sun in the area in which you wish to plant begonias, but since they are out of our range of expertise, we will refer you to this American Begonia Society website The Virtual Greenhouse.More Non-Natives Questions
Trimming non-native plants
November 21, 2009 - What time of year is best to trim my Alamanda cathartica,
and also my Plumbago auriculata?
Thanks
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Removing a hackberry stump from a non-native fig tree
April 02, 2008 - I have a fig tree that is at least 50 years old. A hackberry tree is growing up through the fig. I have cut it back several times (it is probably 3 inches in diameter at ground level), but have been...
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Use of non-native pothos for outside wall from Las Vegas NV
January 05, 2014 - I am in Las Vegas, NV. I live in a cottage-style apartment so I have a north facing porch with no one on the west so I get some there (and have an inherited cactus probably a yard all round)
I would ...
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Non-native creeping fig
February 26, 2009 - I like the creeping fig that covers my brick wall but the roots are very invasive and are choking my rose bushes and other surrounding plants. I spent two days removing the roots and loosening the so...
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Problems with non-native Bradford pear in Katy TX
April 24, 2011 - Hi. I have a Bradford Pear that I wrapped during the freeze at the base of the trunk during last years freeze. It is about 4.5 yrs old. The base has cracked and the top is dry and lifeless; however, a...
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