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.
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.
rate this answer
Saturday - November 14, 2009
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Poisonous Plants, Vines
Title: Spots on leaves of sevenleaf creeper in Austin
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Have 3 seven leaf creepers that are planted in mostly shade. In Sept & Oct 2009 all 3 plants had dried up leaves which fell off; however, all three plants grew new leaves when we got rain and are coming back well. One plant, which gets more shade that the others, has leaves that have turned a paler green with some whitish brown spots. What is this and how do I treat it?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants recently answered another question on Parthenocissus heptaphylla (sevenleaf creeper). When you read this previous answer, note the line about information on the plant: "Because Sevenleaf creeper has a much smaller native range and is a much less well known species, there is simply not as much literature about it." About the best we can do under those circumstances is to find out what might be causing this sort of problem in other members of the genus Parthenocissus. All three like sun, part shade or shade, are native to Texas, and seem to prefer moist soils.
Parthenocissus heptaphylla (sevenleaf creeper) is found on soil underlain with limestone, endemic to Edwards Plateau and Lampasas Cut Plains of Texas.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) - tends to climb using tendrils with adhesive-like tips
Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)
Sadly, looking for information on all three plants only yielded the information that it was subject to leaf spots, but not what causes them or what to do about it. Finally, we found a website from Yardener, Problems of Virginia Creeper, that will give you some leads on what might be causing the spots on your species. One more caution: the Virginia Creeper is known to cause very severe allergic reactions on contact for many people. Again, there is not much information on Seven-Leaf Creeper, but better safe than sorry when you handle the vine.
More Poisonous Plants Questions
Kousa Dogwood Fruit Toxic to Dogs?
October 14, 2014 - Are Kousa dogwood berries toxic to dogs?
view the full question and answer
Poison Ivy in Semi-wetland Massachusetts
June 27, 2013 - You answered this question for Tennessee, but I would like an answer for a Massachusetts semi-wetlands area: What can I plant to discourage poison ivy, or at least make it very clear that it is poison...
view the full question and answer
Skin irritation caused by hydrangea in Monroe GA
July 06, 2009 - Can Queen Anne Lace hydrangea cause a skin irritation such as poison ivy or oak? I picked up a branch that had broken off to discard and the following day I have a place on my arm about six inches lon...
view the full question and answer
What plant looks like poisonous water hemlock
March 28, 2016 - I thought that hemlock was a tree.
I grew up in Carmel Valley, CA. As a kid we used to play in fields that looks just like this stuff. Some were over six feet and an inch around. In summer we pulled ...
view the full question and answer
Is the fruit of Bradford Pears toxic to dogs?
November 16, 2010 - I need to know if the little Berries on the Bradford Pear trees are toxic to dogs? My labrador loves eating them.
Thank you,
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |