Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

DONATE TODAY

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
1 rating

Tuesday - September 27, 2011

From: Temecula, CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Problem with non-native bower vine (Pandorea jasminoides)
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I live in Temecula, CA I have grown pink bower vines before with great success. I recently purchased 2 bower vines and planted them on each side of a trellis in full sun. They flower but do not grow. I see no "tendrils" to attach to my arbor. It's been about 2 months now and should be well on it's way to climb up and over my arbor. What's wrong?

ANSWER:

Pandorea jasminoides (bower vine) is a native of Australia and our focus and expertise here at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center are with plants native to North America so we are not really the ones to be asking about problems with your non-native bower vine.   You can find many sites online with information about caring for your bower vine.  Here is one from GardenGuides.com but you can find more.  You might call or visit the nursery where you bought your bower vine to see if they have any guidance.  You might also want to contact the the University of California Riverside County Master Gardeners office.  They have a hotline for answering gardening questions Monday-Friday from 9 AM till Noon.
 

More Non-Natives Questions

Why aren't the Caesalpinia species in the Native Plant Database
June 07, 2013 - Why doesn't the Wildflower Center list Caesalpinia in its plant database? I grow 3 species in my garden with no coddling: C. mexicana, C. gilliesii, and C. pulcherrima. I underst...
view the full question and answer

Covering dead arborvitae with non-native ivy from Niles MI
April 14, 2013 - I have a severely thinning arborvitae hedge. It is probably too shady, but I want the privacy. I'm thinking of planting something like ivy to fill the gaps. I know it will probably kill the hedge, bu...
view the full question and answer

Non-native sedum 'Burrito' sunburned in Providence RI?
June 28, 2010 - I have a sedum burrito that I keep outside and receives bright sun for around 6 hours a day. it looks like it's getting sunburned, the leaves are getting shriveled and browning on the tips. I've bro...
view the full question and answer

Non-native invasive Asian jasmine in greenbelt in Austin
September 22, 2010 - How can I convince the people that live next to me to control their Asian jasmine? We have a small greenbelt owned by the City behind our houses and they have let it grow until it is ruining the gree...
view the full question and answer

Source for non-native, invasive Winter Honeysuckle from Austin
April 24, 2013 - Seeing Lonicera abiflora today reminds me of the "winter honeysuckle" my grandfather grew in San Antonio from 1920s or so through the 1950's. It was a bush with stiff upright stems and bloomed cre...
view the full question and answer

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