LITTLE ROCK — Q: I took this picture of this plant earlier this month near Harriet. I have seen this type of plant before, but I do not know theidentity. Could you provide me with help on its identification? Also, what would be a good resource on identification of Ozark plants such as this?
AThe plant is a purple trillium (Trillium recurvatum). It should have a lovely dark red flowerright in the center. I think the best reference guides for Arkansas are the late Carl Hunter’s books - Wildflowers of Arkansas and Trees, Shrubs and Vines of Arkansas.
QMy azaleas have not bloomed this year, although everyone around me has had beautiful blooming azaleas. I pruned last year and fertilized afterward. What couldbe the problem? Should I prune now? Ilive in Monticello.
AYou are not alone, even though your neighbors’ plants have fared better. I have had repeated questions here and on the radio about lack of blooms on azaleas.
Last summer was not kind to many plants, and if they were not well watered, they may have survived,but not thrived. If they were pruned late in the season, they also may not have had ample time to bounce back and therefore didn’t bloom. Also, look at sunlight. Azaleas will not bloom in heavy shade.
The other factor that has affected some plants was the colder than normal winter we had. Some buds may have been damaged. If yours was an early bloomer, the buds could have been nipped. Let’s not judge our azaleas on this season’s blooming, since it was not a great summer or winter for plants. Only prune if there is a reason, such as too large or damaged branches.
QI had some plants 15 years ago and they were some type of gourd and were called luffa, I believe. They grew on a vine and climbed a fence and had fruit about 2 feet long and when dried and peeled had a spongelike inside with bunches of black seeds. When sliced into 6-inch pieces and soaked in water they made a good bath sponge. I don’t know where I can find seeds and am not sure what the name is. Do you know? I have been to several farm stores looking for seeds.
AThe plant in question is a sponge gourd, or luffa, sometimes spelled loufa or loofah. It’s also called Chinese okra, asit is edible when small, and does taste a bit like okra. It produces long cylindrical fruits at maturity. As it matures, the insides become the consistency of sponges and you peel off the skin, clean and dry the insides and save the seeds. Then they are ready to be used as sponges. I would think the seeds would be fairly common at garden centers, but I know the seed catalogs all have them.
QI’ve recently moved to Little Rock and have spent the last couple of months clearing privet and Japanese honeysuckle from my yard. Underneath a section of it was a little gem of a quince with a handful of sad red blooms. Once I clear out all the dead wood there will only be two branches left, and I had to tie them up just to get them off of the ground. Is there anything I can do to revitalize the plant?
AOnce freed from the competitive privet and honeysuckle plants, it should bounce back. Flowering quince is a tough performer. Fertilize it now and water and mulch it.
Now that it has more sunlight and no competition, it should kick in and grow.
(Watch for more privet and honeysuckle, since they are hard to eradicate and may try to creep back in.) The quince should produce new canes, so that you should have more blooms next spring. After blooming next spring, you can prune out one of the older,weak canes. Over time, you should restore it to a healthy plant.
QWe bought what we were told was a lilac bush about four years ago. It is now over 10 feet tall and never has had a flower bud. Do you have any idea why it will not bloom? Thank you for any suggestions.
ALilacs are not the easiest plant for us to grow in Arkansas, because they prefer a mild, cool summer, which we rarely have. That said, I have seen some pretty decent blooms this spring in various places around the state. Make sure the plant has full morning sun and protection from the hot afternoon sun. Lilacs won’t bloom in heavy shade, and full sun is tough on them during the summer. Don’t prune after mid-June since these plants set flower buds in the late summer into early fall. Make sure it has ample water in the summer months. Also get your soil tested. Lilacs like a more alkaline soil than we normally have in Arkansas, so a little lime is often needed to raise the pH. Sometimes the plants can take three to five years to get to the point wherethey start blooming, so you might just need to be patient.
Janet Carson is an extension horticulturist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Write to her at P.O. Box 391, Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or e-mail her at
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