Mexican petunia
Dannette Hunnel
It’s planting season this month here in Sun Lakes. Let’s talk about what you probably don’t want to plant.
Mexican Petunia
With its green, soft leaves and small, purple, petunia-looking blooms, this is an ultra-easy and not-bad-looking bush. However, the Mexican petunia is a bully. Once it has established itself, it will take over your yard. It chokes out other plants and travels underground. You will find it popping up all over your yard. It will even go under block fences and pop up in your neighbor’s yard! You can kill it over and over again and pull it up from the ground, but it will come back in another location. Again, it’s easy—just plant it and forget it. It can live in terrible soil, go without water, and withstand the super sun, but it carries a vengeance that many cannot manage.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a nice green curtain between you and your neighbors. It will get thick, dense, and quite tall. It is fast growing. But, like the Mexican petunia, it is quite hard to eliminate once established. You can cut it way down, and it will come back. You can go without feeding it food or water, and it will live and prosper. Plus, it is a wonderful place for critters and bugs to live, so it can become messy and noisy.
Oleander
Personally, I love oleanders and have eight of the petite pink varietal in my own yard. I like petite because they do not get more than five feet tall, and the pink ones will flower the most often. The red seldom bloom, and the white will bloom only occasionally. Look along the south side of Riggs Road and see the huge, 20-plus-foot-tall white oleanders. They are not bullies. They won’t choke out and run over your other plants, but they are practically impossible to get rid of, and they are dirty. Lawn vacuums are needed, as the petals fall and blow around abundantly, especially after wind and rain. When the little petals are wet, they tend to stick to sidewalks, pavers, etc. Oleanders are toxic to animals and can cause itching. They are survivors, requiring little care, and they are here for your lifetime.
So, plant wisely!