Native Plants
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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| Identification of possible Bald cypress June 26, 2008 I live in the Houston area, last year we traveled to South Padre Island and,on the way, I noticed a tree that was just beautiful. It looked like a cross between a Norfolk pine and some kind of cycads.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-branching mimosa tree June 26, 2008 I have a Mimosa Tree, just about 2 years old, grown from seed. The problem with it is that it has not branched out, it looks like one long branch growing out of the ground, about 5 feet if stood strai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Premature leaf drop on Red Maple in Kentucky June 25, 2008 I have a ten foot Red Maple tree that has been set out for 4 years. Its leaves have slowly turned colors until it currently looks like fall. The leaves are not falling off nor is there yet any s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-blooming crape myrtle in Italy, TX June 25, 2008 It's Italy, TX, again! Thanks for the advice and links, and I'll study those..but here's where I'm stumped on crape myrtle. I have two (almost) trees because they've been planted over 15 years ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Disappearing oranges from Satsuma orange in Austin June 25, 2008 I had many tiny future oranges on my Satsuma Orange Tree until a few days ago. Suddenly, all were gone except one. They weren't on the ground and the tree itself seems incredibly healthy. It is gr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Decline of indoor lemon cypress June 25, 2008 I received a lemon cypress as a gift. I have kept it indoors in bright light and tried to keep it moist. When I received the plant the foliage was soft and now it has become brittle and dry even tho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Taproot tree to replace willows by pool June 23, 2008 Installing Pool with bomanite decking all around it. We're in process of cutting down 18 year old Weeping Willow due to root invasiveness and small messy leaves. Can you recommend a good shade tree w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing and replacing juniper bushes June 20, 2008 Hi! I'm pulling up juniper bushes. (just don't like it) I'm getting down to the roots now on one side and I'm having a hard time getting them up. Any recommendations. They are near my drive... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Safe time to trim live oak trees June 20, 2008 Our live oak trees need a little trimming, as some of the branches are hanging too low, almost to the ground. We planted them about 5 years ago, so they are well established, healthy trees. My husband... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen plants for a windbreak June 13, 2008 Our church has need to plant a windbreak. We would like fast growing native plants, preferably evergreen or really early 'leafers' to protect us from our windy season beginning in mid/late February.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Apparent disease in peach tree in Austin June 12, 2008 I have a peach tree that the leaves are "bleeding" out on. The leaves are continuing to get paler and paler. There are no peaches on the tree this year either. What can I do? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of lemon cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) June 09, 2008 How do I care for a Lemon Cypress tree? Does it require a lot of sun? How often should I water it? It is 18" high and I have it in a pot on my screen porch. Thank-you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seedlings of elm trees in Illinois June 09, 2008 I have what I believe to be young elm trees sprouting throughout my front yard. I will pull them up and over night more sprout and will be 5+ inches tall. I would like to know how to get rid of them, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Secretions of fluid from crepe myrtles June 09, 2008 On my crepe myrtle tree I have dozens of 1/2-inch-long narrow bugs that seem to secrete tiny drops of fluid. They appear on the branches of the tree. Are these harmful to the tree? Do I need to do ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Best time to trim oak trees to avoid oak wilt June 08, 2008 When is the best time to trim oak trees? Concerned regarding oak wilt if cut at wrong time. Ball moss is not harmful but will it help or harm if trees trimmed. These are large oak trees. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native trees to replace dying Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina) June 06, 2008 I have two 25-30 year old Arizona Ash trees in my front yard, which I think are dying. They are the only shade my house gets, and I am dreading losing them. (They are massive and beautiful) What are m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fruit on Mexican olive in Austin June 05, 2008 Does Mexican Olive set fruit in Austin? Does there need to be a male and female tree or not. How old does the plant have to be to set fruit? Mine is three years old but no olives. I need to know ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Douglas maple (Acer glabrum var. douglassii) native June 02, 2008 Could you give me some information about Douglas maple? Moslty, I'm trying to find out if this plant is native or introduced to Idaho and/or U.S. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Ilex glabra Shamrock a female cultivar June 02, 2008 I have an ilex glabra "shamrock". Is it a FEMALE cultivar? I have only found information that the "compacta" and the "nigra" are females. I have a male ilex glabra and was hoping to have berrie... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fraxinus cuspidata (Fragrant Ash) May 30, 2008 Two part question: 1) Will fragrant (flowering; Fraxinus cuspidata) ash survive in Zone 7b? 2) Where can I get it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Insect attack on bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) May 30, 2008 Something is attacking the bur oak that was planted in 2007. Insects are not on the leaves, but the edges of some leaves look chewed back. Others look brown around the edges. Do you have any idea w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wispy plant to put behind a waterfall May 30, 2008 Needing a 10-20ft wispy ______ to plant behind our waterfall to help block out road noise. We live in Austin. I've looked at the Mexican weeping bamboo but are there other options? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bark problems on Platanus occidentalis (American Sycamore) May 29, 2008 I got home today, after two hot sunny days, and found that one of the sycamores (street tree) planted last year (3-4" caliper) has vertically split and peeling bark on the south side of the trunk (la... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning of Bauhinia lunarioides May 29, 2008 I have a Bauhinia variegata..when is the best time to prune it? it tends to grow horizontally..where do you clip off the limbs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will a Norfolk pine survive winter in Houston May 29, 2008 If I transplant a Norfolk pine in the summer, or when is the best time, will it survive the winter growing in Houston Tx? Can you give me some suggestions for fast growing vines facing the front of my... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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