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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| Ornamental tree recommendation for California June 15, 2007 We live in Pleasanton, California and wish to plant an ornamental tree in our front yard. The tree will receive full sun, and the climate can get quite hot in the summer. A Japanese Maple would be th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Danger of oak wilt infestation in trees with storm-damaged limbs June 15, 2007 A recent severe storm in Southwest Austin broke large branches and trunks on many Live Oaks in my neighborhood, including my next door neighbors'. Can this invite Oak Wilt? I'm worried about my tree... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identificaation of different cultivars ofPrunus caroliniana June 14, 2007 How can you tell if you have a Carolina Cherry laurel or Carolina cherry laurel "compacta," or a Cherry Laurel-English? I have a line of four cherry laurels and one in the middle recently died an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of butternut trees (Juglans cinerea) with bumpy growths June 12, 2007 I have two small butternuts, around 3-4 feet. One has developed very 'bumpy' reddish growths on the leaves that are actually stunting their growth. What do you think it is and what can i do to sto... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible identification of Physocarpus opulifolius June 11, 2007 Can you please tell me what kind of tree has a maple leaf and a white snowball flower?The young and very small tree was already here when i bought my home,it stands only 7 feet tall with a 2 inch t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting Magnolia grandiflora June 11, 2007 We just moved to Plano TX and there's a magnolia tree planted between our house and the driveway. (The tree is 7ft tall and it's about 7ft from the side of house and 4ft from the driveway) I alway... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Leaf spot as indicator of Oak Wilt Disease May 26, 2007 I live close to the Wilflower Center. I have two trees in my front yard which are just now showing brown spots on the leaves. I fear this may be oak wilt. Would it be possible for me to bring som... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is a permit needed to plant liveoaks on property or on easement May 25, 2007 My house is located behind 1431 in Williamson county My backyard faces 1431 hwy and the noise and view aren't pleasant. I'm trying to plant some live oaks behind the wall and, of course, some in m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replanting members of Rosaceae family in same spot May 23, 2007 HI Mr. Smarty Plants We had two apple (yellow fruit) trees besides out house and they died. Is it ok to replant in the same place with other trees without being afraid something is wrong with the soi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Caterpillars on catalpa trees and hardiness of catalpas May 23, 2007 A volunteer catalpa tree has recently popped up near the edge of our swimming pool. The foliage is lovely, so I'm considering allowing it to stay. This one has already proven to be a fast grower . ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Soils for Acacia greggii and Bauhinia lunarioides May 02, 2007 What kind of soil do you recommend for anacacia tree? I was stunned by the one blooming at Center. I have had one for years and it has not been happy. I figure it must be the soil. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Large tree and smaller specimen tree for Austin, Texas May 01, 2007 We are in the process of removing two Silver Maples in our front yard planted by the previous owner of our house. We live close to the Wildflower Center and have very shallow soil on top of rock. We... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Should wax myrtles (Morella cerifera) be pruned? April 26, 2007 We planted Wax Myrtles in our backyard as a wall for privacy from the lot behind ours. Should we prune or cut back the tops periodically to get more fully developed bushes or let them grow naturally? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mixed native plantings for steep slope in Austin April 18, 2007 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: We wrote to you recently about plantings for a fairly steep slope in a park in Austin. We had asked about grasses and perennials. An article about planting on slopes in this mo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Variegated leaves on Ungnadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye) April 11, 2007 I grew some mexican buckeyes from seed last year and one of them has variegated leaves. I haven't seen this before- have I just not looked at enough mexican buckeyes up close or is this an uncommon f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native trees for cemetery plot in Karnes County, TX April 08, 2007 I'm looking for a tree for a cemetery plot in Karnes County at Pana Maria. There will be someone to regularly water it. I understand live oak and pecan are native to the area. I assume these would... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Diospyros texana at Enchanted Rock Park April 07, 2007 I took pictures last year in April of one particular large shrub in Enchanted Rock Park. The flowers are extremely fragrant, sort of cluster of tiny creamy white bell shaped. We came back this last we... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spring blooming Acacia farnsiana in Austin April 04, 2007 I've been seeing a large shrub, possibly tree, around Austin this spring - and it is covered is small ball-like orangish-yellow blooms - very tightly covered in these blooms. From the car, it looks ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Disease and soil disturbance effects on Pacific madrone April 02, 2007 I have a couple acres, here in Northern California Sierra Nevada foothills. My property has many, many trees - quite a few are the beautiful (yet messy!) Arbutus menziesii, or Pacific Madrone. Some ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native evergreen trees with highest value for birds April 02, 2007 What native evergreen trees have the highest value for bird seed/fruit (other than Juniperus virginiana)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast growing native hedges for Sachse, TX March 30, 2007 I just bought a house in Sachse, Tx and want to plant a privacy hedge. It will be about 220' long and I want it to grow to at least 10'-12' high. I also want it to be fast growing and be evergree... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting large trees in Austin, TX March 30, 2007 Hello, I'm new to Austin and live in Circle C Subdivision off of Hwy 45 and Spruce Canyon. We would like to plant a couple of trees that will provide shade. I've read your Q&As but would like ad... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hackberry stripped by Cedar Waxwings or American Goldfinches March 27, 2007 I live in Fort Worth. My one and only tree in the backyard is a 23 year old hackberry. While not infested with gall or weevils, we have been invaded this past few weeks by hordes of small, chubby, yel... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Amelanchier arborea (common serviceberry) native to Ohio March 25, 2007 I want to plant a row of serviceberries for the fruit. I will plant a variety that attains 6 to 10 feet. I was about to order amelanchier alnifolia var. Smokey, as it's described as having very tasty... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Florida law on removing orange trees March 24, 2007 I live in a co-op mobile home park with a board of directors that tell me that if I have to cut down my orange tree that Florida law says that I have to replace it with another orange tree. I say that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Conditions for growing Prunus mexicana March 23, 2007 Will a native Wild Plum do well in the Cat Spring area west of Houston. The soil is quite sandy. I was told that the plum trees attract deer. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control of ball moss in oak trees March 23, 2007 I live in San Marcos, Texas and I have a two acre lot with lots of oak trees. Most of these trees have so much ballmoss attached to them that the leaves and branches are not visible anymore. Is ther... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Decline of pollinating bees around Mexican plums March 19, 2007 Dear Dr. Smarty Plants While out working in my yard (about nine miles southwest of the Wildfower Center) this morning, I became aware that there was no sound of bees buzzing. I checked our Mexica... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of native dogwoods in Williamson Co., TX March 12, 2007 Hi Mr/Mrs SmartyPlants What are the small-ish wild trees that are blooming so beautifully now? They are practically covered in pretty white blossoms. I've always called them dogwoods but in the vari... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Retailers of possumhaw March 11, 2007 How can I find retailers of possumhaw (Ilex decidua)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible reasons for non-fruiting wild plum March 10, 2007 My grandfather has land in Lee County with thickets of wild plum, I believe creek plum is another name. However, they never seem to produce plums while thickets nearby on the roadside less than one mi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Differentiating between Iles decidua and Ilex vomitoria February 15, 2007 Is there any way to tell a male possum haw holly from a female? I have a possum haw that never lost all of it's leaves and has no berries. Could it be a male? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Diagnosis of problem and treatment of damaged Cedar Elm February 01, 2007 Part of our mature Cedar Elm looked damaged last summer. We were advised by a landscape designer to spray it with Kocide in late January as a treatment. Is there an alternative to this? Should we h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alleotrophic effects of caffeine found in Ilex species January 24, 2007 I'm doing research for my biology class on the alleotrophic effects of caffeine. I'm planning to use Ilex vomitoria as the caffeine-producing plant. As the control I want to use another non-c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast growing, native fruit trees for Northeast Texas January 23, 2007 What kind of fruit tree will grow fast and be pretty in Northeast Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fruit-bearing crabapple for Austin, TX January 07, 2007 Is there a fruitbearing crabapple that will live in Austin. If so, what soil type is required? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas Ash January 03, 2007 Where can I purchase a Texas Ash? One native tree nursery advertised Texas Ash but the trees turned out to be Fan-Tex, which I believe is an Arizona Ash cultivar. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Viability of Desert Willow and Hong Kong Orchid Tree in Spring Branch, TX December 26, 2006 We live in Spring Branch, Rt 281 north of San Antonio. We want to plant a Regal Desert Willow tree and a Hong Kong Orchid tree. Will the cold / freeze be a problem? Where locally can we purchase th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering and fruting of Texas wild plums and where they grow November 28, 2006 Could you please tell me about Texas wild plum trees—when they flower, when they bear fruit and where they grow. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible woodpecker damage in Monterrey Oaks November 17, 2006 I live in NW Austin and have two Monterey Oak trees, each about 30 - 45 gal in size. They both were planted approximately 9 months ago. Both trees seem to have some cracking bark on the trunk along w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of symbiotic relationship between cedar elm and ashe juniper November 14, 2006 Is there a symbiotic relationship between cedar elm and ashe juniper? We have a small ashe juniper sapling and a small cedar elm sapling growing near each other (actually, we planted the juniper 2 yea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting time for Smoketree in Quebec September 14, 2006 I would like to transplant my smoke tree. It is two years old. When would be the best time of the year to transplant. I live in Zone 4. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Availability of seeds or plants for Texas Mulberry September 12, 2006 Is there any source of seeds or plants for Texas Mulberry? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellowing of Thuja occidentalis leaves in early Fall in Maryland September 12, 2006 Mr. Smarty Plants, I am from Maryland. Please help. I have planted 23 Thuja occidentalis Smaragd in my front yard a few months ago. Height of about 3 feet. Most of the trees have turned golden brown.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Cockspur Hawthorn as Crataegus crus-galli September 05, 2006 What is cockspur hawthorne? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible wilt disease in mountain laurels August 31, 2006 Three of about 24 of my mature mountain laurels died suddenly, the leaves turned brown almost overnight, scratching the bark revealed no green tissue, the small branches practically cracked when bent,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control of borers attacking Prunus serotina August 30, 2006 Where can I find information to control borers that seem to attack only Prunus serotina v. exemia? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Determining gender of Texas Hill Country native trees August 22, 2006 How can I identify which (Tx Hill Country) native trees are separate male & female? Specifically Tx Pistache and American Smoke Tree. Do I have to wait until they flower and inspect the flower for c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Survivability of birch trees in Texas August 16, 2006 Is it known whether Gray birch (Betula populifolia Marsh) will grow in North Texas? It seems like the only birch variety which might - and how short is a "short lifespan" for a tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Selecting landscape trees for Denton Co., TX August 11, 2006 I live in Denton County and I'm trying to select a few trees to plant in my yard. I'd like them to be native or at least "antique" (hardy varieties which have adapted to the conditions without bec... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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