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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| Planting fruit and nut trees in Archer, FL. January 26, 2012 We're looking to plant a few fruit and nut trees in Archer, Florida. We've been thinking about figs, apples, peaches, oranges, plums, and whatever nuts grow best here (looks like almonds and pecan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Obtaining bark of Larix laricina from Hyderabad India January 26, 2012 I am in need of Larix laricina (Bark) for my research work. Please let me know how to procure it. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought resistant flowering plants for Spring, TX January 25, 2012 Hi Mr. Smarty Pants. I live in Spring Tx. and wanted to plant a garden in my front yard. I'm looking for flowering plants that are colorful, easy to manage, and drought resistant but so far can't fi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Questions about care and pruning of Mexican Plum and Mountain Laurel in Austin, TX. January 24, 2012 I have a couple of questions regarding tree care and pruning. I have a Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana), about 10 years old or so. I would like to prune it. Is it ok to prune now in late wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need tree suggestions for a long, narrow strip in Folsom, CA. January 18, 2012 I live in Folsom, Ca. I have a long strip (50') of planting area about 2.5' wide at the top of a retaining wall to the fence behind it. I would like to plant alternating (2) trees down this strip to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fertilizing oaks to produce acorns January 16, 2012 Will fertilizing oak trees help with acorn production? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing Drought-Stricken Cedars January 16, 2012 Hello, I live in Williamson County on a couple acres. We have several dead cedars as a result of drought; we're reluctant to cut them down because many of them provide a friendly barrier between us... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Leaves dropping on evergreen sumac in San Antonio January 11, 2012 I have a large evergreen sumac in my back yard that started off as a small shrub 10 years ago. This summer the leaves turned red and now have dropped off. Is the plant dead? It sent out two smaller pl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Allelopathy in Sassafras albidum January 11, 2012 Sassafras albidum description says "Sassafras is allelopathic and can discourage the growth of certain other plants within its root zone." My question is: WHICH plants are susce... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees and wildflowers for Matagorda County, Texas January 06, 2012 My family has a fish farm in Palacios, Matagorda county. I would like to plant trees and wild flowers on the property. Can you suggest the appropriate kind that can withstand the salt water around an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planning garden tasks in advance from Austin January 03, 2012 My yard was a disaster last year-grass and trees browning, early leaf fall on flowering plants, and water bills sky high, even with the limited watering days. What can I do this year to prevent this s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mediterranean Pines indigenous to Verde Valley AZ January 01, 2012 Are the tall, thin Mediterranean/Pencil Pines growing in the Verde Valley in Arizona indigenous to the area? They are so plentiful, but are not identified as an indigenous evergreen. If not, how did... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need trees to screen view of parking garage in Houston, TX. December 29, 2011 We live in Houston, TX with a beautiful lot except a 4 story parking garage has been built behind us. How can we screen this and the lights out of site. It looks terrible from the second story espec... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cause of trees losing bark in Arkansas December 27, 2011 I live in very rural Arkansas and we did have extreme heat this past summer and since then I have noticed several trees in the woods that have lost huge strips of their bark and I was wondering if it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why is non-native peach tree not going dormant in Owensville IN December 19, 2011 I have a peach tree I grew from a peach pit. It is about 2 years old. I planted the tree in my yard this summer. It is now about 3' tall. My problem is it is not going dormant. We have had several fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Live oak leaves turning yellow after planting in Houston December 19, 2011 We bought a 65 gallon live oak in early October, and have been watering fairly heavily three days a week. It seemed OK, then all of a sudden lots of the leaves are turning yellow. Is it getting too ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Canadian Marine West Coast Plants December 15, 2011 What type of plants are found in the Canadian marine west coast climate? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Due to drought is pruning live oaks beneficial from Houston December 07, 2011 Would it be beneficial (presuming a continued spring drought) to prune live oak trees more severely than usual this winter? I'm thinking that it might help them to have less mass to support. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Problems with non-native Canary Date Palms from Miami FL December 06, 2011 Hi: The fronts of my canary date palm, which I planted about 6 years ago, has been getting brown from the bottom of the tree and working itself towards the top for the past several months now. The b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Color year round, welcome to Austin Texas. December 04, 2011 I am new to Austin and want to plant colorful flowers for fall and winter that get a "wow" reaction. I have not seen much at the local nurseries. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sending a picture of an oak from Yorktown TX December 02, 2011 How I can I send a pic of my oak in Yorktown near Cuero? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of Tex-ash in Tucson AZ December 02, 2011 I planted a mature (15') Tex-Ash about a year ago. Lately more and more leaves seem to be browning and it has never filled out. I am concerned I am going to lose it if I don't get it something befor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Large oak with possible Laetiporus fungus November 29, 2011 We have a huge oak tree in front of our new house. After the first rain this fall a large fungal growth appeared in an old knothole of the tree and I would guess that it is Laetiporus. A neighborho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What are the pines growing at South Padre Island, Texas November 20, 2011 Hi, On a recent trip to South Padre Island, we noticed a large number of beautiful long leaf pines. I asked several residents what the name was but no one knew. I have searched and googled trying... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference between Styrax platanifolius and Styrax patanifolius ssp. texanus November 18, 2011 What is the difference between a Styrax platanifolius and a Styrax platanifolius texanus? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Germinating Mexican Persimmon seeds in Austin, TX. November 15, 2011 I'm planning to germinate Mexican Persimmon seeds, and plant them this spring. I want a female for fruit. Is there any way to encourage a plant to be female, and if not, is there any way you can iden... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How to treat bark damage on oak tree November 15, 2011 I have an oak tree approx. 50 ft., live in austin, texas. the tree has dropped bark about 3-4 ft above ground, in a section of 4 inches by 8 inches, and the tree appears dark where the bark was. is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mexican Sycamore trees grown from seed November 15, 2011 If someone is selling an alleged Mexican Sycamore grown from a seed harvested from a mature tree growing in Austin, is it likely to be a TRUE Mexican Sycamore -- or has it most likely been pollinated ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplant shock in desert willow in Austin November 09, 2011 We planted a desert willow 5 days ago. It came in a 15-gallon pot but the tree is quite large (~10 ft) with a wide spread. We watered thoroughly during planting but have not watered since (light rai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native evergreen to replace non-native chinaberry November 08, 2011 Looking for a native evergreen tree to replace a fruitless Chinaberry that was 35 years old. We have clay soil for about 3 feet and then you hit rock. Suggestions would be appreciated. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are brown junipers (Juniperus ashei) dead? November 08, 2011 If the cedar/junipers in our area are brown, will they ever come back green? Or just clear them out as dead. There are many of them due to the drought. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees with non-invasive roots or tops in Newhall CA November 07, 2011 We would like to plant a tree with noninvasive roots near our garden wall and concrete driveway in a grassy area in the front yard facing west. This spot is very sunny in the afternoon with automatic ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is sulfurous well water affecting leaves on trees in Belton TX November 07, 2011 We installed an irrigation system for our buffalo grass lawn last spring. The grass is fine but the leaves on the trees are burned where the water hits them. I suspect that the well we are using fo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Safe branch length of oaks in Clayton NC November 06, 2011 I have 2 very large oak trees in my yard and I am concerned about the length of the branches over the house and driveway. Most seem larger than 4" in diameter. What is a safe length for these branc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is a Brandywine Maple messy from Westchester IL November 06, 2011 Brandywine Maple: Does this tree produce sap, seeds or flower? As a home owner I can't afford more maintenance with clogged gutters or a sap covered car. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oak sap dripping on driveway in Austin November 06, 2011 Why would oak sap be dripping on driveway at this time when other oaks the neighbors have are not. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating a Magnolia tree from a twig cutting in New Hampshire. November 02, 2011 I have a twig cutting from a rare magnolia tree I found on a farm in central New Hampshire. The tree seems to be at least one hundred years old. It was in full bloom in late August and I was told by t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spraying paint on White Pine tree trunks October 31, 2011 Is there a paint that is safe to spray on a tree trunk without damaging/killing the tree? We have White Pines that have ~16" spacing without limbs & would like to 'camouflage' the bare space. If pa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees and shrubs turning brown in Dripping Springs TX October 31, 2011 Due to the extended drought - a number of trees and shrubs in our Dripping Springs area property have turned brown. Specifically: Live Oak; Agarita; Ash Juniper; Cedar Elm. Is this a dormant stag... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Time to trim oak trees in Austin October 29, 2011 We have several large oak trees in desperate need of a good trimming. Given that the trees have had a very stressful drought year, when would be the best time to trim them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native mimosa failing to bloom in Leitchfield KY October 29, 2011 I have a medium size mimosa tree here in KY that usually blooms beautifully; it did not bloom at all this year. It leafed out well, needs a few dead limbs pruned, but seems otherwise healthy. Please t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Boulevard Cypress Pom Pom trees in Princeton NJ October 29, 2011 I just had some landscaping done near my front door and front yard. I have two Boulevard Cypress B&B (4-5') Pom Pom. The pom poms are turning brown. What should I have been doing? I am watering them ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control of Paulownia tomentosa from Westminster MD October 28, 2011 I have heard that there is a type of herbicide that is to be applied to slashes made in the outer layer of invasive trees such as Paulownia. This type of application is reputed to prevent the little ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacement of Arizona ash in Austin October 28, 2011 We have two Arizona Ashes in our yard that probably have maybe a decade left in them. We want to get a couple new trees started, so they will be well established once the Ashes are near their end. In ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Baby mountain laurels are ready to move, in Lockhart Texas October 19, 2011 I want to harvest the baby mountain laurel plants which are growing under a large bush. What height would be best for the young plants survival? Please recommend a soil mixture for the pots. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need source for seeds or plants of Pinus remota in Johnson City, TX.. October 18, 2011 I cannot seem to find a source for Pinus remota or papershell pinyon pine. Who Grows this? I understand it is rare and would love to try it here in Johnson City. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need suggestions for a privacy screen besides Murray Cypress. October 18, 2011 Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in NE TX, about an hour east of Dallas on I-20. I hear interstate traffic behind my house, and have a busy street on its left side, and a school adjoining in back. I thi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of live oaks leaves on lawn in Austin October 11, 2011 We have about a half inch or so of mostly live oak leaves still on the ground which I thought was good root protection and also holds in moisture. There is a small group of people in our condo subdi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting Anacacho orchid tree in Llano, TX October 05, 2011 Re Bauhinia lunarioides: I'm trying to pick a good site in Llano Co for a 5 gal tree I received as a gift. Your plant database says part shade. The arid zone trees publication you reference in a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Live oak bark splitting in Katy TX October 03, 2011 We have a 7 yr old live oak that looks like its bark is splitting open in branches and top leaves look wilted. If that sounds like oak wilt, do we need to have the tree removed? We live in a subdivisi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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