Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Friday - March 20, 2015

From: Denver, CO
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Plant Identification, Seeds and Seeding, Trees
Title: Inquiry about the Arizona Cypress trees in the Family Garden
Answered by: Nan Hampton & Andrea DeLong-Amaya

QUESTION:

Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I recently visited The Wildflower Center and enjoyed seeing several features that were new since my last visit two years ago. In the Family Garden areas I saw several beautiful Arizona Cypress trees. I thought they had very pleasing form and wonder what their point of local origin is. Can you tell me where they or their source seeds were collected. Or if they have a cultivar name? Might seedlings be offered at the Spring Plant Sale? Thank you, Greg in Denver

ANSWER:

The Hesperocyparis arizonica (Arizona cypress) in our Family Garden area are a cultivar called 'Blue Ice' and were purchased through Mountain States Wholesale Nursery. I doubt we'll have seedlings for sale at our plant sale but they can be found at retail nurseries, but you might need to order them.

We hope you will come to our Spring Plant Sale, anyway.   Here are the dates for 2015:

  • Friday, April 10 from 9am to 5pm  (Wildflower Center Members only)
  • Saturday, April 11 from 9am to 5pm.
  • Sunday, April 12 from noon to 5pm.
 

From the Image Gallery


Arizona cypress
Hesperocyparis arizonica

More Plant Identification Questions

Identification of vine with feathery leaves and deep pink flowers
July 28, 2014 - I have growing up my porch what appears to be a vine with feathery leaves and small deep pink flowers. There is no water sources near by. Can you tell me what it is?
view the full question and answer

Bee-friendly bush with small yellow flowers in Minnesota
August 04, 2015 - I was up north in Minnesota and saw a bee friendly bush with small yellow flowers clustered so they looked like small (4"-6") flocked Christmas trees. Any ideas? Thanks!
view the full question and answer

Plant identification
August 24, 2011 - I have searched through all the plant identifications and can not find the one I am looking for. I live 6o miles South of Rochester, NY. In my woods, I found 2 plants, that are no where else in the ...
view the full question and answer

Proper spacing for planting yuccas
January 10, 2009 - We bought some yuccas and need to know how far apart to plant them
view the full question and answer

Identity of plant growing on deck
May 12, 2012 - I can't find the name of a plant that I had on my deck, it didn't come back this year. It was a bush like plant that grew wild, it bloomed May thru August with red small flowers. My deck gets full...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.