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

Flowering vine with yellow flowers in Nevada
August 10, 2014 - A flowering vine started growing in our Henderson back yard about 2 months ago. It has variegated green leaves & yellow flowers. We decided not to pull it out & now it's spreading. I've looked on v...
view the full question and answer

Identification of bush/vine with purple berries
August 09, 2014 - I was clearing fence line and came across this plant it looks like a Bush but underneath grows like a vine it has long broad leaves that reminded me of Polk salad but it grows berry clusters the berri...
view the full question and answer

Key for Verbesina virginica
June 16, 2014 - Are the stems of Verbesina virginica hairy? My in-laws have what I believe is Verbesina virginica (blooms in September here in VA) and another wild flower that blooms before it and is yellow. I'd l...
view the full question and answer

Origin of thorned plant-like object falling from the sky
September 01, 2011 - This morning while walking I felt a prick on my arm, like something had bitten me. I looked and saw what appeared to be a very tiny little plant with a thorn on it sticking out of my arm. I pulled i...
view the full question and answer

Plant identification
June 01, 2010 - I have a grandchild that said the seed pod on a plant that looks like a clover is edible. It has clover like leaves and a little yellow flower. I did taste it and it kind of taste like a pickle. Th...
view the full question and answer

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