Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Tuesday - July 07, 2015
From: Parkersburg, WV
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Shrubs, Trees
Title: Magnolia in West Virginia ?
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
Hello, is the Dwarf sweet magnolia a native shrub to WV?ANSWER:
It doesn’t look like it – I searched in the Native Plant Information Network and also just a general web search and found no references to a Dwarf Sweet Magnolia.
I did find a lot of information on the Sweetbay Magnolia – Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay). This tree/shrub is native to Atlantic coastal regions, this can be seen in the USDA link, but that also shows it is specifically not native to West Virginia.
I also found a good writeup from The Penn State Extension on the Sweetbay Magnolia. This indicated that there was a dwarf cultivar available [even further non-native] – but perhaps this is what you are thinking about!
From the Image Gallery
More Trees Questions
Repairing Previous Silver Maple Pruning Damage
May 09, 2015 - I cut a limb off my silver maple wrong and now the trunk is developing a hole. What is the best treatment?
view the full question and answer
Skin allergies; is Juniper the culprit in Simi Valley, CA?
July 21, 2012 - My husband and I have had terrible skin allergy problems this spring (for me it's been 3 years) and think it may be the juniper bushes outside our bedroom and kitchen windows. Is there a fast growin...
view the full question and answer
Suggestions for native perennials in Staten Island, NY
April 03, 2008 -
My back yard garden has a good base of evergreen shrubs and perennials all doing well in clayish soil and I am ready now to add color and texture in an area with partial sun. Can you suggest hardy...
view the full question and 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 the full question and answer
Plants to filter dust from a road in MD
June 01, 2011 - I live in MD next to a dirt/gravel access road. I would like to plant something along my property line to block the clouds of dust we regularly get from cars and dirt bikes. Is there something fast ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |