Native Plants
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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.
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Sunday - November 09, 2008
From: Huntington Beach, CA
Region: California
Topic: Trees
Title: Small tree for Huntingdon Beach, CA
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have the exact same question as a previous tree question from Huntington Beach California. When I click on the answer it brings up another question. I would like to know the answer given for the 10 foot tree with a non-invasive root system. I would prefer a non-flowering tree because of my CA desert tortoises. ThanksANSWER:
We trust you meant you wanted inconspicuous flowers, not non-flowering. Almost all plants flower, it's part of their reproductive cycle. And, since we know nothing about California desert tortoises, we don't know if they would eat the flowers or what. We will probably give you a slightly different list of possibilities than the other correspondent to whom you referred. Most trees grow much larger than 10 feet tall, so we will find what we can, and then offer some shrubs that can be trimmed up into a small tree. Shrubs and smaller trees tend not to have such large, invasive roots as bigger plants. Usually, the roots extend beyond the dripline.
Follow each plant link to our Native Plant Database page on that plant. You will get information on how high the plant ordinarily grows, what kind of sun exposure and soil moisture it prefers, even bloom time and color. If you still don't have all the information you need, go to the bottom of that webpage and click on a link to Google for that plant, where you should find a number of sites. When you have selected the plants you like, go to our Native Plant Suppliers site. Enter your town name and state in the "Enter Search Location" box, and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed companies and landscape consultants in your general area.
Umbellularia californica (California laurel) - evergreen, slow growing
Aesculus californica (California buckeye) - deciduous
Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoon serviceberry) - deciduous
Amorpha fruticosa (desert false indigo) - deciduous
Calycanthus occidentalis (western sweetshrub) - deciduous, Pictures
Comarostaphylis diversifolia (summer holly) - evergreen
Heteromeles arbutifolia (toyon) - evergreen
Morella californica (California wax myrtle) - evergreen, Pictures
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Why are my lemon Cyprees trees turning Black?
April 01, 2010 - I have 3 lemon Cypress plants - all are about 6 feet tall. One of them has started turning black on one side - like it's been burnt. The inside of the plant is also turning black. I assume something ...
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Storm damage to native sweet bay magnolias in Kentucky
February 04, 2009 - Can you please share information on storm damage to sweet bay magnolias; if the top is broken off can the tree maintain its natural shape or will the sides begin to grow more than the top; i.e., growt...
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Evergreen oak in Washington
February 17, 2009 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I live in the Pacific Northwest and noticed an oak tree growing near the road that was evergreen (unusual for here). I was so curious that that last time that I passed the tree,...
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Mulching tree root in San Angelo, TX
April 02, 2014 - San Angelo, Texas is in a drought stage. Will it help our trees to mulch the base of them?
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Is post oak resistant to oak wilt from Dallas TX
November 22, 2013 - I am confused. The NPIN website says that Post Oak IS susceptible to oak wilt, but all the other information I have been able to find says that it is resistant to oak wilt and rarely gets the diesase....
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