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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| topic | question | |
| Time to Plant Trees and Shrubs in the Dallas Area February 13, 2015 Is it OK to plant evergreen shrubs-trees in January or February in the Dallas, Texas area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for Sideroxylon celastrinum (Coma saffron plum) seeds or seedlings February 12, 2015 Hi. I'm trying to find a good commercial source for la coma (Bumelia celastrina) seedlings/seeds. Can you help? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscape Fabric for Oak Suckers in Austin February 11, 2015 Can landscape fabric (covered w/decorative bark mulch) be safely used to control Escarpment oak sprouts? 70-year-old knees are tired of getting down to remove. Oaks are in Circle C area of Austin View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay) a major nectar source for honeybees? January 31, 2015 Is the Sweetbay Magnolia a major nectar source for honeybees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Franklinia alatamaha (Franklin tree) a major honeybee nectar source? January 31, 2015 Is the Franklinia tree a major nectar source for honeybees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sap oozing from trunks of Cherry Laurels in Austin, TX January 24, 2015 I have several mature compact cherry laurels whose leaves are beginning to turn yellow. They are in raised beds, have been properly fertilized, have compost spread around them, and are properly water... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Redwood as a Screening Tree for Santa Cruz Garden? January 20, 2015 I have a small yard in Santa Cruz, CA and we have to hide/distract from a power line. My husband is demanding a redwood. Is this sane? The space it will have to grow in is about 20x20. What species of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| large tree suited for limestone site in Austin, TX January 15, 2015 I have a dying Chinaberry tree [35 ' tall; WNW corner of lot; at least 25 years old] that I am having removed. What native / adapted tree would you recommend to fill that void. I do understand that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer-resistant trees for privacy in Texas January 09, 2015 I need to find a deer resistant tall shrub or tree to plant and hide the deer fence my neighbor just put up on our property line. My property has full sun in parts and mostly shady in other parts and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need plants for privacy screen and noise reduction in Dallas. January 07, 2015 Our backyard is on the north side of our house and is adjacent to the south side of LBJ Freeway (I-635) in Dallas. TXDOT only constructed an 8' concrete wall along our portion of its expanded right-o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen tree for privacy screen in Granbury Texas December 21, 2014 We need to put an evergreen privacy screen between our barn and our neighbor's new 132' long, unattractive building, which runs along & is just 40' away from our fence line & where they have decid... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for a moist, wooded area in North Carolina December 06, 2014 I am looking to plant some native flowers in a wooded area in Surry County NC. The chosen location is fully shaded beside a creek. The water table typically sets about 2 feet below the surface of th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is it safe to burn Cedar in a fireplace? December 04, 2014 Is it safe to burn Cedar in our fireplace? I'm trying to thin out the population of Ashe Junipers on my property in Spicewood Tx. to give the young Live Oaks a chance to compete for sunlight and w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Restoring disturbed land in Marshall, TX. December 04, 2014 I have a 30 acre tract of land in Marshall, Texas. The oil company has turned 2-3 acres surrounding the rig into gravel. I would like to return the gravel area to green space. Any suggestions on gras... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Does Acacia farnesiana (Huisache) have agressive roots? November 30, 2014 Hello, Do you know if the Huisache tree has an aggressive root system? I have a few in proximity to my septic draining field and I need to know if I should cut them down to prevent clogging of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need a Replacement for Chinese Tallow tree in Austin, TX November 26, 2014 I live in Austin and have a large Chinese Tallow in my front yard. I would like to cut the tree down, but it provides shade to my home. I was hoping to start growing a native fruit/nut tree near the C... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seven foot privacy fence in Tucson November 25, 2014 I am looking for a privacy hedge for a home in Tucson, Arizona that will be in full sun. Needs to be at least seven foot tall and low water and maintenance. Any suggestions. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oak Wilt in Georgetown, TX November 17, 2014 We have lost several live oaks to oak wilt. Another couple are dying but still have some green leaves. Is it OK to cut down these trees now or should we wait until they are entirely dead? I've heard ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low Water Use Plants for a Pond Island November 06, 2014 We have a medium sized pond/tank with a small island covered in black willows. The pond loses a lot of water and we were told it was partially due to the willows. We want to remove them and replace ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Small Tree for Texas Garden November 06, 2014 I would like to plant a small tree just 3-4 feet from my house, but I don't want to damage the foundation. Is there a small fruit or nut tree I could plant that would fit the bill? Failing that, is t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas Redbud Suddenly Died in NM November 06, 2014 We had a Texas redbud, approximately 5 1/2 years old. It had been doing great then all of a sudden after it bloomed this spring, the leaves appeared but then shriveled right away. We noticed the trunk... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Young Bur Oak not Flourishing in Texas November 06, 2014 We have a bur oak in our SW Travis County lawn in Texas, planted about 3 years ago as a 6-7' tree. It is now about 12' but has not "flourished". It has put out virtually no horizontal branches, an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need shrubs for a privacy screen in Glendale CA October 30, 2014 Dear. Mr. Smarty Plants I need to grow a tall hedge 15-20 feet minimum to block a condo complex which overlooks my back yard. I need a fast growing hedge which is non toxic to dogs and one which roo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to Identify Male and Female Texas Persimmon Trees October 07, 2014 I have just learned that Texas persimmon trees are either male or female. Is it possible to tell which is which when buying one? I am planting on 50 acres near Blanco. Do I need one of each? I'd ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference in native and non-native cherry laurel October 02, 2014 I have a backyard volunteer that I have identified as a cherry laurel, but how do I tell the Carolina from the non-native? This is still young (2 years or so), and not flowering, at least not now. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tree Recommendations for Hutto, TX September 28, 2014 I live in Hutto, TX. I want shade trees in my back yard. I would like a fast growing tree as well as a slower growing tree. What trees are recommended for my area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Desert Willow Roots from Lubbock, TX September 18, 2014 I have a very, very happy Desert Willow that has grown larger than we expected and is probably too close to the house. Do I need to worry about a cracked foundation or pipe problems? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fast-growing shade tree for Corona CA September 17, 2014 Hi, I'm looking for a fast growing shade tree. I live in Corona CA so it will need to do well in a lot of sun, moderate winds and clay soil. Thanks so much for your suggestions. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is mulch from hackberry and chinaberry trees safe for flowerbeds? September 17, 2014 We had to remove several large hackberry and china berry trees. Is its mulch safe to use in garden and in flower beds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Butterfly Plants for Chicago September 13, 2014 I live near Chicago, IL and am interested in planting a butterfly garden. Not sure when to start, but I want all native plants that would attract butterflies. Can you please let me know which plants ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Live Oak Suckers or ??? in Arlington, TX September 12, 2014 Do I have live oak suckers or an invasive plant? We bought a house a few years ago in Arlington, TX with two beautiful old live oak trees, and mostly just bare sand-dirt under them. Under one t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Update on controlling live oak suckers with newspapers, cardboard and mulch September 12, 2014 Can we get an update on the march 2011 topic of live oak suckers? I am wondering if the newspaper/cardboard/mulch layers continued to take care of the problem. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning Texas Mountain Laurel September 04, 2014 I've had a Texas mountain laurel for 4 years that's being trained into a tree. I think it was a 3-year old tree when I purchased it. Unfortunately, it has suffered from overwatering, and the two mai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Weeping Willow Problem in Texas September 04, 2014 Our weeping willow's leaves are turning yellow and falling off. We are also seeing some brown, gnarly looking pods on some of the stems can you tell us what's happening? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with Chinese Pistache tree September 01, 2014 We have a gorgeous Chinese Pistache in our yard, about 25 feet tall. We bought it for its gorgeous fall color. The problem is that it has never turned color for us. All the other pistaches in the neig... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with a Cercis (Redbud) August 25, 2014 Half of my redbud tree is pooped out looking. On two places on the bark are areas where a few layers of bark have pulled back. In these areas there are white growths. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants associated with Acer rubrum (Red maple) August 21, 2014 What plants are commonly associated with Acer rubrum in its natural habitat? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a Privacy Barrier Plant for NC August 21, 2014 I am trying to determine the best plant for a privacy barrier for my area in NC that has clay soil. I have a 6 foot high fence but need something 12 feet or taller. It has to be something that does no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deep Rooted Large Shrub or Small Tree for Driveway Strip August 21, 2014 I am in eastern Massachusetts. My condominium Grounds Committee is searching for a small tree suitable to plant in narrow (4'-5') beds which divide two driveways. Can you suggest something whose roo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are Chickasaw plums evergreen? August 13, 2014 Are Chickasaw Plums evergreens? I've been very interested in planting a few but some websites say they are evergreens while others say the opposite. Furthermore, would I have to plant a male and fema... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade Trees for Bullhead City, AZ August 12, 2014 We have a patio with 2 old (unused) fire pit cut-outs; about 4 ft wide each. The cut out is not lined with concrete or brick: just rimmed with the concrete on all sides. The center of the cut-outs i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Leaves dropping from a potted Mesquite August 11, 2014 I have a Prosopis pubescens (Screwbean Mesquite) that I purchased at a nursery in Alpine, TX just a few miles away from me. It was a in nursery style black plastic container. The mesquite is perhaps a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Final size of a Texas mountain laurel August 11, 2014 I have purchased a Texas Mountain Laurel. The plant tag says it will grow 25 to 35 feet. LBWF plant data base says 10 to 15 feet. Which data should I go with? It's either plant close but not close to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of tree with outrageous thorns August 10, 2014 Can you identify this tree? It has these outrageous thorns on its trunk. They are in clusters and are anywhere from 1" long to 4" long or so. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Moderate-sized trees for lawn in West Virginia August 10, 2014 I recently had a landscape design completed by a professional lanscape company. The landscape is sloping down in front of my house. At the corner they included a Sweet Bay Magnolia, which we like ve... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Treating splits in a Cottonwood tree trunk August 09, 2014 How to treat slipts in trunk of 4 year old Cottonwood tree. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree that looks like cedar elm but with smooth bark August 09, 2014 What tree looks like a cedar elm, but has smooth bark? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen sumacs for privacy along fence August 02, 2014 I would like to plant enough Evergreen Sumacs along our fence for privacy for the length of our backyard which is 60 ft. Fifteen feet on the left and right ends are shaded with the right side being d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Magnolia species are allelopathic August 02, 2014 Have a healthy Southern Magnolia tree around 8 years old. It seems like everything I plant next to it dies.: Variegated Spirea, Stokes Aster, Hydrangeas. Is there something it secretes like the waln... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pecan tree dropping dead leaves August 02, 2014 I have a very old, tall pecan tree in my yard that has been dropping dead leaves for the last three weeks. My back yard looks like it is the Fall season. Do you have any insight on this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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