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

Monday - December 23, 2013

From: Denham Springs, LA
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Trees
Title: Trees failing to prosper from Denham Spring LA
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I live in Louisiana. Out of all of the native trees that we grow, there are two in particular that always struggle no matter what the conditions are in which they grow. The first one, sassafras, is supposed to be a rapid grower. It is, but it never stays that way for long. Every tree that we've ever had dies back every year. Eventually, 50% of the trees we grow just die. We've grown them in wet, dry, and in between conditions, but the result is always the same. Does acidity play a major part? What about soil composition? The other tree is sweetleaf. We have had several Symplocos over the years, but despite reading about rapid growth. Every tree that we've had has not grown, at all. They simply leaf out in spring, and drop some leaves in late winter. They have not had a fresh growth tip in 3 years. They are only 2 feet tall. In addition, they have died in every soil we have used except for moist clay. Are there better soil conditions in which to grow them for maximum efficiency, or are the growth rates greatly exaggerated? Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any info you may have.

ANSWER:

Well, this IS a mystery. Both trees grow natively in Livingston Parish, LA near Baton Rouge in the central part of the "boot" of Louisiana. We found this out by looking at the USDA Plant Profile for each plant. We can rule out the possibility that you are trying to grow trees not native to your area.

USDA Plant Profile Map for Sassafras albidum (Sassafras)

USDA Plant Profile Map for Symplocos tinctoria (Horsesugar)

That leaves us to consider how and when they were planted. First, we followed each plant link above to our webpage on that plant to determine its best growing conditions.

Sassafras albidum (Sassafras)

"Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Rich, moist, sandy loams. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Acid-based
Conditions Comments: Sassafras can sucker into a small grove, but is easily controlled as a single tree. It is an appropriate tree to introduce into disturbed sites with infertile soil. It grows most quickly in fertile soil, and though it prefers well-drained situations, it will tolerate soggy feet. Except for occasional iron chlorosis caused by high pH soils, the tree is relatively free of problems. Sassafras is allelopathic and can discourage the growth of certain other plants within its root zone."

Symplocos tinctoria (Horsesugar)

"Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Wet or moist, sandy or alluvial soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Acid-based."

We have to feel there is some aspect of transplant shock involved here. From our research, we feel you have the right kind of acidic soils, as well as climate and other conditions. Here are some questions we would like for you to ask yourself (as we don't do house calls) to get to the root (pun intended) of the problem.

Are you digging up the trees in the wild, perhaps without special preparations to protect the roots?

Are you purchasing them from the same nursery over and over without finding out if the nursery has been experiencing the same problems?

Are you planting them in December and January? We recommend that, in the South and Southwest, trees be planted in cool weather, not in the heat of summer.

Are you checking the roots to make sure there is no root damage and that the roots are not rootbound; that is, growing around and around in a circle, unable to get out into the soil with the tiny rootlets that actually access water and nutrients from the soil?

In already damp soils, are you watering them excessively? One of these trees calls for "low" watering and one for "medium." If you are adding unnecessary water, the roots could be drowning.

Are you fertilizing the trees to give them a boost? Plants being grown where they are native rarely need fertilizing and, in fact, fertilizer can hurt a tree already under stress as yours must be.

We suggest you contact the Louisiana State University Ag Center for Livingston Parish to find out if they recommend a soil test (for which they can provide the supplies) or if others have reported similar problems with these trees.

One last recommendation. This comes from our alter ego, Mr. Common Sense, who often butts in whether we want him to or not. He says if you keep planting the same trees in the same way and they keep dying that you should consider trying some other plant or tree instead. What you are doing is wasting precious resources like water, soil, money and back muscles for what may be, for whatever reason, a lost cause.

 

From the Image Gallery


Sassafras
Sassafras albidum

Sassafras
Sassafras albidum

Sassafras
Sassafras albidum

Horse sugar
Symplocos tinctoria

More Diseases and Disorders Questions

Dying branches on Texas Mountain Laurel from Kempner TX
September 14, 2012 - The branches on my Texas Mountain Laurel are very dry and brittle. The leaves are also starting to die. The tree has been in my yard for six years and prior to that it sat wrapped in burlap for ov...
view the full question and answer

Palm trees turning orange in Miami
May 24, 2010 - Why are my palm trees turning orange?
view the full question and answer

Insect damage on possumhaw
August 12, 2012 - We planted a small possumhaw in February of this year (2012). It had leaves and some berries and was doing real well until some bug starting eating the leaves and berries. I know it is not deer becau...
view the full question and answer

Decline of sheared dwarf hollies from Rockwall TX
May 31, 2014 - I have 20 year old established dwarf yaupon hollies in front of the house that I trim every year and shape the same. This year the new growth that was 2 1/2 " long I noticed the new leaves were curli...
view the full question and answer

Failure to thrive of pecan trees in Las Vegas NV
October 11, 2009 - In April this year I purchased two 8-foot tall pecan trees in 3-foot square boxes from a local nursery and planted them here in Southern Nevada. I'm sure I dug a large enough hole to provide plenty ...
view the full question and answer

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