Native Plants
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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - June 19, 2014
From: Georgetown, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Why didn't the mountain laurels bloom this year in Georgetown, TX?
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Why are the mountain laurels not blooming this year, I live in Georgetown, TX?ANSWER:
If you check with Wunderground.com for Georgetown's minimum temperatures for the first of March 2014, you will see that on March 2 it was 24°F, March 3 was 19°F and March 4 was 28°F. Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain laurel) begins forming flower buds in February and generally blooms by late February and early March. The extended low temperatures in early March in Central Texas froze many of the buds before they could open. The mountain laurel in my yard in Austin had only a couple of blossoms that managed to bloom and I didn't see but a few small blossoms anywhere in my neighborhood. Hopefully, next year they will have a better chance at blooming.
More Trees Questions
Viability of Juniperus ashei for making furniture
June 18, 2007 - My husband uses juniper from Oregon to make beautiful furniture. Underneath the ugly bark is a wonderful wood. Is this the same Juniper as we saw all around Austin, Texas.
view the full question and answer
Control of borers attacking Prunus serotina
August 30, 2006 - Where can I find information to control borers that seem to attack only Prunus serotina v. exemia?
view the full question and answer
Foundation plants unlikely to provide good shade for rattlesnakes in TX
August 28, 2011 - I would like to plant native grass around my new home in the country near Mason, TX. My concerns are the rattlesnakes that are common here, and if they could "hide" in the native grasses since they ...
view the full question and answer
Premature browning of bald cypress needles in summer
July 15, 2011 - I have several 10m high taxodium distichum trees in the lawn, with drip irrigation twice a week, and same soil content, and on just one of them, several leaves have started turning brown, it seems to ...
view the full question and answer
What caused purple heartwood in my Tuliptree?
June 15, 2009 - My Tulip tree was hit by lightning and all bark from the base of the tree up to 50 feet was blown off. The tree also sustained a significant crack through the trunk.
When the tree was cut down, we...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |