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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - September 14, 2015
From: Fort Worth, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Transplants, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Will a Texas Mountain Laurel thrive in a 4'x4'x4' brick planter. pl
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
Would a Texas Mountain Laurel thrive in a 4'x4'x4'x4' brick planter with a drain at the bottom? It will get full sun all day. If not, would a Green Cloud Sage or a Waxleaf Myrtle work? Thanks!ANSWER:
Lets start by looking at these plants in our Native Plant Database
Mountain Laurel Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain laurel)
Green Cloud Sage Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo)
Waxleaf myrtle Morella cerifera (Wax myrtle)
To summarize: all three require full sun, and well drained soil. Mountain Laurel and Green Cloud Sage prefer alkaline soil where as Wax Myrtle prefers slightly acidic soil. Since you are planting them in a planter, you can control this. The planter that you describe sounds fairly large, so I’m assuming you are purchasing a fairly large plant to put in it. Consulting our suppliers directory can get you in touch with suppliers of native plants in your area. Of the three plants, only theTexas Mountain laurel is native in Tarrant County, but since you are planning to grow them in a planter, you can probably make it work.
The Mountain Laurel has a reputation for being hard to transplant, but there seems to be little problem with the other two. I’m providing you with some links that will help you through the process.
Texas Mountain Laurel
aggiehorticulture
wintergardenursery
home guides
Green Cloud Sage
Wax myrtle
Just a word about geometry; most geometric objects are described by three dimensions, ie length, height, and width . In the case of your planter, that would be 4’x4’x4’.
From the Image Gallery
More Transplants Questions
Tecoma stans problems in Santa Monica CA
September 20, 2010 - I just purchased a mature 6ft tall potted Tecoma Stance Vine (Honeysuckle), It is placed in an area where it gets at least 3 to 4 hours morning/early afternoon sun and then a shaded sun for the rest o...
view the full question and answer
Plant for part sun in Nampa Idaho
May 20, 2010 - What could I plant in arid SW Idaho on the northwest side of my house along a border against the house? Most of the day this area is in shade, but at the hottest time of the day it gets a couple of h...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on daylilies
July 29, 2003 - I have a number of Daylilies that are rapidly multiplying in my flower bed. If I relocate some of them to the field behind my house, will they crowd out the native wildflowers?
view the full question and answer
Failure to thrive of non-native Purple Orchid Tree
March 09, 2009 - We planted purple orchid tree Texas,zone 9 two weeks ago and all leaves turned brown.My husband used root stimulator with enough water as the instructions said.We took all brown leaves off and now it...
view the full question and answer
Yellowing leaves on non-native podocarpus Cupertino CA
May 22, 2011 - I recently planted a podacarpus granular and over half the leaves are turning yellow some are dead. What could be the problem?
Is there something I can feed it? What should I do? I planted four & the...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |