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
Tuesday - September 30, 2008
From: Spicewood, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Trophy tree for Spicewood, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I want to plant a trophy Mesquite at the bottom of the hill, in Spicewood. I'm told that it may not flourish, because of the soil in my area. If that is the case, what would be a striking tree as an alternative. I also looked up "Pride of Houston Holly" but could not find it. ThanksANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants wonders what kind of soil you have that Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) wouldn't grow in?? According to the US Forest Service, mesquite grows in many different climates, habitats and soils—1) coastal prairies of southeastern Texas; 2) Rio Grande Plains of southwestern Texas; 3) western Texas and New Mexico; 4) Edwards Plateau of central Texas; 5) High Plains of northwestern Texas and the Oklahoma Panhandle; and 6) East-central Texas. The soil types mentioned are loamy sand, sandy loam, calcareous silt loam, noncalcareous silt loam, gravelly sand loam, deep sandy loam, and calcareous clay. According to the Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Texas (B. L. Turner et al. 2003. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT), mesquite does occur in several counties adjacent to Burnet County.Mr. SP is happy to try to find you another tree, however. "Pride of Houston Holly" is a cultivar of the native Ilex vomitoria (yaupon). It is an evergreen, medium-sized tree and apparently this cultivar consists of only female trees and, thus, all will bear fruit.
Here are some more possibilities that grow to similar size and are found in Burnet County or an adjacent county:
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel) evergreen
Styphnolobium affine (Eve's necklacepod)
Chilopsis linearis (desert willow)
Leucaena retusa (littleleaf leadtree)
Frangula caroliniana (Carolina buckthorn)
Parkinsonia aculeata (Jerusalem thorn) evergreen
Prunus mexicana (Mexican plum)
Ungnadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye)
Cercis canadensis var. texensis (Texas redbud)
More Trees Questions
Is Texas Mountain Laurel Honey Toxic in Fulshear, TX?
March 11, 2012 - Toxicity of Texas Mountain Laurel HONEY
I know the seeds and leaves of the Tx Mountain Laurel are toxic. But, is honey that comes from the Mountain Laurel toxic too? I heard that it is, but can'...
view the full question and answer
Destructive landscape crews in The Woodlands TX
October 20, 2012 - Hi. We need help. We recently moved to a house where landscape crews have been blowing away the leaf litter from the front yard for many years. The underbrush was also cleared long ago. The result...
view the full question and answer
Caring for Texas Buckeye in Buda TX
February 07, 2011 - I have a Texas Buckeye that is planted in a moderate amount of shade. It is growing very slowly, and only holds on to it's leaves from late March to August. It has been in the ground for about 4-5 ye...
view the full question and answer
Selecting a tree for a backyard in San Antonio, TX
May 11, 2013 - Hello Mr. Smarty Plants,
I recently moved into a home in West San Antonio right outside Loop 1604..my treeless backyard is fairly small at about 55 ft long and 15 ft wide. I am torn because I can't ...
view the full question and answer
Junipers for restoring area in Bulverde TX
November 03, 2012 - Are ashe or virginiana junipers for sale around the hill country? I would like to recreate the natural plant life that was bulldozed next to my home. Do you recommend any other types of juniper that ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |