Native Plants
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Tuesday - November 18, 2008
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Native trees with beautiful fall foliage
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, This fall I have been seeing a tree with beautiful red leaves all over Austin and someone told me that these are Chinese tallow trees. Can you tell me where I might buy one of these trees? Thank you.ANSWER:
Triadica sebifera (syn. Sapium sebiferum), Chinese tallow, a native of China and Japan, does produce beautiful fall foliage; but, unfortunately, it is considered very invasive, and is listed right up there with the worst invasives such as hydrilla, kudzu, and tamarisk by Texas and other government entities. You can read an article, Chinese Tallow Tree Invades Texas Prairies, to learn about current research on the reason for its invasiveness and research on how to control it. So, obviously, we would not recommend purchasing and/or planting this tree.If you would like to have a tree with beautiful red fall foliage, Mr. Smarty Plants can recommend several native trees (of various sizes) that will fill the bill spectacularly:
Acer grandidentatum (bigtooth maple)
Rhus lanceolata (prairie sumac)
Cotinus obovatus (American smoketree)
Quercus buckleyi (Buckley oak)
Quercus shumardii (Shumard's oak)
Viburnum rufidulum (rusty blackhaw)
More Seed and Plant Sources Questions
Looking for native plant nurseries
November 29, 2008 - I am in 75862 zip code which is a long way from everywhere. I am trying to find native plant nurseries within 100 miles. Many sites just talk about native plants, and have photos, but very little info...
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Sources of seeds for Quercus buckleyi
August 02, 2007 - I'm looking for a source for Liners or seed of "Texas oak (Quercus buckleyi)". Can you tell me any sources?
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Trying to find a supplier for east Texas wetland plants
December 11, 2008 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I'm trying to find suppliers for native, East Texas wetland plants (edge and submerged) and can't seem to find any. Can you help?
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List of native plants for landscaping in Nashville, TN
March 18, 2003 - Can you provide a list of plants that I can landscape with in Nashville, Tennessee?
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Purchase source for non-native Aerva Lanata plant
September 18, 2008 - I am looking for a place where I could buy the Aerva Lanata Plant, would you happen to know?
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