Explore Plants

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
    
 

Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Thursday - September 09, 2010

From: Leesburg, GA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Trees
Title: Looking for a tree to plant as a memorial in Leesburg, GA.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

I'm looking for tree to plant as memorial to my brother who died. It must be native, for South Georgia, zone 8, open fields. It should provide mast for wildlife. Heat zone 8, good drought-tolerance. He loved to hunt and enjoyed watching birds and mammals. A Chinkapin oak, Quercus muehlenbergii was suggested. Is rated a zone 7. Will this work in my area? Thanks.

ANSWER:

Planting a tree is always a good thing, and doing it as a memorial is even better.

The Chinkapin Oak Quercus muehlenbergii (Chinkapin oak) is a good possibility. It is a handsome tree (at maturity) and can reach up to 60 ft. tall. It produces acorns for wildlife, and has pretty fall foliage, and can grow in USDA Hardiness zones 5-8. Clicking on the link above will pull up its NPIN page that has a description of the plant and tells about its growth characteristics and requirements. These links from Discover Life  and Floridata have expanded descriptions of the Chinkapin oak.

So you won't think that the Chinkapin oak is the only tree that grows in Georgia, let me show you how to use our Native Plants Database to explore some other options for trees. After clicking on the Database link, scroll down to the Combination Search box and make the following selections: select Georgia under State, ; select Trees under Habit, and select Perennial under Duration. Check Sun under Light requirement, and Dry under Soil Moisture. Click the Submit Combination Search button and you will get a list of 48 plants that meet these criteria.Clicking on the name of each plant will bring up its NPIN page with information and photos.

Once you have made some choices, our National Supplier Directory  can help you locate businesses that sell native plants in Georgia.

 

 

 
 

More Trees Questions

Being over run by sugar hackberry saplings in Austin, TX.
October 06, 2010 - I have recently bought a house that has a woefully neglected yard. The sugar hackberry had saplings everywhere, and I paid to have them removed, but to no avail. My real concern is the saplings growin...
view the full question and answer

Non-native peanutbutter tree suckering in Oregon City OR
August 02, 2011 - I have a beautiful 'peanutbutter tree' in my yard. I have noted that there are plantlets coming up that appear to be attached to the main root(s) of the tree. I have been breaking them off as I don...
view the full question and answer

Offer to send Bumelia to Kansas from Central Texas.
April 02, 2010 - If you send my email to the person who wanted the Bumelia lanuginosa (synonym: Sideroxylon langinosum), I will dig some for him/her.
view the full question and answer

Problem with leaves of Texas Ash in Austin
May 21, 2012 - We purchased a 3' to 4' Texas Ash in March 2012. The past few days I noticed new leaves at the top are curled under, have a milky substance on them, and more than a few ladybugs on them. What is thi...
view the full question and answer

Trees for privacy and filtering dust in NY
March 23, 2011 - I live on a very busy, DUSTY, dirt road in Putnam County NY. (zip code 10524) What is the best, fast growing evergreen that I can use for dust control and privacy? I would prefer something that requi...
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants's Facebook profile Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.

Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends.