Explore Plants
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.
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
Monday - August 13, 2012
From: Memphis, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Drought Tolerant, Trees
Title: Tree to replace Betula nigra (River birch) in Memphis
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
HI Mr. Smarty Pants, I think I need to replace the river birch tree in my west-facing front yard in Memphis, TN. I have sun all day, but it gets really hot in the afternoon. The soil in my yard is generally dry and I think mine may be alkaline as the tree leaves are yellow-tinged and shed all year. It also loses small branches whenever there is moderate wind. Due to our summer droughts, I am afraid the roots have begun to invade the plumbing pipes that run under the front yard from the street. Can you recommend a better type tree to replace it with based on the soil type, hot temperatures and summer droughts? There are no overhead power lines to worry about and I also want one that is non-toxic to pets. Thanks, AnneANSWER:
Betula nigra (River birch) doesn't sound like the best tree for your dry, sunny yard. From the information on the species page, I suspect it is the dry conditions that have caused the leaves to turn yellow and fall off. You should contact your University of Tennessee Extension – Shelby County to learn how to get your soil pH tested to help you determine what tree will grow best there. You can choose a tree yourself by going to our Tennessee Recommended page and using the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to choose "Tree" from General Appearance, "Sun" from Light Requirement and "Dry - no signs of moisture" from Soil Moisture. From this list, here are suggestions that are all native to Shelby County:
Quercus muehlenbergii (Chinkapin oak) requires alkaline soil (pH greater than 7.2)
Quercus rubra (Northern red oak) requires acidic soil (pH less than 6.8)
Quercus alba (White oak) will grow in acidic soil (pH less than 6.8) and in circumneutral soil (pH 6.9 to 7.2)
Carya glabra (Pignut hickory) grows in circumneutral soil (pH 6.9 to 7.2)
The acorns of the oaks can cause gastro-intestinal distress if eaten. Poisonous Plants of North Carolina site says: "CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN." The University of Pennsylvania Poisonous Plants says that Quercus species can cause oak poisoning in cattle, sheep and horses. Quercus species are listed as toxic for cattle on the Canadian Poisoous Plants Information System and Cornell University: Plants Poisonous to Livestock. None of the oak species are listed on the ASPCA list for dogs. Carya glabra is not listed as toxic on any of the toxic plants databases listed below. It is, in fact, listed as "non-toxic" on the ASPCA list for dogs.
Here are toxic plant databases you can search:
ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List – Dogs
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
University of Pennsylvania Poisonous Plants
Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System
From the Image Gallery
More Drought Tolerant Questions
Eight Foot Screen for Austin, TX
September 01, 2011 - I'm looking for a fast-growing shrub to "extend" the height of my fence and provide privacy in my yard in Austin. My lot is pretty much full sun and very dry, mostly clay soil. 8' is my goal. Than...
view the full question and answer
Survival of native lawn in Hockley TX
August 02, 2011 - I'm on the edge of the Katy Prairie and a very large ranch with full blasting sun and completely open exposure. The soil is fill from the developers with more clay than sand, a minimum of nutrients,...
view the full question and answer
Drought tolerant plants native to Plano, TX
July 13, 2006 - I live in Plano Texas. We have drought conditions and I would like to redo our landscape with flowers that can handle Texas weather annually. My desire is:
1. Year round blooms
2. The ability ...
view the full question and answer
Groundcover for Sunny Slope in CT
May 11, 2013 - I need a plant to use as groundcover and for erosion control on a sunny slope in southwestern Connecticut. Any suggestions other than juniper?
view the full question and answer
Native plants for a school garden in Austin
May 14, 2009 - We are starting a native garden at our school in Central Austin, what native plants and flowers would be best to plant? The area we are planting faces east. We also need drought tolerant plants becau...
view the full question and answer
 |
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. |
