Native Plants
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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| Spacing for a Desert Willow Tree in California July 07, 2016 How close to a house can I plant a desert willow tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When to Prune Desert Willow in Texas? March 18, 2016 I just learned I should have pruned back my desert willows. It's early March in North Texas. Is it too late to prune now? They are not leafing out yet. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Recommend a plant similar to Corkscrew Willow for Austin, TX. June 16, 2015 Do corkscrew willows do well in Austin, TX? If not, can you recommend a willow like tree to plant along the banks of a creek? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Desert Willow Leaves Fragrant? June 11, 2015 I have a pink Desert Willow and have noticed that the leaves are fragrant; no flowers are yet present. I cannot find any sites that agree with this finding? Is this unusual? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Low Water Use Plants for a Pond Island November 06, 2014 We have a medium sized pond/tank with a small island covered in black willows. The pond loses a lot of water and we were told it was partially due to the willows. We want to remove them and replace ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Texas Redbud Suddenly Died in NM November 06, 2014 We had a Texas redbud, approximately 5 1/2 years old. It had been doing great then all of a sudden after it bloomed this spring, the leaves appeared but then shriveled right away. We noticed the trunk... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Weeping Willow Problem in Texas September 04, 2014 Our weeping willow's leaves are turning yellow and falling off. We are also seeing some brown, gnarly looking pods on some of the stems can you tell us what's happening? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are leaf margins of Chilopsis linearis toothed from Austin December 22, 2013 Are the leaf margins of Chilopsis linearis, Desert Willow, smooth or toothed? The NPIN descrip says willow-like. Most willows have toothed leaf margins. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Failure to thrive of one Desert Willow in Phoenix AZ September 06, 2013 We planted 4 desert willow trees in the summer and 3 of the 4 are doing excellent, however the last one is not not doing so well, it was the smallest of all and it started out fine but its leaves bega... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ornamental grasses under desert willows from Dallas, TX September 06, 2013 I am planning on planting 3 desert willows in full sun, below the power lines at the back of my back yard in the White Rock Lake area of Dallas. I would like to plant some ornamental grasses in the be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Streambank Plants for SE Pennsylvania July 18, 2013 I help manage a nature preserve in southeastern Pennsylvania. Along the stream the banks have been beaten down by a large number of visitors for their educational activities such as stream studies. Th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Desert Willow and Orchid tree with no upper leaves from Kerrville TX May 30, 2013 I have two 5 year old Desert Willows planted in my yard. This year only one has leaved out and blooming. The other is bare but the branches are not dead and it has new growth at the bottom. Do you kno... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deadwood for Degus February 01, 2013 I have a very specific and hopefully easy question. I just brought home some degus (small adorable rodents) and they have a severely restricted list of woods they can chew on safely. The safe trees th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pollinating moth of Arkansas Yucca from Arlington TX May 15, 2012 What is the pollinating moth of the Arkansas yucca. I have Desert willows which is the larval host for white-winged moth, but the yuccas are still not seeding. What other larval hosts plants can I p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Do non-native globe willows have a taproot from Midland TX April 06, 2012 Do globe willows have a tap root? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees for home in Kansas April 01, 2012 I am needing help planting trees in my yard. It's a new construction home and I would like a tree that won't get into the septic system easily. Also, I have to plant 3 other trees as well due to the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| High water table in Glewood Springs CO March 03, 2012 We are considering the purchase of a home in Glenwood Springs, CO (elev. Approximately 5,000 ft) and find it strange that while neighboring properties in the subdivision have beautiful landscaping wit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need to Stabilize River Bank in Kentucky December 20, 2011 My home borders the Ohio River. I have lost a great deal of soil to the river. I am looking for plants with tight root systems that are water tolerant to protect my shoreline. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Swarming insects on non-native willow in Washington PA September 25, 2011 I have had a very large, beautiful pillow willow bush/tree growing next to our garage for about 8 years. Last year at the end of August, it began to attract white-faced hornets and yellow jackets by t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Leaves browning on non-native willow from in Cumbla PA July 10, 2011 We recently planted a willow tree. A lot of the leaves turned yellow and some turned brown, but it is also getting some new buds. my question is, should I take the dead leaves off or leave them there... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native trees for Medford MA April 07, 2011 Two quick questions. 1) what trees would grow happily along the banks of the Mystic River in Medford, MA? 2) Would it be o.k. to plant weeping willows? Are they indigenous to the area? I'm not a pur... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant to stabilize a stream bank in PA April 02, 2011 Native plants to stabilize steep stream bank in semi shade to full shade. Southeastern PA. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for erosion control along creek in South Carolina October 26, 2010 We have a creek that runs thru our property and it is eroding our rip rap. The creek runs head on into an embankment which is causing the worse issue. Is there anything we can plant to help stop the e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Magnolia and non-native weeping willow competing in Annapolis October 19, 2010 We planted a sweetbay magnolia next to a Weeping Willow in our yard and did not anticipate the willow would grow so quickly and into the magnolia. We have had the magnolia now for 3 years, and it is c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native hybrid willows dropping leaves in Downey CA July 22, 2010 I have 1 year old Hybrid Willows that are strong and 12 feet tall, with many branches. All of a sudden they are dropping their leaves in July. I got them for fast growing shade, now the branches are ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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