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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| Viability of Desert Willow in clay soil in Fredericksburg, TX November 25, 2005 I have recently purchased a house in a new subdivision in Fredericksburg, TX. The lot was not landscaped. I have a small lot (85 X 135), my back yard is about 50 X 85. The soil is a heavy clay. I am c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Questioning native status of Alberta Spruce in New Jersey November 11, 2005 I am in the process of transforming my yard to native plants. Several years ago I planted a Dwarf Alberta Spruce. I want to be sure this isn't native before I remove it but haven't been able to fi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Late leafing and early leaf-drop of Ohio buckeye tree October 28, 2005 We recently bought a house which has an ohio buckeye tree in the back yard. It stands about 40 feet from a large creek in Troy, Ohio. The tree is about 30 feet tall. A strip of the bark is missing.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of saving hurricane-damaged Umbrella Magnolia October 12, 2005 Our beautiful umbrella magnolia Magnoliaceae Magnolia tripetala was toppled during Hurricane Katrina. We have lifted it back in place, however it looks very distressed. I have the following questions:... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscaping with native plants in Austin October 06, 2005 I'm expanding a flower bed in front of my house and would like to keep it all natives. 1) How do I find out what type of soil I should add? (I live near Hyde Park, Austin and haven't had a soil te... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Viability of Texas madrone tree in Weatherford, TX September 27, 2005 I live in Weatherford, Texas (Parker County). Will a Madrone tree make it ok here and who sells them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting Colorado blue spruce in Indiana August 16, 2005 I live in Indiana. I have a Colorado blue spruce that I would like to transplant to a different part of my yard. What is the best time of year to transplant it? It is only about two foot tall. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on dogwoods August 05, 2005 I am interested in the worldwide distribution of the dogwood family/cornus. Specifically, I am interested in whether or not there are indiginous species on the Indian Subcontinent. Is there a resour... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast growing native trees for Manor,TX August 04, 2005 A friend wants to plant fast-growing trees to disguise a road on ranchland east of Manor, Texas. Any ideas? Many thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Diospyros virginiana July 29, 2005 Diospyros virginiana (common persimmon) is, from what I understand, a host plant for the stunning Luna Moth caterpillar which supposedly can occur this far west. Your database entry for Diospyros do... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on Texas Madrone July 24, 2005 Hello, where can one acquire the Texas Madrone for planting? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Delay in fruiting of Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana) July 20, 2005 Dear experts, My wife and i are members of your fine organization. Several years ago we bought four things at a spring plant sale for an understory spot in our yard. The Possumhaw Holly, American ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on women trying to conceive July 10, 2005 RE: Eucalyptus. Is this bad for women trying to conceive? The smell is very powerful. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Ebenopsis July 01, 2005 Why is the Texas Ebony, genus Pithecolobium, not in your database? Is it not a native? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Willows native to Wisconsin July 01, 2005 I have a small garden center in the far northern reaches of Wisconsin....and I specialize in native varieties for up here. I also help folks with lake shore restoration and preservation. There was... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Black walnut herbivory June 13, 2005 We moved to Texas just about a year ago and have loved it here. This past January we visited the Wildflower Center and obtained some black walnut seeds. Up until last night the tree was doing well p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native maples for the Austin, TX area May 21, 2005 I am new to the state of Texas. I lived in Canada all of my life and miss my maple trees. Are maple trees (green or red leafed varieties) able to thrive in Austin? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Huisache blooms when freeze is over May 02, 2005 I live in San Antonio, TX and have heard that when the Huisache blooms all danger of frost or freeze is over. Is that true? And, this year to date (April 22, 2005) we have not seen the Huisache bloo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas native mulberry tree May 01, 2005 My family recently moved to Kyle, TX (north of San Marcos, south of Austin). I am delighted to discover a dewberry tree in our yard. I have never heard of such a thing. Is this a common species?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Galls on live oak trees in Austin, TX April 14, 2005 I am a resident of a condominium complex in Austin that has numerous Live Oak trees. Can you explain what the gall type things are hanging from the trees at this time of year and all over the grounds?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on southern magnolia April 11, 2005 I live in East Texas and there are two 50-year-old southern magnolia trees in front of my house on the highway right-of-way marked to be destroyed. The Texas Department of Transportation has allowed t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on arborvitaes March 28, 2005 Hello, I live in Allentown, PA and have a 7-foot arborvitae shrub in my backyard, planted in the corner of the yard where a wood fence intersects with the brick wall of the garage. I have had ma... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting crabapple tree from root sprouts March 24, 2005 I have a Crabapple tree that is sending up sapling shoots. Can these be dug up and planted? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Potential danger of oak wilt in live oaks in Dallas, TX February 17, 2005 Do you have or know of any recent publications that discuss a potential oak wilt problem in live oaks in the Dallas area? We strongly believe that live oaks have a great landscape value and are tryi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning a Wafer Ash to make it upright February 11, 2005 How do I trim a Wafer Ash? It lays on the ground. Is that normal? Does it need to be upright? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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