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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| Magnolia in West Virginia ? July 07, 2015 Hello, is the Dwarf sweet magnolia a native shrub to WV? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Rocky Stream Bank Plants for Dallas, TX July 02, 2015 Need live stake shrubbery or tree ideas for a rocky stream bank prone to high water. Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Protecting storm-damaged pecan and black walnut trees in TX June 29, 2015 Several trees on our property in northeast Texas were uprooted by a tornado. A pecan tree with a circumference greater than 93 inches was carried to the ground. Although it is completely horizontal,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dog-safe Privacy Screen for Ocala, FL June 25, 2015 Am desperately searching for fast growing privacy that would be non toxic to dogs in Ocala, Florida (zone 9 I think). Wanted Leland cypress but due to toxicity it won't work. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why are large numbers of leaves falling from my Live Oak trees in Driftwood, TX? June 24, 2015 Today is June 6, 2015 and I have noticed that for the last week and a half, only a few live oaks out of many, have been losing large numbers of green leaves and turning brown on the ground. I cannot ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can Crataegus viridian be grown in Houston, TX? June 21, 2015 I am looking to plant Crataegus viridis (species or cultivar "Winter King") at a location in full sun in Houston. Many places I've found online say that it is hearty through Zone 9, but others have... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native flowering aromatic trees for Frisco, Texas June 21, 2015 Dear Smartplants, I live in Frisco, Texas. Could you please suggest me good native flowering aromatic trees from 12 to 50 feet. Thank you so much View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Poolside plants for East Texas June 18, 2015 What are the best plants, shrubs, ornamental trees, etc. for poolside planting in East Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning non-native peach in Austin, TX. June 18, 2015 I planted two five gallon Texas Star peach trees last February but didn't have the nerve to prune them back to knee height. After having been convinced that this is a good thing to do, I'd like to k... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spacing of Trees near a House Foundation June 18, 2015 Can you recommend non-invasive shade tree that can be planted 6 to 7 feet from foundation. We are buying a new home in zone 8a and choices that are given are: Live Oak, Lacebark Elm, Cedar Elm, and B... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need fast growing shade tree in San Diego County, CA June 17, 2015 I am looking for a fast growing tree that provides great shade. The reason being, is I need shade for three horseshoe pits and the sooner i get shade, the better. I live in San Diego county, zone 9b. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Red oak leaves have a swelling along the veins June 17, 2015 I have red oaks in my back yard, approx 30 or more have a disease that are wilting the leaves. Looking at the back of the leaf there is swelling along the spines. I've gone to one nursery in town ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Brown spots on native oak trees June 16, 2015 Hi, My native live oak trees are declining. The leaves have small brown spots that increase in size until the leaf dies and falls off, then the branch and then the entire limb. I have not watered the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Driveway through a cluster of Oak trees June 16, 2015 Construction of a cement driveway through an 8 tree cluster of escarpment oaks is going to require removal of 2 trees in the center. How can this be done without causing damage to remaining trees? Als... 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 | ||
| Shade Trees for Flagstaff AZ June 14, 2015 I live in Flagstaff, AZ and in need of good shade trees all around the house. We live in the Doney Park area (east of Flagstaff) and it is very windy in the spring time. We need the trees for priva... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Desert Willow size question from Austin, TX June 12, 2015 Dear MSP, I have a desert willow named Edith. We got her from the CoA a couple of years ago for recycling our Chirstmas tree. She's doing well except her three little trunks are teeny-tiny. We wan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Central branches on Texas Ash have died June 09, 2015 I have a Texas Ash tree that was planted about 4 years ago. It seemed fine last summer and was well watered. This spring, when it started leafing out, the central branches at the upper part of the tre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning Live Oak trees to limit height. June 08, 2015 I notice many of my neighbors here in Katy (Fort Bend county) would have landscapers cut the lower limbs/branches of the live oak trees in their front yards, and the trees naturally keep getting talle... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need help for my Texas Persimmon in Leander, TX. June 03, 2015 Help!! My Texas Persimmon is distressed with either bugs or infection. I'm not sure what to do. I wanted to insert a picture here, but wasn't able to. If there's a way for me to submit a picture... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Looking for plants for phytoremediation in Columbus, TX May 27, 2015 Hello! I am looking for native Texan phytodegrading/rhizodegrading plants (basically I want phytoremediating plants that could be left in place and not have to be removed/disposed of after they had ta... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Falling Balls from an Oak in Kingsland TX May 25, 2015 I have a large Live Oak in the back yard, with St. Augustine grass under it. It is April 3, 2015. The leaves have fallen and now little tiny round balls are falling. I am hearing a popping noise und... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Male and female Ilex decidua ( Possumhaw) trees May 18, 2015 I was excited to finally find and purchase a male and female possum haw pair via Amazon. (Berry Poppins variety). They were marked male-female and are thriving. But the male has little flowers and the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ostrya virginiana Compatible with Juglone May 17, 2015 Is Ostrya virginiana sensitive to juglone? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of white flowering bush with lovely scent May 17, 2015 Please identify the sweet smelling white flowering bush/tree blooming now,May, in western Massachusetts. The flowers are tiny 4(?) petals in small clusters. The scent is wonderful. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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