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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Wednesday - July 02, 2014

From: Dripping Springs, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Trees
Title: Apache Pine for Dripping Springs, TX.
Answered by: Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

Is the Apache Pine tree a good choice for planting in alkaline soil with excellent drainage?

ANSWER:

Pinus engelmannii (Apache Pine) is largely a Mexican species with very small, outlying populations found in Arizona and New Mexico.  The New Mexico population is the closest to you, but still several hundred miles away and in habitat quite different than you have in Dripping Springs, Texas.  We do not recommend growing plants outside their native ranges in general, but do not believe that Apache Pine in particular would be well-adapted to life in central Texas.

 

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