Native Plants

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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Monday - March 09, 2015

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Soils, Shrubs
Title: Twenty year old Texas Mountain Laurel isn't blooming.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

I have 20-year-old Texas Mountain Laurel in a fairly poor, clay-type soil. It hasn't bloomed very well the last couple years. Can you recommend a fertilizer to improve the blooms?

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants has three questions for you to consider. Did the plant flower well in the past? What conditions is the plant growing in? How have the conditions in your landscape changed in the last two years? new sprinkler system? new pets? heavy lawn fertilization?

I’m going to include links to three answers to previous questions concerning the non blooming of Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain laurel) Note the growing conditions on the NPIN page to see how they compare to your growing environmment
SP #3064

SP #2060