Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Friday - March 20, 2015

From: Denver, CO
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Plant Identification, Seeds and Seeding, Trees
Title: Inquiry about the Arizona Cypress trees in the Family Garden
Answered by: Nan Hampton & Andrea DeLong-Amaya

QUESTION:

Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I recently visited The Wildflower Center and enjoyed seeing several features that were new since my last visit two years ago. In the Family Garden areas I saw several beautiful Arizona Cypress trees. I thought they had very pleasing form and wonder what their point of local origin is. Can you tell me where they or their source seeds were collected. Or if they have a cultivar name? Might seedlings be offered at the Spring Plant Sale? Thank you, Greg in Denver

ANSWER:

The Hesperocyparis arizonica (Arizona cypress) in our Family Garden area are a cultivar called 'Blue Ice' and were purchased through Mountain States Wholesale Nursery. I doubt we'll have seedlings for sale at our plant sale but they can be found at retail nurseries, but you might need to order them.

We hope you will come to our Spring Plant Sale, anyway.   Here are the dates for 2015:

  • Friday, April 10 from 9am to 5pm  (Wildflower Center Members only)
  • Saturday, April 11 from 9am to 5pm.
  • Sunday, April 12 from noon to 5pm.
 

From the Image Gallery


Arizona cypress
Hesperocyparis arizonica

More Seeds and Seeding Questions

Flowering plant for gravesite in Weatherford TX
June 23, 2013 - I want to plant flowering plant of some kind at parent's grave site in Weatherford, TX. The family cemetery is on a limestone hill with no irrigation or ability to water other than nature. Would on...
view the full question and answer

How do you determine male persimmon seedlings from the females?
May 11, 2013 - I have got new persimmon seedlings about 3 inches tall this spring, and am wondering if there is any way to tell male from female at this young stage? I just don't want to plant 20 or 40 seedlings an...
view the full question and answer

Black-eyed Susans in potting soil on ground
November 12, 2010 - I would like to know if black eyed susans can be planted in just potting soil instead of mixing it in with dirt from the ground? I don't want to leave it in the pots. I want to plant it, but the grou...
view the full question and answer

Planting Muhlenbergia capillaris (Gulf muhly)
October 27, 2011 - Is it too late to plant Gulf Muhly seed in North Texas (October)?
view the full question and answer

Seeds native to New Jersey from Glendora NJ
April 16, 2012 - My sister is getting married and would like to send out native wildflower seeds to the guests in her save the dates. We want these seeds to be NJ native seeds, but we are actually having some trouble ...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.