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
1 rating

Tuesday - August 18, 2015

From: Round Rock, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification, Trees
Title: Tree with light-colored bark, thorns and long white clumps of flowers
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I bought a tree at the LBJWC plant sale a couple years ago but lost the name of the tree. I'm finally ready to plant it in the ground and would like to learn more about what its needs are. Can you suggest some trees it might be? Its got very light colored, almost white bark, with thorns. Smallish compound leaves. It has long clumps of cream-ish white flowers. The flowers are similar to acacia flowers but are long rather than a little ball. Thanks for your help!

ANSWER:

On our webpage under Events in the menu bar you will find Plant Sales.  If you scroll to near the bottom of the Plant Sales page, you will find plant lists.  These are the preliminary list for the Fall 2015 Sale. This list doesn't necessarily have the same plants as the sale where you bought your tree.  However, it's a good place to start to look for your tree.  On the Plant List you can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH options to limit the list to the trees available for sale by choosing "Tree" from the GENERAL APPEARANCE option.

I found one tree with thorns listed that matches your description of the leaves and flowers. 

Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey locust)

There are three other trees that match your description that aren't on the Fall 2015 Sale list that could have possibly been offerings at a previous sale.

Prosopis glandulosa (Honey mesquite)

Ebenopsis ebano (Texas ebony)  Here are more photos from the USDA Plants Database and Commons.Wikipedia.

Acacia rigidula (Blackbrush acacia)

 

From the Image Gallery


Honey locust
Gleditsia triacanthos

Honey locust
Gleditsia triacanthos

Honey locust
Gleditsia triacanthos

Honey mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa

Honey mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa

Honey mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa

Texas ebony
Ebenopsis ebano

Texas ebony
Ebenopsis ebano

Blackbrush acacia
Vachellia rigidula

Blackbrush acacia
Vachellia rigidula

Blackbrush acacia
Vachellia rigidula

Blackbrush acacia
Vachellia rigidula

More Trees Questions

Identification of a tree at David Crockett Cabin Museum in Tennessee
October 22, 2012 - I was in Lawrenceburg TN and stopped by the David Crockett Cabin Museum. There was a tree and it dropped lemon sized balls on the ground. What kind of tree is it?
view the full question and answer

Problems with Shumard Oaks and Crepe Myrtle in Cooke Co. TX
September 07, 2013 - I have a Shumard Oak Tree that has been in the ground approx. ten years. It has done great, even passing up some of my older Shumards. In August it began to lose its leaves at an alarming rate. They a...
view the full question and answer

Fast-growing shade tree for Corona CA
September 17, 2014 - Hi, I'm looking for a fast growing shade tree. I live in Corona CA so it will need to do well in a lot of sun, moderate winds and clay soil. Thanks so much for your suggestions.
view the full question and answer

Screen of Thuja Occidentalis on fire-damaged property in Bastrop TX
May 04, 2013 - I want to plant a screen of Thuja Occidentalis on the east side of our driveway. It is in the burn area of Bastrop, TX. None of our trees survived. Will Thuja Occidentalis grow here? I saw some specim...
view the full question and answer

When to transplant volunteer Cedar Elms in Cedar Park, TX?
October 11, 2012 - We have a number of volunteer cedar elms we would like to transplant. When is the best time to do this? Should they be potted first and later transplanted or transplanted immediately? Thanks.
view the full question and answer

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