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

rate this answer

Wednesday - October 24, 2007
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Native trees as alternatives to Japanese Red Maple
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Where can I find some Japanese Red Maples to collect seed?ANSWER:
The focus and expertise of the Wildflower Center is with plants native to North America and, while Acer palmatum (Japanese red maple) is not considered invasive, it is native to Japan and other Asian countries and NOT North America. Doubtless you could find trees of this species for sale in various local nurseries, but Mr. Smarty Plants would like to urge you to consider a native alternative. Here are some possibilities:Acer grandidentatum (bigtooth maple)
Cotinus obovatus (American smoketree)
Rhus lanceolata (prairie sumac)
More Trees Questions
Watering practices for live oaks in drought from New Braunfels TX
September 04, 2011 - We have conflicting info about watering live oaks. An arborist says to water now using soaker hoses or small sprinklers and a landscaper who spoke to our garden club said that after August is too late...
view the full question and answer
Planting Live oak trees in Katy, TX.
November 03, 2012 - We are building a house in a neighborhood where the HOA requires two live oaks in the front yard. Our lot is pie shaped leaving a very small front yard once you take into acct the driveway and sidewal...
view the full question and answer
Plants under an oak tree from Corpus Christi TX
June 30, 2012 - My project: To grow white turk's cap under an old oak tree
I first planted St. Augustine sod this spring because we had many oak suckers around the tree. We mixed new soil and compost, and laid the ...
view the full question and answer
Problems with Texas Mountain Laurel in Dallas
May 04, 2010 - I have a Texas Mountain Laurel that is about 3 years old. When I bought it 2 summers ago, it was about a foot high. Now it is over 6 feet. It seems to have grown so fast that the branches can't ke...
view the full question and answer
Leaves dropping on native Texas Mountain Laurel in San Antonio
September 20, 2008 - Please help. We have a beautiful TX Mountain Laurel in our front yard. This year the leaves are dropping like snow in the north. What do you think is wrong with our tree?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |