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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - June 07, 2008
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Locating non-native Bradford pear tree in Austin
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Where can I find a Bradford pear tree in Austin, TX?ANSWER:
Because at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center we are dedicated to the care and propagation of plants native to North America, we do not have the Bradford Pear, native to Korea and China, in our Native Plant Database. And, probably, our native plant suppliers do not stock it either. If you haven't already planted this tree, perhaps you would consider another choice? Please read this article from Dave's Garden: Bradford Pear Tree (To plant or not to plant?). We trumpet the virtues of native plants because they are already adapted to the conditions in the area where they are growing, thus needing less fertilizer, maintenance and water.
May we try converting you to native plants? Read our How-To Article on Using Native Plants for some of the reasons why it is so important to the environment. Next see our Just for Texas Collection of plants in Hill Country Horticulture. In that list, you can Narrow Your Search by selecting Texas, habit (tree, shrub, etc), duration (annual, perennial), light requirement (how many hours of sun you have a day in your garden) and soil moisture. We have chosen seven small trees, six of which flower beautifully, that we think you would enjoy in place of the non-native Bradford Pear. If you see some natives you like, go to our Suppliers section, enter your city and state in the Enter Search Location box, and you will get lists of nurseries, seed suppliers and landscape experts in your general area. Many have websites or phone numbers so you can check for availability. Here are some trees we like for the Austin area.
Cercis canadensis var. mexicana (Mexican redbud)
Chilopsis linearis (desert willow)
Prunus mexicana (Mexican plum)
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel)
Taxodium distichum (bald cypress)
Ungnadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye)
Eysenhardtia texana (Texas kidneywood)
More Non-Natives Questions
Problems with new transplant non-native weeping willow from Washington DC
September 10, 2012 - I replanted a very young BABY weeping willow tree and now it looks as if the leaves are drying up like it is dying. I know that it could also be in shock from the new transplant or it can be dying
...
view the full question and answer
Identification of a tree in Florida with bell-shaped red flowers
November 23, 2012 - A friend in Florida has asked about identification of a tree with a flower none of us have ever seen. It starts with a green pod, then flowers into, what looks to me like a Chinese lantern, or bell. I...
view the full question and answer
Gift plant for a new arrival in Texas.
December 09, 2009 - To Whom it May Concern, I am writing to you from Sydney, Australia. My sister is moving to Texas and I wanted to give her a native plant as a present. Is there anyway I could arrange that with you, or...
view the full question and answer
Can the non-native ylang ylang tree grow outdoors in Arizona
July 14, 2015 - Can the ylang ylang tree grow outdoors in Casa Grande, Arizona?
view the full question and answer
Failure to thrive of non-native Buddleja davidii
June 30, 2008 - I love butterfly bushes - but have bad luck growing them. I now have several, including Butterfly Nanho Purple; and they constantly wilt. It has been a dry hot Austin summer, but should I water when...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |