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

Thursday - January 15, 2009

From: Galveston, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Compost and Mulch, Planting, Trees
Title: Probably non-native crapemyrtle trees damaged by hurricane
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I have 5 crape myrtle trees. I live in Galveston, Tx and when Hurricane Ike came through in September the salt water I think killed them. They have not come back since then and are brown with no leaves or new shoots coming out. What can I do to save them or are they gone?

ANSWER:

Let's see, Hurricane Ike struck on September 12, so it has now been 4 months since the damage. Without actually seeing the trees, there is no way of knowing if they are really dead, or have just gone dormant, as they do anyway in the Winter. However, since Galveston is in Zone 9, the crapemyrtles may very well remain green year-round, so if your trees have shown no signs of life, it can probably not be blamed on dormancy. Among the characteristics of the crapemyrtle are that it does not thrive in a very wet location, which your trees are no doubt in now, or have been. Also, they are only moderately salt tolerant, so being drenched by that sea water was surely detrimental. Finally, the bark is very thin and easily damaged by mechanical collision, as with a lawnmower, etc. The collision with hurricane winds and sea water probably stripped the bark from the trees, which would almost certainly kill them. If you are willing to wait and see if they try to put out some new growth in the Spring, you could certainly do that, but if they don't, you will have wasted a year in planting replacements, which should be done in cool weather in the South.

Malpighia glabra (wild crapemyrtle) is the only crapemyrtle native to North America, blooming pink from March to December. It occurs in thickets, brushlands and palm groves in South Texas, so it's possible you had natives, but more likely they were commercial nursery stock. Most of the species of crapemyrtle commercially available are native to Asia. The common crapemyrtle, Lagerstroeemia indica, originating in China and Korea, was introduced into the United States in 1747 and has been planted all over the South. In the 1950's the Japanese crapemyrtle, Lagerstroemia faurei, was brought to the U.S. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center recommends the use of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which they are being grown. Native plants will have more resistance to pests and diseases, and be adapted to the climate (although probably not hurricanes!) and water available. 

If you decide to go ahead and dig up the dead trees now, we will suggest some replacements that are native to South Texas. Hopefully, there will not be such a disastrous storm again in our lifetimes, and new trees can grow and flourish. Replacements should be planted before the end of February, to take advantage of semi-dormancy, and help avoid transplant shock. We would suggest that you get as much of the old crapemyrtle roots out as possible, and then amend the soil where the new trees will go with compost or other organic material. This will aid in drainage, which is probably always important on Galveston Island, and help make soil nutrients available to the roots of the new plant. We found these suggested trees by going to our Recommended Species section, clicking on South Texas on the map, and then used the NARROW YOUR SEARCH function, checking "Trees" under Habit. If you wish to look for other possibilities, you can use this site, adding in the amount of sunlight the area gets and the soil moisture. When you have made all your choices, click on the Narrow Your Search box for names of trees suitable to your specifications. You can then follow the link to the scientific name and learn when and for how long the tree blooms, etc.

Cordia boissieri (anacahuita)

Cornus drummondii (roughleaf dogwood)

Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak)

Sabal mexicana (Rio Grande palmetto)


Cordia boissieri

Cornus drummondii

Quercus macrocarpa

Sabal mexicana

 

 

 

 

 

More Compost and Mulch Questions

Soil for native Chilopsis linearis and Salvia greggii
February 08, 2010 - I want to plant a desert willow and a salvia greggii in my small lot. The developer used sandy loam to fill in the small garden in the front. I am 73 and a bit impaired. Do I really need to remove ...
view the full question and answer

Problem With Vegetable Garden Soil
June 09, 2013 - We live in Liberty Hill on 25 acres and we are working to restore native grasses and plants. We are ardent supporters of the Wildflower center. I say this because my question is not "typical" of wh...
view the full question and answer

Native plants for Pflugerville, TX in blackland soil
March 21, 2008 - Mr. S-P, I'm perusing the plant sale list for a couple of tall shrubs to plant on the sunny southwest side of my house, in Blackland soil. It is generally dry there because of the sun, but can ge...
view the full question and answer

Severely cutback sloping soil in Dripping Springs TX
May 09, 2010 - We have 5.5 acres off Henly Loop just north of Hwy 290 about 10 miles west of Dripping Springs, TX. The former property owners carved out soil from a sloping area to get soil for the driveway. Doing ...
view the full question and answer

Stubs of Texas Star Hibiscus in Abilene, TX
March 26, 2009 - We have cut back our outdoor Texas Star Hibiscus for 4 years and now have a large number of old stubs that the new growth must navigate around. Will it kill the plant if we dig up the old stubs? At so...
view the full question and answer

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