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.

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Sunday - June 14, 2009

From: Lawton, OK
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Planting distance for non-native crepe myrtles in Lawton OK
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

We just bought Tonto Crepe Myrtle trees. I was just curious how far away from the house we should plant them.

ANSWER:

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to the care and propagation of plants native only to North America and to the area in which they are being grown. Lagerstroemia indica (crepe myrtle) is a native of temperate and tropical Asia and therefore falls out of our range of expertise. The "Tonto" is a trade name assigned to some cultivar of the crepe myrtle. This Floridata website Lagerstroemia indica can provide you with some information, in addition to this one from the USDA Forest Service.