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
Tuesday - August 04, 2009
From: Luling, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Propagation of Mexican olive in Luling, TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Mr. Smarty Plants: we live in Luling, just south of Austin and have a 4 year old Mexican Olive tree; question: how do we propagate this 'hard to find' tree? Thank you so much.ANSWER:
Cordia boissieri (anacahuita), according to our Native Plant Database is propagated by seeds. From this USDA Plant Profile on this plant, it is native to far South Texas, but apparently there are reports of some being grown in Central Texas, around Travis County. According to this USDA Forest Service website, Cordia boisseri, it is rarely found and may be close to extinction.
It apparently can not only be propagated by seeds sown just after a frost and air layering, but also by herbaceous or softwood cuttings. Since you already have a tree to be a source for these materials, we suggest you try one or all of those methods.
From Top Tropicals, we found this picture of the seed.
From Washington State University, Propagating Herbaceous Plants from Cuttings
From Fine Gardening magazine, Propagate Your Shrubs from Softwood Cuttings
From North Carolina State University Horticulture Information Leaflet Plant Propagation by Layering by Erv Evans
More Trees Questions
Planting Anacacho orchid tree in Llano, TX
October 05, 2011 - Re Bauhinia lunarioides:
I'm trying to pick a good site in Llano Co for a 5 gal tree I received as a gift. Your plant database says part shade. The arid zone trees publication you reference in a...
view the full question and answer
ID of insects attacking a Mexican Plum in Austin, TX
May 11, 2015 - I live in south austin and have a young 6' tall mexican plum. For the third year in a row it is getting eaten by small green 'leaf-rolling' worms. The destruction the past 2 years was so bad there ...
view the full question and answer
Young Maple Dropping Leaves in Late Summer
September 05, 2013 - I have a 6-year-old maple tree. I'm not sure what type it is as the builder planted it. It is as tall as our two-story house and very healthy. It's the biggest tree in our neighborhood because we fe...
view the full question and answer
Problems with tuliptree in North Salem IN
September 02, 2009 - I have a tulip tree and it looks like it is dying. The limbs are starting to turn bright blue. Do I have an insect problem or is it from a lightning strike?
view the full question and answer
Small flowering tree for cemetery in TX
November 07, 2010 - I am looking for a native large shrub or small tree to plant at a cemetery in Pflugerville, TX, preferable something with flowers. I need something that won't have a large root system that would dis...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |