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

Monday - October 12, 2009
From: Sapulpa, OK
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Native alternative for Japanese Red Maple in Oklahoma
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Mr. Smarty Plants, I am looking for a native alternative to a Japanese Red Maple. I would like a small tree that I can put in my front garden that will not pose a security risk my being overgrown and too large. We thought the Japanese Red Maple would be nice, because it is a smaller and more contained tree, but I do not want to introduce a non-native plant. PLEASE HELP!ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants can offer several attractive small native trees for Oklahoma as an alternative to Japanese maple. Here are a few of them:Cotinus obovatus (American smoketree)
Rhus lanceolata (prairie sumac)
Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud)Chionanthus virginicus (white fringetree)
Cornus drummondii (roughleaf dogwood)
Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
Prunus mexicana (Mexican plum)
Viburnum rufidulum (rusty blackhaw)
You can do a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database to see other possibilities by choosing Oklahoma from the Select State or Province category and 'Tree' from the Habit (general appearance) category.
More Trees Questions
Magnolia species are allelopathic
August 02, 2014 - Have a healthy Southern Magnolia tree around 8 years old. It seems like everything I plant next to it dies.: Variegated Spirea, Stokes Aster, Hydrangeas. Is there something it secretes like the waln...
view the full question and answer
a source for fruitless olive (non-native) trees
June 29, 2012 - I was given a "mexican olive" several years ago which is doing very well.
This one is non-fruiting and I would like to have another that is non-fruiting but cannot find one. Cordia boissieri see...
view the full question and answer
Privacy hedge for Dallas area
February 21, 2010 - We live in the Park Cities area of Dallas, and our neighbors are right on top of us. Our lot is small, but I'm looking for a privacy hedge or small tree to plant along the side of the fence. It needs...
view the full question and answer
Trouble with Redbud in Illinois
March 13, 2010 - I have a red bud bush, we live in northern Illinois, it is shedding its bark. Is this normal or is the bush dying?
view the full question and answer
What can be planted under a pine tree in Detroit, MI?
April 22, 2008 - What type of plant would you suggest I plant under my big (Blue bruce) pine tree? It's about 25 ft high and the branches are trimmed to about 4 feet up, so it does get some light but mostly shade.I a...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |