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
15 ratings

Tuesday - September 27, 2005

From: Weatherford, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Viability of Texas madrone tree in Weatherford, TX
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I live in Weatherford, Texas (Parker County). Will a Madrone tree make it ok here and who sells them?

ANSWER:

The Texas madrone (Arbutus xalapensis) generally occurs in the Hill Country of Central Texas and the Big Bend area, but according to "The Useful Wild Plants of Texas, the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, the Southern Plains, and Northern Mexico, Vol. I" (Scooter Cheatham, Marshall Johnston and Lynn Marshall. 1995. Austin: Useful Wild Plants) the Texas madrone "...will grow in many different soils, from alkaline (pH 8) to acid (pH 5.7) and from limestone to blackland clay." It has been grown in the blackland soils of north central Texas. Natives of Texas specializes in madrone trees.
 

More Trees Questions

Planting and care of Desert Willow in Golden Valley, AZ.
May 17, 2013 - I got a desert willow to plant in yard. Some of the leaves dried out before I could plant. Will that stop the tree from growing into a decent size tree or stay as a shrub?
view the full question and answer

Annuals victims of allelopathy under a hackberry tree in Franklin TN
August 03, 2009 - In our new home's back yard we have a 30' hackberry tree that's less than 20' from our house, on the NW side. I planted your typical shade annuals, impatiens, etc., in the mulch bed under the tre...
view the full question and answer

Companion Plants for Texas Mountain Laurel
March 12, 2015 - I am building a garden from scratch and need help. I want to plant a Texas mountain laurel on each front section of my house in front of a window, and I also want to use Thumbelina Leigh English laven...
view the full question and answer

Propagating a Magnolia tree from a twig cutting in New Hampshire.
November 02, 2011 - I have a twig cutting from a rare magnolia tree I found on a farm in central New Hampshire. The tree seems to be at least one hundred years old. It was in full bloom in late August and I was told by t...
view the full question and answer

Native maples for the Austin, TX area
May 21, 2005 - I am new to the state of Texas. I lived in Canada all of my life and miss my maple trees. Are maple trees (green or red leafed varieties) able to thrive in Austin?
view the full question and answer

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