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

Tuesday - November 24, 2009
From: Malakoff, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Will Texas madrone (Arbutus xalapensis) grow in northeast Texas?
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Will Texas madrones grow by Cedar Creek Lake and if so, do you know where I could purchase them "sort of" locally?ANSWER:
Arbutus xalapensis (Texas madrone) is a beautiful and unusual tree but Mr. Smarty Plants thinks it is very unlikely that it would grow by Cedar Creek Lake, Texas. You can see that Henderson or Van Zandt County are well out of its distribution range. The soils and climate where it grows naturally are very different from those in your area. Since it is very temperamental and not easy to grow even in its native range, I would be amazed if it would grow there. Natives of Texas in Kerrville specializes in madrones.
More Trees Questions
Transplant shock in Chinkapin oak from Copperas Cove TX
June 18, 2012 - I have a newly planted chinkapin oak, appx 14' tall, in the Copperas Cove TX area. It has done great for the first two weeks. Now the leaves are yellowing (June) and beginning to dry up. I water it ...
view the full question and answer
Further explanation of retaining walls and trees from Washington MO
March 11, 2013 - I had a question previously about putting retaining walls across the root system of a 40' tall bald cypress tree(not like spokes on a wheel, but concentric to tree trunk). How wide can the walls be? ...
view the full question and answer
Inadvisability of mounding earth around tree in ring
April 20, 2006 - We have a mimosa tree in our backyard. My husband wants to build a tree ring around it. My mother told me that some trees will die from having soil built up around it like that. Will a tree ring ki...
view the full question and answer
Controlling native chickasaw plum
July 23, 2008 - How do we kill the chickasaw plum? We have an abundance and want to get rid of them.
view the full question and answer
Removal of Ashe juniper trees
April 19, 2015 - I have 15 acres with scattered huge oak and elm trees with tens of thousands of Ashe Juniper (cedar) trees 2” to 10” in diameter growing within the drip zone of the hardwoods. How do I take out the c...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |