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
Saturday - April 24, 2010
From: Pearland, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Tree for sound block near Houston
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I live in Pearland, just south of Houston and am looking for a tree that I can plant along my fenceline between my neighbor and me that will block noise. We have a pool and entertain a lot, but they are older and complain about the noise. I have seen in some of your other postings wax myrtle or Texas Mountain Laurel. Will these grow well in Houston? The area gets full sun.ANSWER:
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) will certainly do well in Houston, but Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel) is not likely to do well since its range is the Texas hill country. Mr. Smarty Plants assumes you want an evergreen tree to act as a noise barrier all year long. Here are some other trees that are evergreen and are native to Harris County.
Magnolia virginiana (sweetbay)
Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar)
Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry)
You can find other trees, though not necessarily evergreen, for your area our Texas-East Recommended page.
Here are photos from our Image Gallery of the plants above:
More Trees Questions
Non-native Chamaecyparis pisiflora turning brown in Fuqua-Varina NC
December 10, 2012 - I have a "Soft Serve False Cypress" Chamaecyparis pisifera'Dow Whiting PPAF, that has only been in the ground for 6-7 months. I just noticed that the branches and leaves are starting to die, turni...
view the full question and answer
Small native flowering tree for Virginia
September 21, 2009 - Could you recommend a small flowering tree (8-10' mature size) to plant in front garden next to the house. Full sun. Something that doesn't have invasive roots that would damage the house.
Thanks...
view the full question and answer
Plants for under pine in Ft. Worth
July 15, 2009 - My front yard, in Fort Worth, faces north. There is a large shade-giving pine tree in the middle. I am looking at options for what spreading groundcover varieties to plant underneath this rather large...
view the full question and answer
Identificaation of different cultivars ofPrunus caroliniana
June 14, 2007 - How can you tell if you have a Carolina Cherry laurel or Carolina cherry laurel "compacta," or a Cherry Laurel-English?
I have a line of four cherry laurels and one in the middle recently died an...
view the full question and answer
Best pine tree for northern Illinois
October 03, 2010 - I live in Schaumburg,IL. What would be the best type of pine tree to plant?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |