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
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - May 26, 2010

From: Hopewell, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Trees
Title: Need a tree that grows only 15 feet tall in Hopewell, VA.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

We would like to landscape an area of our yard with a tree that grows no higher than 15 feet. This location receives full sun most of the day and we would prefer a drought tolerant species or one that does not require moist soil.

ANSWER:

Some folks might call a tree that grows no higher than 15 feet a shrub. Let me show you how to do a search to find some plants to chose from.

First, go to the Native Plants Database page and scroll down to the Combination Search box , and make the following selections; select Virginia under STATE, Tree under GENERAL APPEARANCE, and Perennial under LIFESPAN. Check Sun for LIGHT REQUIREMENT, and Moist  for SOIL MOISTURE. Click on the Submit combination Search button and you will get a list of plants fitting these criteria that grow in Virginia.  Clicking on the name of each plant will pull up its NPIN page which contains descriptions, growing conditions and images of that plant.

After going through the list, I found three trees that are close to the size you specified.

Prunus virginiana (chokecherry)     20 - 30 feet    

Ptelea trifoliata (common hoptree)     10 - 15 feet    

Sorbus americana (American mountain ash)    15 - 20 feet 

Repeating the search and selecting Shrub under GENERAL APPEARANCE will generate a second list of shrubs in Virginia. I looked through the list and came up with these shrubs for your consideration.

Ilex decidua (possumhaw)      15 - 30 feet    

Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny serviceberry)     6 - 20 feet   

Morella cerifera (wax myrtle)         6 -12 feet 


Prunus virginiana

Ptelea trifoliata

Sorbus americana

Ilex decidua

Amelanchier laevis


 

More Trees Questions

Problem with leaves of Texas Ash in Austin
May 21, 2012 - We purchased a 3' to 4' Texas Ash in March 2012. The past few days I noticed new leaves at the top are curled under, have a milky substance on them, and more than a few ladybugs on them. What is thi...
view the full question and answer

Susceptibility of Shumard oaks to oak wilt
March 25, 2006 - I have planted a red oak tree. I am still trying to locate the ID tag for the type. I planted it two or three years ago. I purchased the tree from either Lowes or Home Depot. Is there a type of red oa...
view the full question and answer

Care of lemon cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa)
June 09, 2008 - How do I care for a Lemon Cypress tree? Does it require a lot of sun? How often should I water it? It is 18" high and I have it in a pot on my screen porch. Thank-you
view the full question and answer

Can hazelnut trees grow in South Florida?
January 30, 2010 - Can Hazelnut trees grow in South Florida?
view the full question and answer

Need help with a 50 ft Tulip Tree with storm damage in Brownsburg, IN.
June 30, 2010 - I have a 50 ft Tulip tree that suffered storm damage. One for the main branches split at the top fork and fell. It has left about 6 ft of exposed wood but there are still a couple of main branches in...
view the full question and answer

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