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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - July 01, 2010
From: Fulshear, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Transplants
Title: Best time to plant non-native Crape Myrtle in Fulshear TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
When are the best times to plant Crape Myrtles? My husband and I have just moved to Fulshear, TX (just slightly west of Houston) and being summer, I didn't think this was the best planting period. I read spring or fall. Is that considered best, in your opinion?ANSWER:
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to the growth, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which they are being grown. Lagerstroemia indica, (from Floridata) Crape myrtle, is native to Asia, hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 9. As such, it is out of our range of expertise. However, we can tell you that we recommend that woody plants, which include shrubs and trees, be planted in your area of South Texas, Zone 9a, in late Fall or Winter. Planting one now, in the full heat of Texas summer, will almost guarantee that the tree will have transplant shock, and possibly not survive.
More Non-Natives Questions
Identity of the mass fields of yellow flowers in North Texas
March 23, 2012 - Are the mass fields of yellow flowers we are seeing in north Texas now likely to be Indian Mustard (brassica juncea) or Charlock (brassica kaber or sinapis arvensis)?
We are teaching a wildflower ide...
view the full question and answer
Care for non-native Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum)
June 07, 2005 - How do you care for an Easter Lily once the flowers have fallen off?
view the full question and answer
Inadvisability of allowing native orchids to cross-breed
May 17, 2006 - Hello LBJ Native plants helper! This is the perfect place for me to ask a question that has been very perplexing to me. I live in Northern California and am doing research for naturalization of the te...
view the full question and answer
How to produce ivy with large, green leaves
May 25, 2007 - How can I keep an Ivy green? When it was purchased it was green and had BIG leaves. How can I get the leaves to grow big again and get it green?
view the full question and answer
White spots on Hibiscus leaves
August 06, 2008 - My hibiscus trees have white spots or splotches on the leaves. What is it and what can I do to get rid of it?
Also, the birds are eating my tomatoes faster than i can grow them. I've used the owl &...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |