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

Saturday - August 07, 2010

From: Los Angeles, CA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Trees
Title: Trees around the inland waterways in Virginia
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I am writing a piece about Virginia Beach, Virginia. Could you tell me other than Pine what trees are found in the forests around the inland waterways? Thank-you very much!

ANSWER:

You can find these yourself by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database.  First select 'Virginia' under Select State or Province and then 'Tree' under Habit (general appearance).  This will give you a list of nearly 200 native trees that occur in Virginia.  Some of these 200 may not occur along the inland waterways, however, but it is relatively simple to find out if they do or not.  For instance, let's take the first tree on the list with photos, Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple).  On the species page scroll down to near the bottom of the page to the ADDTIONAL RESOURCES section.  Click on the link (the species name) beside USDA.  This will take you to the USDA Plants Database where there is a distribution map.  On the map click on Virginia and you will see the tree's distribution in Virginia.  As it turn's out, the southern sugar maple is found near Newport News and Norfolk.  If you do the same exercise with Acer spicatum (mountain maple), you will find that it occurs much further west than the southern sugar maple and doesn't occur along the inland waterway.  You can check out all the other listed trees this way, as well.

You might also like to visit the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation Natural Heritage page.  Their "Overview of the Physiography and Vegetation of Virginia" should give you an idea of what sorts of trees you find in the various regions of Virginia.  There are other resources listed on the Natural Heritage page that may be useful, too.

 

More Trees Questions

Evergreen for inland San Diego, California
November 28, 2009 - I'm looking for an evergreen tree for my inland San Diego residence, 30 foot max height, growth speed is not important. I had decided on the carrotwood until I found your site and discovered the prob...
view the full question and answer

Oak leaf fall causing ivy damage
August 28, 2007 - I read the A/Q in the Austin American-Statesman Saturday, August 25, regarding the leaves falling now from the live oaks. I am experiencing the same thing, but it is the leaves of my post oaks that a...
view the full question and answer

Mexican Sycamore trees grown from seed
November 15, 2011 - If someone is selling an alleged Mexican Sycamore grown from a seed harvested from a mature tree growing in Austin, is it likely to be a TRUE Mexican Sycamore -- or has it most likely been pollinated ...
view the full question and answer

Live Oaks and Foundations
September 22, 2009 - I have a young live oak (18 inch trunk at it's base) growing within four feet of my house. What kind of damage can it cause my foundation? Need your help!
view the full question and answer

Tree to replace Betula nigra (River birch) in Memphis
August 13, 2012 - HI Mr. Smarty Pants, I think I need to replace the river birch tree in my west-facing front yard in Memphis, TN. I have sun all day, but it gets really hot in the afternoon. The soil in my yar...
view the full question and answer

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