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
Monday - November 01, 2010
From: Port Austin, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Madrones in Michigan?
Answered by: Anne Bossart
QUESTION:
Will a Arbutus menziesii (Pursh Pacific madrone) grow in Huron County Michigan? I'm at the "tip of Michigan's thumb".ANSWER:
Sorry, not a chance!
Our Native Plant Database tells us that Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrone) is native to rocky coastal sites, low to mid elevation on the Gulf Islands and south-coastal BC where the climate is gentler than Michigan.
But we sure do understand why you are asking as there is also an Arbutus xalapensis (Texas madrone) that doesn't get as large but is just as impressive. We have a couple of small ones growing here at the Wildflower Center and they are starting to attract attention. They are hard to find in the nursery trade as they don't transplant well even though they are found in nature growing beautifully in very inhospitable situations.
You can, however, grow one of it's tougher little northern cousins Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick)
From the Image Gallery
More Trees Questions
Will Fragrant Ash grow in Bowie County TX?
April 24, 2011 - I live in south Bexar County in very fine deep sand. Will the Fraxinus cuspidata grow in my soil and temperature?
view the full question and answer
Montana native plants to create a garden with edible plants
January 14, 2013 - Hi Smarty Plants
We are looking to create a native herb, vegetable, root, fruit, flower and ground cover garden for the area of Hot Springs, Sanders County, Montana. Our zone is 4 and soil is mostly ...
view the full question and answer
Growing Magnolia trees in Palm Desert, CA.
October 02, 2012 - Will magnolia trees grow in the Palm Desert/Indio, CA area?
view the full question and answer
Want to identify caterpillar that is stripping prickly ash in Flatonia, Tx.
April 05, 2011 - What is the 5/16ths long 1/8th inch long pale opaque green caterpillar that strips prickly ash? It has tiny black dots down its spine and along each side. It has stripped two large trees?
Will th...
view the full question and answer
Wild plums for jelly from Conroe TX
December 18, 2012 - Do wild plum trees grow in my area? I want to get some next summer to make plum jelly.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |