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 - March 26, 2012
From: Chandler, AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: General Botany, Plant Lists
Title: Native plants of Arizona from Chandler AZ
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
What are some native plants of Arizona, and how do survive in the heat?ANSWER:
This is pretty easy. Go to our Native Plant Database and, using the Combination Search on that page, select Arizona under "states." Click on the Submit combination search box; when we did that, we got 1,950 results, most of them with thumbnail pictures. Follow any plant link by clicking on it and you will get information on where it grows, what moisture it needs, light, soils, etc.
Native plants survive in the heat just as plants in Alaska survive in the cold, by being totally adapted to the prevailing climate. Over thousands of years, those plants have been through the climactic conditions, developing adaptations to protect them from heat or cold, get along on more or less water, and propagate themselves to keep the string going. That is why the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, home of Mr. Smarty Plants, always recommends the use of plants native not only to North America (if you are gardening in North America) but also to the areas where those plants grow normally. It is also why there are few plants that we can recommend that would grow well in both Alaska and Arizona.
More General Botany Questions
Are Native Cultivars As Beneficial to Wildlife?
September 02, 2015 - I am working on adding more native plants to my small acreage. I would like to know if using a selection or cultivar of a native species is as likely to have wildlife benefits as using a randomly prop...
view the full question and answer
The most important part of growing plants.
February 21, 2008 - In your opinion what is the most important part of growing plants.
view the full question and answer
Leaf motion in still air in ON
June 25, 2012 - What causes a tree or plant to dance when the other plants around it are still and no wind???
view the full question and answer
Half-life of the insecticide imidacloprid
March 07, 2011 - How long do systemic insecticides such as imidacloprid (Merit)
remain active in nursery grown plants?
Asclepias curassavica (tropical milkweed)is frequently grown with imidacloprid to prevent...
view the full question and answer
How is native range changed in the scientific record?
March 28, 2011 - I am accessioning Pachysandra procumbens for the Baker Arboretum. These plants were made from cuttings of a native stand here in Warren County (Western KY). How does the record get amended to...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |