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.

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Friday - May 25, 2012
From: Littleton, CO
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Trees
Title: Dying leaves on Autumn Blaze Maple tree in Littleton, CO
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
I have an autumn blaze maple where for the last two years the left side of the tree turns light green, then brown, and leaves die. The right side is dark green, normal. Is this a water over/under problem or something else? ThanksANSWER:
The Autumn Blaze Maple is a hybrid, and as such falls outside the focus of The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center which is to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes.
Your question has Mr. Smarty Plants asking some questions. Since he can’t see the tree, he can’t tell the left side from the right side. Is the tree growing next to a building or another tree? Does it get full sun, or partial sun? What kind of soil is it in? How much water does it receive? What time of year does this occur?
Answers to all of these could be useful in diagnosing your tree’s problem, so I’m suggesting that you contact the folks at the Arapahoe County office of Colorado State University Extension and see if one of their agents can look at your tree and help you with your problem.
This website of the North Dakota State University Extension fields questions about maples, and may be helpful.
More Diseases and Disorders Questions
Rust spots on non-native red tip photinia
July 10, 2008 - I live in Oklahoma and my red tips have rust spots on leaves and some plants are losing leaves. This is a clay soil; can you give me any info. on how to solve this problem?
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Pruning live oak in Austin
April 28, 2012 - Hi, We recently purchased a house in South Austin and there is a huge Live Oak Tree about 6 feet from the back door (so so so love it!) The only real issues I have so far are:
1. Needing to trim a ...
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Bark splitting in old tulip tree in Red Creek, NY.
May 18, 2013 - Hello,
We have a tulip tree that has some bark splitting I guess I would call it. The tree is older and very tall. On the north side of it starting at the bottom of the trunk to about 8-9 feet up i...
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Problems with sunflowers in Florida
November 03, 2006 - I planted sunflowers on the west side of my house where I have previously planted them and they grew wonderfully. These new ones, however, seem to be dying, (less than 2 weeks). I bought the plants at...
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Problems getting desert western US plant Stanleya pinnata to bloom in England
March 13, 2006 - I am having trouble getting my Princes plume (Stanleya pinnata) to produce a flower and then go to seed. Do you have any advice on triggering flowering in this plant?
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