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
Sunday - March 08, 2009
From: austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: General Botany, Trees
Title: Is Esperanza a deciduous or an evergreen plant?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
I've read that Esperanza/Tecoma Stans is an evergreen. I planted one last year that seemed very healthy, but it dropped its leaves in late fall and looks (at least) dormant now. Will it come back or is it most likely dead?ANSWER:
Esperanza, Tecoma stans (yellow trumpetbush), in the Austin area is deciduous although it may be evergreen in other parts of its range. The plants that I am seeing around Austin are just beginning to leaf out, having dropped their leaves in late fall. You might try removing a small portion of bark with your thumbnail on an upper stem to see if there is green tissue below the bark. If there is, the plant should be leafing out soon.
The three links below can give you more information about your Tecoma stans plant.
From the Image Gallery
More General Botany Questions
Is Phlox divaricata evergreen?
June 27, 2011 - Is Phlox divaricata evergreen?
view the full question and answer
Information about prickly pear cactus for school project
October 19, 2012 - Hello my name is Case Danzeiser. I go to a middle school called Clint Small Middle School in Austin, Texas. We are doing a species study on a native Texas plants and animals. I choose to study the pri...
view the full question and answer
Where do snake herb and skeleton-leaf goldeneye get their names?
October 05, 2014 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Where does snake herb, and skeleton leaf goldeneye get their names from? Thank you.
view the full question and answer
Withering plants recover with water
February 17, 2008 - Why do withering plants stand up when you give them water?
view the full question and answer
Why is my 3 year old Redbud not flowering in San Marcos, TX?
March 24, 2010 - My Cercis canadensis var. mexicana, purchased at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, is 3 years old, very robust, but has never bloomed. Any explanation?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |