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.
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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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Tuesday - March 04, 2008
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Rare or Endangered Plants
Title: Possibility of obtaining seed of Styrax platanifolius
Answered by: Barbara Medford and Flo Oxley
QUESTION:
Where can I obtain seeds for the Styrax platanifolius written about in your Spring 2008 issue of Wildflower? I have raised from seed quite a few native trees and would like to try raising Styrax.ANSWER:
Styrax platanifolius (sycamoreleaf snowbell) is a Federally listed endangered plant, with only a few known populations, mostly on private land and, at this time, seeds are not available. Since the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is focused on the care and preservation of native plants, we appreciate your effort to raise one that is endangered. At some point in the future, private gardens like yours may be the last refuge of those plants now being threatened by grazing, development and mismanagement. This Texas Parks and Wildlife website has excellent information on the present and future prospects for this lovely native tree.
More Rare or Endangered Plants Questions
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I bought many lovely plants at the Wildflower Center sale on Friday, among them, a Nodding Yucca or Yucca cernua. 24 of the 25 plants I bought are already in the grou...
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Entities adopting threatened species as symbol
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I am drawing up a list of such...
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Sycamore leaf snowbell from Pleasanton TX
August 18, 2012 - How do you care for a sycamore leaf snowbell. Does it like sun or part shade? How much water? How often and what should it be fed. How fast or slowly does it grow? Anything you can tell me would be ap...
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Conservation status of Lathyrus venosus (Veiny pea)
May 30, 2009 - The Wild Pea (Lathyrus Venosus Muhl)
1) What's being done to preserve them
2) When were they placed on the endangered species list
3) How many are left
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