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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - August 07, 2010
From: Los Angeles, CA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Trees
Title: Trees around the inland waterways in Virginia
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am writing a piece about Virginia Beach, Virginia. Could you tell me other than Pine what trees are found in the forests around the inland waterways? Thank-you very much!ANSWER:
You can find these yourself by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database. First select 'Virginia' under Select State or Province and then 'Tree' under Habit (general appearance). This will give you a list of nearly 200 native trees that occur in Virginia. Some of these 200 may not occur along the inland waterways, however, but it is relatively simple to find out if they do or not. For instance, let's take the first tree on the list with photos, Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple). On the species page scroll down to near the bottom of the page to the ADDTIONAL RESOURCES section. Click on the link (the species name) beside USDA. This will take you to the USDA Plants Database where there is a distribution map. On the map click on Virginia and you will see the tree's distribution in Virginia. As it turn's out, the southern sugar maple is found near Newport News and Norfolk. If you do the same exercise with Acer spicatum (mountain maple), you will find that it occurs much further west than the southern sugar maple and doesn't occur along the inland waterway. You can check out all the other listed trees this way, as well.
You might also like to visit the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation Natural Heritage page. Their "Overview of the Physiography and Vegetation of Virginia" should give you an idea of what sorts of trees you find in the various regions of Virginia. There are other resources listed on the Natural Heritage page that may be useful, too.
More Trees Questions
Effect of unusual wet weather on desert willows
July 23, 2007 - I live in North Central Texas and have 3 beautiful Desert willow trees that are usually in full bloom. I've kept them pruned to form a nice full tree shape but now they are losing leaves and looking ...
view the full question and answer
Oak roots damaged by ax from Austin
July 03, 2013 - Hello. I am attempting to create my own tiny copy of the Wildflower Center within my yard. I'm using all native, drought tolerant plants. My front yard is full of live oaks. I used a sod cutter la...
view the full question and answer
Differentiating between Iles decidua and Ilex vomitoria
February 15, 2007 - Is there any way to tell a male possum haw holly from a female? I have a possum haw that never lost all of it's leaves and has no berries. Could it be a male?
view the full question and answer
Most numerous trees in the Piedmont NC from Chapel Hill NC
September 20, 2012 - What's a list of the most populous trees in piedmont North Carolina?
view the full question and answer
Trees for clay soil from Charlotte TX
August 25, 2013 - We have an area in our yard that even Esperanzas won't grow. It is near another that does great. Six Esperanzas are planted in a north/south row about with 10' between plants, the southern most plan...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |