Explore Plants
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.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Monday - March 26, 2007
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Availability of Cornus florida (flowering dogwood) for Central Texas
Answered by: Damon Waitt
QUESTION:
I'd like to buy a flowering dogwood tree. Love the fall berries and spring flowers. I haven't had been able to find them at the nurseries I frequent (Great Outdoors, Natural Gardener, Breed, Barton Springs). Any advice? And please don't try to sell me on the rough leaf. Thanks!ANSWER:
Sometimes considered the most spectacular of the native, flowering trees, Cornus florida (flowering dogwood) is a 20-40 ft., single- or multi-trunked tree with a spreading crown and long-lasting, showy, white and pink spring blooms. Alas, the flowering dogwood makes its home in the eastern deciduous forest which explains why you won't find it at central Texas nurseries. The range of flowering dogwood extends from extreme southwestern Maine west to New York, extreme southern Ontario, central Michigan, central Illinois, and central Missouri; south to extreme southeast Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, east Texas; and east to north Florida. In addition, it prefers partial shade and moist well-drained soil. Best suited to nutrient-rich forest soils, it often becomes stressed when planted in relatively poor urban soil. Cornus drummondii (roughleaf dogwood) on the other hand....
More Seed and Plant Sources Questions
Adding Wildflowers to Corpus Christi
May 20, 2012 - I have a dry sandy yard, full sun in Corpus Christi with lot's of stickers mostly, want to transform to wildflowers. When should I plant, how should I prepare soil, should I dig out stickers? Which w...
view the full question and answer
Sources for plants from Abingdon MD
August 02, 2012 - What stores or nursuries in Harford County sell already grown Coral honeysuckle, Purple passion flower, trumpet creeper, and crossvine?
view the full question and answer
Native Azaleas for Southeast USA
April 03, 2012 - Where can I purchase wild azaleas?
view the full question and answer
Source for invasive, non-native Lythrum in Indiana
April 28, 2009 - Please help me find where I can purchase Lithrum in Indiana. This is my favorite plant from long ago. I know it has been banned for the last few years. Presently you need a permit to sell Lithrum. I ...
view the full question and answer
How to find out which native plants grow in your particular area
March 26, 2010 - I'm doing an ecology project (prairie restoration) PLEASE RESPOND A.S.A.P MY PAPER IS DUE SOON!!!! Any native plants of Kenosha, WI?
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
