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
Tuesday - May 03, 2011
From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Identification of pines on I35 between Dallas and Denton
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I frequently drive I-35E from Dallas up to Denton and I've often wondered if the pine trees that I see near the road and in the surrounding areas, especially between Lewisville and Denton, have been planted or are a native population. Traveling past them at 60MPH, they all appear to be the same species and randomly spaced so I doubt that they have been planted. If they are a native species, could you tell me which one? Thanks!ANSWER:
I can't be absolutely sure since I haven't seen them, but I feel pretty certain the pines are Pinus elliottii (Slash pine). In Shinners and Mahler's Illusrated Flora of North Central Texas, on page 206-207, this is what they say about P. elliottii:
"Cultivated and used in reforestation; spreading from cultivation on sandy soils in Hood Co. in West Cross Timbers, also spreading on sandy soils in Denton and Tarrant cos. (R. O'Kennon, per. obs.); mainly se and e TX; native as far w as Louisiana."
It is the only pine shown occurring in Denton, Tarrant and Hood counties in Billie L. Turner's et al. Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Texas, vol. 2.
You might try contacting someone in one of the nearby chapters of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) to confirm this (e.g., Trinity Forks Chapter in Denton, Dallas Chapter).
More Trees Questions
Sending a picture of an oak from Yorktown TX
December 02, 2011 - How I can I send a pic of my oak in Yorktown near Cuero?
view the full question and answer
Tahitian gardenias (Gardenia taitensis) salt and wind resistance in Hawaii
February 03, 2006 - Are Tahitian Gardenias salt tolerant? We live on a rocky coastline in Hawaii and we get a lot of salt spray.
view the full question and answer
Best pine tree for northern Illinois
October 03, 2010 - I live in Schaumburg,IL. What would be the best type of pine tree to plant?
view the full question and answer
Care in planting native Shumard oaks
April 16, 2008 - I am going to plant 3 shumard red oaks on the west side of my property. The land is basically rocky. What should I put in the holes to help the tree grow?
view the full question and answer
Shade trees for Tucson AZ
May 25, 2012 - I need to plant some "fast growing" trees or shrubs on my southwest yard in order to reduce the heat in my bedroom. What do you suggest?
I live in Tucson, Arizona.
Thank you in advance. I'm...
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. |
Bibliography
Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Texas (2003) Turner, B. L.; H. Nichols; G. Denny; O. DoronShinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F. Mahler; L. H. ShinnersSearch More Titles in Bibliography
