Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Friday - April 23, 2010
From: Baytown, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Planting, Transplants, Shrubs
Title: Planting dogwood in Baytown TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I live in Baytown Texas and was wondering if this would be a good area to plant a dogwood tree?ANSWER:
As a matter of fact, there are four members of the Cornus genus, dogwood, that grow in and near the Harris County area on the mid-Texas Gulf Coast. They all require pretty much the same care: acidic soil, part shade or shade, low to medium water use, all will be hardy in your USDA Hardiness Zone of 9a and all are deciduous. Follow each plant link to our webpage on that particular plant to find out more about it. They all bloom somewhere in the neighborhood of March to June. Perhaps you can buy and transplant a flowering plant, if you do it quickly before it gets any hotter. We are not sure if the new plant would hold its flowers or not, but it would certainly survive if it were carefully planted and cared for. Ordinarily, we would prefer that woody plants like shrubs and trees be transplanted in Texas in late Fall or Winter, when the plant is semi-dormant. Don't buy one now to plant then, that would be very high stress on the plant. Always buy fresh nursery stock, check to make sure it is not rootbound, and once out of the nursery, get it into the ground as quickly as possible.
Dogwoods appropriate for Baytown TX:
Cornus drummondii (roughleaf dogwood)
Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
Cornus foemina (stiff dogwood) - pictures from Vanderbilt University
Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)
From our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Shrubs Questions
Declining wax myrtles in Katy, TX
August 24, 2009 - My wax myrtle bushes were thick and green except for a few on the NE side 6 months ago when we bought the house. Now they are thin, leggy, and dropping leaves like crazy. They seem to be dying one bra...
view the full question and answer
Replacing Drought-Stricken Cedars
January 16, 2012 - Hello, I live in Williamson County on a couple acres. We have several dead cedars as a result of drought; we're reluctant to cut them down because many of them provide a friendly barrier between us...
view the full question and answer
Perennials for flowerbed in Texas Panhandle
October 19, 2012 - I have a flowerbed in a partially shaded area and want some perennials. I live in the Texas Panhandle, soil is sandy, loamy. Hardiness zone is 6-B.
view the full question and answer
Does Wax Myrtle Have a Taproot?
March 25, 2015 - Does a wax myrtle have a taproot?
view the full question and answer
Cenizos browning in Houston
October 01, 2011 - After this horrible drought, I am committed to xeriscaping with native Texas plants. The few hibiscus that survived have been transplanted into pots and are thriving. I bid the tiny boxwoods a fond fa...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |