I traded recently for two types of wax myrtle . check out my list and I will send you an e-mail Here is a link that might be useful: ricjo22's exchange list

Candace, These are the Dwarf Wax Myrtles. Not what one thinks of as a Dwarf. I've been working in that area so it's still ongoing. The one on the left is limbed up nicely, but then I lost the privacy that I wanted. I had planned to plant some Abelia Grandiflora until the butterflies won out. So, Rue made it instead. At least, it's the rent house next door while the other blocks the view from the street. So, I may have to live with that for a while. Of course, it could revert back to a shrubby bush if it is left unpruned. It just looks so much better cleaned up. The one on the right might just remain like it is as it does provide more privacy. The last photo shows that it was planted too close to the fence and has grown through it to some degree as well as growing over it. I don't think they mind. But, it's worthwhile to keep it off the fence. I haven't gotten around to any pruning toward that. But, I don't want it to get any heavier wood, due to time, growing there. This turned out to be a good resource with all the photos that everyone has posted. ExMontrose person here. I saw that you lived in Houston. At least, you get more rain than we do up here. Xtal Good luck on your planting. Be sure to take Before and After photos along with some progressive age shots... not only for your own reference, but to be able to share them here as well.

hey ... first.. no plant magically stops growing... its all about how you want to prune them.. into what you want them to be .... second ... if momma is 100 feet tall in 100 years ... then.. in the same period.. a dwarf CULTIVAR of her might only be 75 feet tall .. and a mini of her 25 feet ... all those words are talking about.. is annual growth ... so momma grows one foot per year .. dwarf grows 9 inches per year [3/4 of 12] and mini 3 inches per year ... as brandon said.. its all about the annual growth rate ... and do note.. dwarf really has nothing to do with actual potential ... as you can see in front of million of homes .. lol ... and finally .. size ESTIMATEs.. are usually at ten years.. and if you divide such by ten.. you will probably get annual growth ... and when you get real good.. you can just look at last years growth... and probably see it ... as bark matures.. it changes... and you can usually see this season.. and last seasons growth .. if you stick your head in the plant .... and for sure.. the end ... if you really want info.. you have to use the latin names .. i dont do myrtle... but i would guess there are hundreds of named varieties... and by finding a named cultivar... you increase your ability.. to predict its characteristics ... according to your story.. you guys were just talking generalities.. and that usually leads to confusion ... ken

Kman04, There are only 2 or 3 small nurseries in Ardmore and they pretty much sell the standard nursery stock you'd find anywhere. There's one larger nursery on Rockford Road that has a somewhat better selection, but there is not a nursery that specializes in native plants. I am sure there must be some nurseries in the northeastern corner of Oklahoma that specialize in natives, but haven't been up to that area myself so cannot provide first-hand knowledge of any. You might google and find the website for the Tulsa Master Gardeners. They have a lot of info on their website and might list nurseries that specialize in natives. The Oklahoma Forestry Service sells bundles of native trees (small, small whips) to landowners "for conservation" in late winter to early spring. Since the great ice storm wiped out so very many trees in a large portion of Oklahoma a few weeks ago, I expect that some of the nurseries lost a lot of stock, at least of their larger trees. And, of course, many people will be replanting this spring after they clean up all the downed trees, so competition for good trees will be fierce. I haven't had to go out and buy a lot of natives, because we have about 10 acres of woodland on our property filled with many of the natives we love. So, when I want a few natives to plant in the open (unforested) areas around the house, I just go down into the woods and dig up and transplant what I want. So far, we've transplanted quite a few Shumard and Bur Oaks, redbuds, possumhaw hollies, Virginia creeper, rusty blackhaw viburnums, American beautyberries, Mexican plums and some American Persimmons. We've also spent lots and lots of time removing the horribly invasive cedars that have invaded and colonized so much of our state. Shin Oaks! I remember the first time I saw a 'forest' of shin oaks in west Texas, near the Midland-Odessa area. The ones I saw were in Monahans Sandhills State Park and were only 2' to 4' tall. I was amazed to see the oaks growing in pure desert sand in a very hot and dry area. It is definitely a very tough tree. Dawn