Q&A – Ask Neil: September 4, 2025
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Important favor: I’ve been covered up so far this year with questions about live oaks losing chunks of bark. Rather than continuing to answer the same questions weekly, I’d ask that you look back to previous issues. You’ll find several replies that I’ve posted. Thanks!
QUESTION 1
IS THERE A REASON NOT TO PLANT SUMAC IN MY YARD?
Question: I’ve been offered a couple of sumac bushes/trees from a golf course, and I’d like to plant them in my yard. However, I have both of your books, and I don’t see anything about native sumacs in them. I love the red fall color. Is there any reason why I wouldn’t want to do this? Melissa M., Woodway, McClennan County.
Answer: There is no reason at all if you have the right spot for them. It would be great if they were used more commonly. They need full sun for best color. They’re tolerant of a variety of soils and they withstand drought well, although they’ll hold their leaves better through summer if they have moisture. I hope the two plants are not too large to dig successfully. Winter would be the time. If they have much size to them you might want to hire a professional tree-digging firm to do the work for you. Good luck with them.
QUESTION 2
IS IT NORMAL FOR CRIMSON QUEEN JAPANESE MAPLES TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SHAPES OF LEAVES?
Question: My Crimson Queen Japanese maple is on the north side of my house and it’s doing well. However, there is new growth with leaves that look completely different from the existing leaves. Is this normal? Erin V., Celina, Collin County.
Images clickable for larger views.
Answer: No. That is not Crimson Queen growth. Get back there with your tree carefully and I’ll bet you’ll find that the entire branch (or trunk) from which those leaves are originating is coming from below the graft union. That looks like it’s the rootstock, perhaps plain old Japanese maple, Acer palmatum. Whatever it is, it’s probably going to outgrow the Crimson Queen portion that’s been grafted onto the rootstock very rapidly. It would dominate your tree if you didn’t remove it. You should prune it away while you can easily identify it – certainly before the leaves drop this winter.
QUESTION 3
WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENCOURAGE OUR SATSUMA TREE TO BLOOM AND BEAR FRUIT?
Question: We have a lemon and a lime tree, and each is full of fruit. We bought a Satsuma orange tree early in the spring, and so far, no fruit. Is there anything we can do to encourage flowering and fruit set? Tom S., Arlington.
Answer: Do exactly what you have done for your lemon and lime trees. The satsuma hasn’t had enough time. It will bloom over this late fall, winter, and early spring. That’s when it will set fruit for next year. It’s just too soon for it.
QUESTION 4
IS A BURL HARMFUL TO A CRAPE MYRTLE?
Question: I have two of these burls on my Natchez crape myrtle tree. Will it be harmful? Should I try to remove it? Sharon L., Frisco.
Answer: It may disrupt growth of the trunk in the very long run, but I’ve been watching a burl on a Natchez crape myrtle at a bank drive-through on the east side of Preston Road barely north of Sam Rayburn Tollway in Frisco for many years. I’ve figured the landscape crew would eventually attack it, but so far, they’ve left it alone and the plant has prospered. Reasons for why burls develop are uncertain in most cases. I’d just leave it alone and see what develops. If you ever need to remove it, cut that trunk back to the ground and choose one of the new sprouts to become the new trunk. It won’t take long.
QUESTION 5
WHAT HAS CAUSED THIS PROBLEM WITH OUR APPLES?
Question: We planted two apples last spring. This year they set fruit on both trees. They developed small black spots the size of a pin that each ended up the size of a quarter and rotted. What would have caused this? Nick L., Waxahachie.
Answer: It appears to be bitter rot of apples, a fungus that attacks fruit of apples and pears after hot, humid summer weather. It overwinters in decaying wood on broken branches, also in mummified fruit that is left uncollected on the ground. I doubt if you had either of those beneath your trees yet, but somehow the fruit became infected. Search “university bitter rot apples” and you’ll find reports with good information from almost every Land Grant (ag) college in America.
QUESTION 6
WHERE CAN I FIND A CHINESE PARASOL TREE (FIRMIANA SIMPLEX)?
Question: For sentimental reasons I’d like to grow a Chinese parasol tree (Firmiana simplex) but I can’t find anyone who’s ever heard of it. Can you direct me to a place where I can get one? Susy K., College Station.
Answer: I’ve heard of it. In fact, I could take you to a street here in my hometown of McKinney that is populated by them. (They seed freely and grow readily.) The quick identifiers for them are their huge tropical-looking leaves and their bright green trunks. Using key words “Chinese parasol tree Firmiana simplex” together I found 10 or 15 listings for seeds for them on both eBay and Etsy. Prices were all over the map. Beware of the sources and what you are getting. Some of the plants that showed up as matches were other genera and species. Some of the seeds were terribly over-priced.
Just doing a Web search for “Buy Chinese parasol tree Firmiana simplex” I also came up with a dozen or more matches. Several said they were out of stock at this time, but our old friends at Forest Farm Nurseries in Oregon do show to have it.
Hope that helps!