Texas Trees: The Most Important Landscaping Decision and Action

Planting trees is the most important landscape decision you will make. They can reduce your power bills, increase the value of your home and beautify your neighborhood. Find out which trees are best for your landscape design … (besides oaks … because all oaks are good oaks).

These cedars and magnolia are about 25 years old. The best time to take a good hard look at how large your landscaping choices will become vis-a-vis structures and other landscaping elements is when you plant them. I advise homeowners to flatten out a large cardboard box and place it where the new small plant will be planted. That way you can really see how much space the tree will require when mature.

That being said, I have with success moved 40 foot crapes in the winter. This was done with close supervision, digging well beyond the drip line and digging deep. Also by very well preparing the soil in their new location. Still … the best time is before you plant. Do you think that possibly the cedars against the home should have been planted out about three more feet? The magnolias are perfectly placed.

These Live Oaks were obviously planted by the homeowner and are about 25 years old. That is the most important landscaping decision they made and in my opinion, the wisest. Check out the crape myrtles on the right! No one has topped these and I will photograph them when they bloom next.

These cedars are about 20 years old. I love the barberry that has been allowed to grow naturally and has not been sheared. The nandina are a good compliment. I cannot wait to see what they plant in front of the beautiful natural barberry and nandina.

Large Trees Over Thirty Feet

Magnolia about 20 years old.

Cedar about 20 years old.

I would kindly and respectfully ask that you join me in preserving the health of our planet and recognize the reality and impact of climate change for the next generations.

Support the Sierra Club: http://www.sierraclub.org/

Bur Oak, Quercus marcocarpa, is one of the largest and longest-lived hardwood trees reaching a mature height of 50 to 80 feet and a crown spread of 40 to 60 feet. Once I had a yard with three three hundred year old Bur Oaks and I lost two of them. I was sad.

Aspidistra Cast Iron Plant Texas Shade Perennial

Aspidistra or Cast Iron Plant with a Live Oak. A bit out of favor but I love it. The classic combination for mature oaks but you probably already know that if you have mature Live or Burr Oaks.

The magnolia has become one of the most popular trees in Dallas. This is Brackens Brown Beauty but it is not for the impatient! It may take ten years to bloom. It has what I consider to be essential to a magnolia, the brown fuzzy underside (which Little Gem and Teddy Bear do not have — Teddy Bear is just a smaller Little Gem with larger flowers).

Gingko Bilboa Tree

While not commonly planted in Texas it deserves a closer look. The leaves are beautiful and you can see how thick and abundant they are cascading down. I wish you could see them ruffling in the wind. The fact that the grow downward in a tassle like fashion means the wind sways them ever so gently. I love this tree and at one time planted four in front of my house. They turn a beautiful golden (more golden than yellow) in the fall. They really stand out. Seeing that yellow is like seeing an old friend in a new dress. They are hardy in Texas, like all plants once they are settled in. I highly recommend this tree even for smaller suburban yards.

I cannot say enough good things about this under utilized tree and my excellent experience. There are several narrow, upright, and heat-tolerant Ginkgo biloba cultivars that are more compact, columnar form suitable for smaller spaces or urban settings.

Menhir (Ginkgo biloba ‘Menhir’) Growth Habit: Exceptionally narrow and upright, considered one of the slimmest ginkgo cultivars available.

Princeton Sentry™ (Ginkgo biloba ‘Princeton Sentry’): Growth Habit: Tall and columnar, reaching 40–50 feet in height and 15–20 feet in width.

Deep Watering Devices for Trees

It is crucial to water and feed your trees until they are established, the first two or three years. Here are some deep watering devices for trees that I have used and recommend.

Crape Myrtles: Texas Workhorse

Pink Velour Crape Myrtle

Crape Myrtles in Texas: Read more here …

Tonto

Tonto, a small crape reaching roughly ten feet maximum

Centennial Spirit

Centennial Spirit, the most magnificent Texas crape myrtle.

Fantasy White Crape Myrtle

Fantasy White Crape Myrtles one of the largest crapes.

Trees

Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

In the fifth grade we had to learn 100 lines of poetry and this poem was mandatory. Thank you Mrs. Crowder, one of my favorite teachers. The had thick wavey brown hair that was dyed, braided and pulled on top of her head. She wore floral dusters usually in golden and brown tones to protect her clothes from the chalk dust. She was energetic and fair.

One time I was invited to her home. In her ‘den’ a bank of window were opened to shrubs outside. There in the tall nandinas was a birds nest filled with baby birds. On the dark stained fire place were what seemed like hundreds of brass candlesticks. In retrospect I am sure there were no more than 25. I loved Mrs. Crowder, a fine lady.

World Collection Park

Lovely grouping of dwarf crape myrtles at the World Collection Park. Good substitute for hard hit Texas roses with Rose Rosette disease.

Texas A&M Crape Myrtle SuperStar(TM)

Basham’s Party Pink has been named a Texas A&M SuperStar. The purple Vitex Tree had already been named a SuperStar. The problem with naming a crape myrtle a SuperStar for Texas is that virtually ALL crapes are “super stars” in Texas. Our weather, hot and dry, short winters, is ideal for all crapes. This is
one SuperStar that has little meaning, unlike so many others which recognized legitimate breakthroughs for Texas such as Basket of Gold Columbine. Pictured below is Basham’s Party Pink blooming along side the Texas Vitex tree.

The irrefutable proof that crape myrtles are Texas hardy and Texas friendly is found in the crape below. Its trunk is damaged from repeated careless weed eaters, it is located in a parking median at a building abandoned for at least five years and yet with no water, no fertilizer and no care, this little crape is a powerhouse bloomer!

Arapaho Crape Myrtles

Lovely crape myrtle alley with Arapaho crapes

Texas Lavender Vitex Tree

This is a Texas A&M pick and gaining in popularity in Texas. It can be cut to the ground each year and used as a shrub or allowed to grow into a tree.

Read more about the Texas Lavender Vitex Tree here …

Chitalpa

The Chiltalpa is a cross between the native Desert Willow (which is a poisonous tree) and the Catalpa tree. See the Catalpa tree below.

Chitalpa: Morning Cloud.

Read more about poisonous plants here …

Smoke Tree: Pink Champagne

Smoke Tree - Dallas Landscaping Lee Ann Torrans

Smoke Tree - Dallas Landscaping and Gardening Lee Ann Torrans

Purple Smoke Tree

Hardy Hibiscus

Hardy Hibiscus is often grown as a substitute flowering tree.

Hardy Hibiscus

Purple Flowering Althea Tree

The althea can be shaped into a single trunked tree or multi-trunked tree.

Viburnum

Viburnum is often considered to be a shrub but it can grow tree size, 30 feet and more.

Snowball Viburnum blooming shrub / Tree for Texas

Flowering Tree Texas White Bloom Yellow Center Shade

Texas-Blooming-Tree-White-Petals-Yellow-Center (1 of 1)

Texas-Blooming-Tree-White-Petals-Yellow-Center- Dogwood-Four Petals

Below is a climbing rose that blooms in March / April. Above is a Dogwood that blooms in March and April. Wouldn’t these two be lovely, lovely together?

White climbing rose with yellow center. March / April Texas bloomer. Five petals.

The Japanese Maple – A World of Its Own!

Read about the Top Ten Japanese Maples Here.

This is the Crimson Queen. A dwarf Japanese Maple with deeply cut leaves.

Crimson Queen Laceleaf Japanese Maple

Acer japonicum ‘Vitifolium‘. This is larger Japanese Maple. The leaves are not deeply cut and the tree grows to 20 or 30 feet.

There are many decision to be made prior to purchasing a Japanese Maple.

Read about Japanese Maples here …

Japanese Maple Landscape Design Dallas Texas

Red Emperor or Emperor One Japanese Maple

Dwarf Japanese Maples used as shrubs are very common.

Skeeters Broom Japanese Maple

Golden Full Moon Japanese Maple grow five to seven feet. Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ – I doubt it was an ‘accident’ this beautiful tree was planted to capture the western sun, setting its colors on fire!

Golden Ember Japanese Maple

Blood Good Japanese Maples

Blood Good a deep red Japanese Maple

Twilight Purple Crape Myrtle

Twilight Crape Myrtle – Darkest Purple Large Crape Myrtle

Muskogee Lavender Crape Myrtle

Muskogee Crape Myrtle – a pale lavender.

Natchez White Crape Myrtle

Natchez White Crape Myrtles a prolific bloomer than can reach 15 to 20 feet. Read more here.

Natchez White Crape Myrtle grows 15 to 20 feet.

Fantasy Crape Myrtle is the largest of the white crapes reaching over 30 feet. Not as prolific a bloomer as Natchez.

Fantasy Crape Myrtle reaches over 30 feet but not a strong bloomer unless vigorously fertilized.

Tuscarora

The most popular crape myrtle in Texas with the largest, fluffiest pannicles and longest bloom time. Read an honest Tuscarora evaluation …

Tuscarora Crape Myrtle

Bradford Pears

Much better alternative to the trouble ridden Bradford Pear. Read more here.

Fall Bradford Pear

Dogwood Trees

A dogwood tree is known as an ‘understory’ tree — especially in Texas. The more delicate dogwood tree needs the sun protection from the shade of larger trees. Typically a dogwood reaches 15 to 25 feet and 30 to 40 feet in some environments.

The dogwood tree is an early bloomer in Texas, blooming with azaleas and a bit after the early daffodils. It blooms simultaneously with the Lady Banks Lutea Rose and Confederate Jasmine. The blooms last 2 to 4 weeks depending on the weather. Dianthus typically bloom just as the dogwood is losing its blooms and fading into a delicate green foliage which will turn deeper green.

Upright Branching Dogwood with larger flowers.

Pink Dog Wood

Forest Pansy Redbud Tree

Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud Tree

Ruby Falls Weeping Japanese Maple Top Texas Tree

Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud Tree

Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud Tree more on the Redbud Tree Here

Oklahoma Redbud

More on the Redbud Tree Here

The Red Bud is an old, old Texas favorite. The Oklahoma Red Bud is a much improved version! Its leaves are waxy, its buds are closer and thicker, its shape is arching. This is a understory tree. I love the Red Bud, and who does not, the Oklahoma Red Bud is a super charged version. This Red Bud is in its prime in mid-March. The Oklahoma Redbud tree, Cercis reniformis was discovered growing wild in the Arbuckle Mountains of Oklahoma in 1964. It typically grows to 12-18′ tall. The Texas Flowering Trees have expanded in scope and quality.

The heart-shaped leaves open soft pink but gradually mature to a glossy rich green. Oklahoma redbud trees have fall color that is variable, but often includes attractive shades of reddish-purple and orange.

There is absolutely no reason to plant the ‘original’ Red Bud, with the Oklahoma Red Bud out there! The color is the bud is deeper, the tree is sturdier, the leaves are deeper and glossier. This tree blooms before the dogwood, so if you are searching to extend your spring tree flowering impact, plant BOTH!

Oklahoma Redbud Tree Mid-March Dallas

Oklahoma Redbud

Standard Red Bud Tree in bloom.

Its colors are not as intense, the bark is not as deeply colored in a rose hue, and the blooms are not as dense. Still, it is a lovely, lovely understory tree with beautiful foliage to follow the blooms and lovely fall color.

Standard Red Bud Tree

Catalpa Tree

Catalpa Tree in Dallas Landscape Garden Design. The Catalpa is the father of the very popular Chitalpa. Chitalpa is a cross between the Dessert Willow and the Catalpa. It blooms in April.

Desert Willow – Native Texas Plant. This tree is claimed to be poisonous.

Catalpa Tree Blooms in April in Texas

Chitalpa Tree Pink Flowers of Morning Cloud

Chitalpa can be purchased with either pink or white flowers. None other as far as I know.

American Holly

American Holly in Texas Mid-March

The American Holly The American Holly is incredibly hardy. Its berries spring forth in early March. This is the second most popular hedge row plant in Dallas, with Magnolia being the first.

Read more on the American Holly here …

Magnolia Tree

The Magnolia Trees – Smaller (20 to 40 feet)

Magnolia Trees Read More Here on the various types of magnolia trees here ..

Little Gem Magnolia – The Most Popular of the Smaller Southern Magnolia Trees

Little Gem Magnolia Tree is the most popular of the ‘small’ Southern Magnolias growing at one and half feet a year to 20 feet and the most prolific of the bloomers. Below you will recognize the golden underleaf of this Magnolia Tree which indicates it is not a Little Gem but more likely D.D. Bradford.

Little Gem Japanese Maple Dallas Landscaping Lee Ann Torrans

Little Gem Magnolia reaches over 40 feet with soft, pliable leaves.

While Little Gem is the most common I much prefer the sturdier leafed magnolias such as the D.D. Bradford below or Claudia Wannamaker. This represents a lifetime investment in a tree. Selecting a Magnolia tree which has the potential to live well over 100 years represents and important investment for your home. I love the bronze undertones of the leaves – and that is NOT found in Little Gem.

Espladier Magnoia. Read more about best magnolias to esplaier here.

Teddy Bear is very like the Little Gem with soft pliable leaves and no golden underside, and while it is smaller than Little Gem its flowers are larger than Little Gem.

D.D. Bradford Magnolia

DD Bradberry Magnolia with golden under-leaves.

Wannamaker Magnolias at University of Texas at Dallas

This is the Magnolia I would plant, bar none. Read more here.

Claudia Wannamaker Magnolia

Claudia Wannamaker Magnolia Tree

D.D. Bradberry Southern Magnolia below is the fastest growing at two feet per year and the tallest with a conical shape and golden under leafs.

D.D. Bradberry Magnolias have lovely conical shape.

Magnolia_Tree_Bud_Dallas_Lee_Ann_Torrans

Crabapple Tree

Crabapple Tree One of the very earliest flowering blooming trees in Texas is the Crabapple. This tree blooms shortly after the forsythia and daffodils.

Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossom Tree In Texas we do not have many successful cherry blossom trees. Crabapple trees make an excellent substitute. However, you can find an excellent planting of Cherry Blossom Trees and the Japanese Gardens in Fort Worth.

These bloom with the mid to late azaleas beginning in late March and blooming by the first of April. Purple Crabapple Cherry Blossom Trees

Tulip Tree

Tulip Trees are the first bloomers in spring.

Tulip Tree After the Blooms

Tulip Tree - Pin Cushion Perennials and Roses

Fragrant Ash / Fringe Tree

Fragrant Ash Spring Blooming Tree

Fragrant Ash Texas Flowering Tree with Swett Smell

Fragrant Ash Spring Blooming Tree

Fringe Tree Size: 8-20 feet tall, 8-10 feet wideIt is found in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9. Bloom time: Flowers from April to May with masses of beautiful drooping white flowers Exposure: Full sun to partial shade; seems to perform well with some afternoon shade in my Zone 7b garden.

Yellow Blooming Summer Trees

Rain Tree

Golden Rain Tree

Golden Rain Tree with pink and yellow yuccas.

The Laburnum Tree

The laburnum tree above is a poisonous tree.

Chinese Parasol Tree

Seedpods of the Chinese Parasol Tree

Relatively new to North America from Asia. There are concerns about this tree becoming invasive. With these seedpods you can see how that could occur.

Yellow Vitex Tree

The Vitex Tree in yellow.

Banana Trees in Texas

Banana trees die back each year but return from the roots. Generally, I would prefer my precious gardening space to go to a more appealing plant. However, this combination of Banana Tree, Variegated Tapioca (a Texas Superstar) orange globe amaranthus and orange coleus has made me a banana tree convert!

Lace Bark Elm

Not a flowering tree but a beautiful Elm that does well in Texas.

Weeping Willow

I know a weeping willow is not a blooming tree but it is just so pretty.

If you love it: Pin IT!

Dogwood and Climbing Rose blooming at the same time. I love this!

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Recommended Flowering Trees:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recommends a variety of flowering trees well-suited to the state’s diverse climates. These selections are based on factors like drought tolerance, adaptability to local soils, and ornamental appeal.

Texas Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis)
A native tree known for its vibrant pink to purple spring blooms. It thrives in Central and West Texas, offering drought resistance and adaptability to various soil types.
Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)
This small deciduous tree produces fragrant white flowers in early spring. It’s valued for its ornamental appeal and ability to adapt to different soil conditions.
Desert-Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
A drought-tolerant native tree that showcases trumpet-shaped flowers ranging from pink to lavender. It’s ideal for arid regions and attracts hummingbirds.
Anacacho Orchid Tree (Bauhinia lunarioides)
A small, deciduous tree native to Texas, it features delicate white to pink orchid-like flowers. It’s suitable for well-drained soils and adds a unique aesthetic to landscapes.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Known for its showy white spring flowers and vibrant red fall foliage, this tree prefers well-drained soils and partial shade, making it suitable for East Texas landscapes.
Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
An evergreen tree admired for its large, fragrant white flowers and glossy green leaves. It performs best in well-drained, acidic soils and is a staple in many Southern gardens.
Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus)
Also known as chaste tree, it produces spikes of purple to blue flowers throughout the summer. It’s heat-tolerant and attracts pollinators, making it a valuable addition to Texas gardens.
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
A popular ornamental tree that offers a range of flower colors, including pink, red, white, and purple. It’s drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun, providing extended blooming periods during the summer.