Here, you’ll learn about the different trees of Texas.
Like most regions within the United States, Texas has its fair share of trees unique to its climate.
While some of these trees are common across multiple locations (including those outside of Texas), others are mainly indigenous.
Texas Tree Species
When it comes to trees, they vary by different factors that include flowering types, evergreen trees, fast-growing shade trees, native trees, and a lot of other distinctive features.
Trees in Texas easily fit into any of these features. You’ll find comprehensive information on these and more as you read on.
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About Tree Identification
There are tons of tree species worldwide, with an estimated 100,000 being suggested worldwide.
These different species make up about 25% of all plants on earth. In the United States, about 826 other tree species have been identified by the American National Register of Big Trees.
The USDA’s Checklist of U.S Trees also identifies around 679 native and 69 naturalized species.
In the state of Texas, 319 different species of trees have been captured by Texas Big Tree Registry. Here, we won’t get into all the details on every tree included.
Instead, we’ll discuss some of Texas’s most famous tree species.
In other words, tree species that thrive in Texas will be focused on. The information supplied below should give you a clear idea of what these trees are.
Tree Native to Texas
To allow for better discussion comprehension, we’ll classify trees in Texas under different categories.
These include native trees, standard trees, fast-growing trees, flowering trees, and evergreen trees. A brief explanation has been provided about each tree type mentioned.
i. Native Trees in Texas
As the name suggests, trees under this category are native to Texas. They include cedar elm, live oak, Texas ash, southern red oak, and black cherry.
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Cedar Elm
Cedar elm trees are species native to Texas and identified by their thicker cuticles and smaller leaves that make them well-adapted to Texas’s hot and dry climate.
The cedar elm grows to heights between 50 and 90 ft high at maturity.
It’s generally considered a low-maintenance tree due to its tolerance for poor draining and compacted soils.
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Live Oak
Live oaks grow to heights of around 35 to 40 ft. at maturity. This tree species typically have a spread of more than 75 ft. wide. It is drought-tolerant and has an average lifespan of 100 years.
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Texas Ash
The Texas ash tree is another native tree called mountain ash. Unlike the other species mentioned, this tree has a significantly shorter lifespan of around 15 to 20 years.
At maturity, the tree reaches heights of about 35 to 40 ft.
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Southern Red Oak
You’ll find the southern red oak around sloppy and rocky areas of Texas.
It has an average lifespan of 100 years. In fall, the foliage of the south of red oak turns red to yellow, thus making it an excellent pick for a landscape tree.
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Black Cherry
This is a flowering and fruit-bearing tree. Wood from black cherry trees is excellent for furniture. At maturity, this tree reaches heights of around 50 ft.
ii. Common Trees in Texas
This is a category which a more significant percentage of Texas trees fall under. This consists of all the trees discussed above and below.
People seeking to grow any of these trees must determine what serves their needs. We won’t be getting into the specifics due to the long list of trees found here.
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Fast-Growing Trees
Certain tree species are considered fast-growing. Some common types include American elm, Mexican white oak, American sycamore, Shumard oak, and Texas ash. Let’s take a brief look at each.
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American Elm
Multiple names, including soft elm and common elm, know this tree. It’s a tree that does well in sunny conditions and well-drained soils. At maturity, American elm trees reach heights between 60 and 80 ft.
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Mexican White Oak
With heights of about 80 ft and foliage spread around 60 ft., the Mexican white oak is one tree well adjusted to Texas’ climatic conditions.
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American Sycamore
This deciduous tree reaches heights of around 75 to 100 at maturity. The tree is known for its wide canopy with its large trunk. It’s tolerable to different soil conditions, although it thrives best in moist soils.
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Shumard Oak
The Shumard oak is tolerable to a wide range of soil conditions. At maturity, this tree grows to an average height of 70.
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Texas Ash
If you want a tree that offers adequate shade, the Texas ash is one to consider. This tree species is a sight to behold in fall due to its varying colors of orange, yellow, and purple leaves.
iii. Flowering Trees in Texas
Are you interested in flowering plants?
There are several of these that thrive in the climates of Texas. They include the magnolia, redbud, nacho orchid, Mexican buckeye, and desert willow trees.
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Magnolia
The magnolia is one flowering tree you should consider adding to your landscape. It produces beautiful white flowers that remain for as long as six months. These let out appealing fragrances too.
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Redbud
Another appealing Texas tree you can grow around your home is the redbud. Its colorful purple and pink blooms enhance the aesthetic appeal of your surroundings.
What more? It thrives in different soil conditions.
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Anacacho Orchid
This flowering tree grows to an average height of 7 ft at maturity. Asides from its beautiful white to pale pink flowers, the flowers produced give off an attractive scent that permeates your surroundings.
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Mexican Buckeye
The Mexican buckeye tree is another type you’ll find in Texas.
With an average height of 10 ft., this tree produces flowers and fruits. It’s a low-maintenance tree that thrives in various weather conditions.
iv. Evergreen Trees in Texas
A variety of evergreen trees can be found in Texas. Some of these include Yaupon, eastern red cedar, and the Anacua.
These are a few of the many tree species in Texas. We’ve briefly discussed these under different categories to understand better what they’re about.