Recommended Shade Trees

Steve Houser Dallas County Master Gardener

Pecan, Carya illinoensis

Pecans are large deciduous shade trees tolerant of conditions in all of Texas. Supplemental water is needed in the Trans-Pecos area. They are healthiest in rich deep bottomland soils, but will adapt to lesser sites. They are the fastest-growing of all the hickories, but like the others of the genus they are difficult to transplant because of their large taproot. While the foliage is fairly fine textured, the tree drops fruit (source of edible pecans), twigs, leaves, and sometimes branches, making it a less than perfect landscape plant. Pecan is the state tree of Texas.

Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo Biloba (Maidenhair Tree) is practically pest free, resistant to storm damage, and casts light shade. Only male plants should be used as the female produces ill-smelling fruit in late autumn. Ginkgo tolerates most soil types. The tree is easily transplanted and has a yellow fall color.

Texas Live Oak, Quercus fusiformis

Escarpment Live Oak (Texas Live Oak) can be thought of as a smaller version of Live Oak (Q. virginiana). It grows on well-drained soils from alkaline to slightly acid, although it is rare in the heavy clay of the true Blackland Prairies. It is thicket-forming, spreading from root sprouts to form "mottes." Escarpment Live Oak is more drought- and cold-tolerant than Coastal Live Oak (Q. virginiana), and can grow in more alkaline soil. In large portions of Central Texas, the live oak populations are hybrids between Q. fusiformis and Q. virginiana. Both species are susceptible to the oak wilt fungus.

Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa

Bur Oak is a majestic tree of the tallgrass prairie that once covered central North America. It grows best in deep limestone soils of riverbanks and valleys but it will adapt to many different environments. It has a long taproot which makes it hard to transplant but also very drought- tolerant. It is also fast growing and long-lived. Bur oak is noted for its very large leaves and acorns: the leaves are from one-half to one foot long, and acorns can be as large as 2 inches long and wide, enclosed in a cup with fringe on the edge. It casts deep shade.

Chinquapin Oak, Quercus muhlenbergii (also muehlenbergii)

Chinquapin Oak is an attractive medium to large shade tree suitable for use in much of Texas. Its distinctive saw-tooth leaves, which resemble those of the chinquapin tree found in the eastern U.S., are a rich green, turning yellow to bronze in fall. It grows in the wild on well-drained bottomland soils and limestone hills near water, but it is adaptable to a range of soils and Page 1 of 2 Last Revised: 10-16-08 exposures. Seldom troubled by diseases or pests, it is moderate to fast-growing and develops an open rounded crown as it ages.

American Elm, Ulmus americana

American Elm is the classic vase-shaped landscape tree, with a beautiful symmetrical crown of spreading branches. Unfortunately, Dutch Elm Disease has taken its toll on the population, although they are still a common sight in some regions of Texas. Their range is throughout east and central Texas, extending somewhat south and westward. American elms are fast-growing, easily transplanted, and will grow in many situations, tolerating wide differences in rainfall, soil, and light conditions. They have shallow roots, which makes it difficult to grow anything underneath them.

White Ash, Fraxinus americana

White Ash is widely distributed in eastern North America. Commonly planted as an ornamental shade tree, it forms an upright rounded crown and maintains a better form in old age than the more frequently planted Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash). It occurs in the deep, rich moist soils in the eastern third of Texas and grows best in these conditions; it does not tolerate soil compaction and poor soil. It has pinnately divided leaves that can turn pink, orange and purple in fall. Male and female flowers are produced on separate trees in April and May; the male trees flower yearly, but the females flower and fruit only every 3-5 years.

Cedar Elm, Ulmus crassifolia

Cedar Elm is the most widespread native elm in Texas. It grows in all areas of the eastern half of Texas except the extreme southeastern part. It is a tough, adaptable shade tree with excellent drought tolerance and beautiful golden yellow fall color. Its leaves are small and rough, and glossy green in the spring. Cedar Elm can withstand heavy, poorly drained clay soils and soils that are moderately compacted. It is the only native Texas elm that flowers and sets seed in the fall. Although it is susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease, it appears to be less of a problem with it than it is with American Elm, U. americana, or Winged Elm, U. alata.

Live Oak, Quercus virginiana

Live oak is majestic and long-lived, with a crown that can spread up to twice its height. It is pH adaptable, and tolerant of drought and poor soils, although it does not tolerate poorly drained soils or extremely well-drained deep sand. Its small, leathery gray-green leaves are evergreen except when it reaches the northern part of its range (zone 7a), when it becomes semi-evergreen. Its primary liability is its susceptibility to the oak wilt fungus, although it hasn't hit Q. virginiana as severely as Escarpment Live Oak, Q. fusiformis. It is also somewhat cold sensitive in the northern parts of the state.

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