University of Texas at Austin – Facilities Services Desirable Tree Species List * denotes preferred LARGE SIZE (40+ FEET TALL) REQUIRES MINIMUM 30 FOOT SPACING Advantages Use and Limitations Prefers full sun and well drained soils. Good Graceful arching vase-like growth form heat tolerance. Susceptible to Dutch elm with beautiful symmetrical crown of American Elm disease but still a healthy population of them spreading branches. Upwards of 30 Ulmus americana in Texas. Have seen significant leaf Dutch elm disease resistant cultivars damage by Elm Calligrapha beetles on now available. Easy to transplant several campus trees. Develops knees when exposed to standing Deciduous conifer adaptable to wet or water. Will require supplemental irrigation Baldcypress semi dry conditions. Does well in full during summer months on drier sites. Cones Taxodium distichum sun. Majestic tree with fine textured and seeds contain staining compounds. Can appearance. become chlorotic in high alkaline soils. Bur Oak One of the fastest and easiest growing Large acorns are very decorative but can Quercus macrocarpa oaks. Commonly lives to 200-300 years. become hazardous. Avoid around vehicles Adapts well to urban conditions. and pedestrians. Acorns desired by squirrels which have a Attractive fall color. Does best in well- Chinquapin Oak* tendency to remove the tender bark of this drained soil and adapts to many Quercus muehlnbergii tree when young. Seldom troubled by different soil types. Grows in full sun. disease or pests. Also known as Mexican white oak. A university favorite, rapidly becoming a Drought tolerant, suitable for Monterrey Oak* popular landscape tree which can affect xeriscaping. Long-lived, fast growing, Quercus polymorpha availability in larger sizes. A must in any remains evergreen for most of the year. landscape plan…but be careful of overplanting. Montezuma Cypress* Does not produce cypress knees. Very similar appearance to but grows twice Taxodium mucronatum Drought tolerant and fast growing. as fast as Baldcypress counterpart. Weight of fruit on limbs can cause clearance State tree. Desirable edible nut. Large Pecan* issues. Prone to tent caterpillar, fall slow growing tree. Staple in local Carya illinoensis webworm and squirrel damage. Slow landscapes. growing and difficult to transplant. Shumard Oak* One of the largest red oaks. Tolerant of Difficult finding quality container root stock in Quercus shumardii various ph levels. Long lived. A staple Texas, best to buy from nurseries that use in local landscapes. local seed sources. Susceptible to oak wilt. 1 Susceptible to oak wilt fungus and spreading through root grafting. Requires constant clearance pruning for vehicles and Majestic and long lived, a very tough pedestrians. Recognize over abundance of tree. Adaptable to wide pH range and Southern Live Oak* this species on campus. Highrise (‘QVTIA’) can tolerate drought and poor soils. Quercus virginiana cultivar is an ideal selection for placement in Semi evergreen. A popular staple in restricted canopy areas; upright, narrow local landscapes. pyramidal growth pattern with benefits of traditional live oak; some difficulty in availability. More drought, insect and disease Will require full sun and plenty of room. Can Mexican Sycamore tolerant than American counterpart. be prone to anthracnose and bacterial leaf Platanus mexicana Attractive leaves, very fast grower. scorch. Fruit, can be messy. Weight of fruit can create limb clearance issues. Tree Walnut Distinctive tree. Genetically superior extremely allelopathic (inhibits growth of Juglans nigra cultivars currently available. nearby plants.) Avoid near sidewalks and vehicles as seeds contain staining compounds. 2 MEDIUM SIZE (20-40 FEET TALL) REQUIRES 20 FOOT SPACING Advantages Use and Limitations Pyramidal shape, susceptible to juniper Arizona Cypress* Very drought and heat tolerant. blight in highly irrigated situations. Avoid Evergreen, can be grown in full sun. Cupressus arizonica placing in clay soil due to wind throw. Beautiful red and yellow fall color. Needs good drainage. Slightly allelopathic. Big Tooth Maple* Relatively drought tolerant. Short life span. May require training. Acer grandidentatum Commonly grows in limestone soils. Drought tolerant once established. Susceptible to storm damage in high winds. Cedar Elm* Grows in a variety of soils. A popular Should not be placed in planters or tree Ulmus crassifolia staple in local landscapes. wells surrounded by concrete. Ugly and gangly when first planted, Outstanding heat, drought and soil however appearance improves with age. Training for strong structure suggested. Chinese Pistache tolerance. Genetic resistance to insect and disease problems. Does not tolerate extremely moist sites. Pistacia chinensis Spectacular fall color. One of the last trees in the season to leaf out. Slow to moderately fast growing tree. Hard to find in the nursery trade. Not to be Durand Oak Performs well in a variety of soils. Very few pests. Should be used confused with Bigelow oak. Quercus durandii more. Interesting asymmetrical spreading Needs to be pruned to develop strong Honey Mesquite form. Prefers full sun and is drought branch and trunk structure. Tree contains tolerant. Foliage flowers and fruit are Prosopis glandulosa thorns and drops fruit but tolerable. attractive. Native. Considered a handsome and durable Very desirable street and sidewalk tree. Lacebark Elm tree. Relatively free from various elm May require training at a young age. ‘Drake’ Ulmus parvifolia diseases. Distinctive bark. is a good cultivar. Beautiful small native oak. Highly Also known as Blue oak. Great for low Lacey Oak tolerant to heat, drought alkaline soil water landscapes. All the benefits of an Quercus laceyi and pests. oak in a smaller package. Smaller, more drought tolerant May be difficult to locate in nursery, grown Texas Ash relative of white ash. Dramatic colors in the fall. Prefers alkaline soil. Well in small quantities. Fraxinus texensis suited for urban situations. Foliage turns a vivid red and orange Decent street and park tree. Will require some training to develop strong central Texas Red Oak* in autumn. More drought tolerant than other oak counterparts. Does leader and grow upright. Susceptible to oak Quercus buckleyi, Quercus texana well in rocky, alkaline soils. wilt disease. 3 SMALL SIZE (1-20 FEET TALL ) REQUIRES 15 FOOT SPACING Advantages Use and Limitations Fall color alone makes a worthy choice. Striking color in fall, fuzzy panicles American Smoke Tree Capable of withstanding urban conditions. give interesting smoky appearance. Cotinus obovatus Adaptable to various soil conditions. Great small spring flowering tree. It Does best in full sun to bright shade. has no disease or insect problems Needs well-drained soil. Can be a bit top- Anacacho Orchid Tree* and is drought tolerant once heavy when planted from container, may Bauhinia lunarioides, established. Holds leaves over mild require solid staking until roots establish. Bauhinia congesta winters. Unique foliage and showy Increasingly available in local nurseries flowers. although previously rare. Many different varieties, fairly trouble Adaptable to various soil types. Susceptible Crape Myrtle free once established. A staple in to powdery mildew. Lagerstroemia indica many landscapes. Drought tolerant and should not be over Delicate small tree with beautiful watered, ideal for raised beds. Can be Desert Willow* flowers that attract hummingbirds. carefully pruned to desired form. Easy to Chilopsis linearis Common landscape choice. grow. Requires pruning to develop strong Grows clusters of pink blooms that in structure and ensure vehicle and Eve’s Necklace* fall grow into small strings of seed. pedestrian clearance. Grows in part or full Sophora affinis Grows moderately fast. sun. Fruit is not a problem. Extremely heat and drought tolerant. Hardy Flameleaf Sumac* Gets its name from the outstanding with little maintenance. Must be trained to Rhus lanceolata fall orange and red hues of the tree. avoid shrub like appearance, although not aggressive like other sumacs. Showy yellow flowers from mid Prefers xeric conditions. Heat and drought Flowering Senna summer to fall. Hardy perennial tree. tolerant. Easy to grow. Produces long Senna corymbosa Can be grown to hedge or screen. seed pod. Very drought tolerant and can withstand reflective heat. Adapts to Grows in full sun and drought tolerant. Goldenball Leadtree* various soils but prefers good Outstanding ornamental features. Leucaena retusa drainage. Blooms April to October Susceptible to breakage in high wind or ice and very prominent after a heavy storms. Will require some training. rain. Beautiful single trunked spring Dark edible red fruit in fall. May attract Mexican Plum* flowering tree. Relatively drought wildlife, avoid placement near sidewalks . Prunus mexicana tolerant. Prefers afternoon shade. Easy to grow, contrasts well with other Evergreen, Grows well in a variety of plants. Edible fruit used a variety of foods. Loquat soils. Proven performer in area. Prefer full sun. Should not be planted near Eriobotrya japonica Generates a much desired fruit. sidewalks. Avoid males, fruits only produced by female trees. Demand for this ideal Spectacular red orange and yellow Possumhaw Holly landscape tree is increasing nursery fruit. Found in single or multiple trunk Ilex decidua availability. 4 Adaptable from full sun to heavy Ideal for erosion control and stabilizing Roughleaf Dogwood* shade. Showy flowers during summer banks.