TREES
M-Z
Magnolia
M. grandiflora \ Southern Magnolia
µTexas Nativeµ This beautiful evergreen tree is the trademark of the south. Grows naturally from Florida to East Texas. Heights can reach 60-100’, covered with large white blooms from April to August. Hardy to Zone 7.
M. grandiflora ‘D.D. Blanchard’
A superior brown backed evergreen magnolia. Dark green leaves are backed with an intense copper indumentum. Growth habit is a natural compact pyramidal form. Discovered growing in D.D. Blanchard’s garden in North Carolina. Zone 7.
M. grandiflora ‘Little Gem’
Suited for the smaller garden. Makes a medium size, evergreen tree, 20’ plus, in height with a compact, narrow columnar habit. Foliage is dense glossy deep green and heavily felted beneath. Leaves and flowers are smaller than those of the species. Will display flowers when quite young. Blooms sporatically during year. Selected by Warren Steed of Steed’s Nursery from a tree in Candor, N.C. in 1952 and registered in 1966. Zone 7.
M. grandiflora 'Little Gem' espalier
'Little Gem' beautifully displayed on an espalier.
M. x ‘Ann’
This is a U.S. National Arboretum. Flowers are red-purple and 2-4” in diameter with 6-8 petals. Tepals are red purple at the base, gradually paling toward the apex. Flower buds are erect and tapered. Blooms the earliest of this group of hybrids. Deciduous, grows 10-12’ tall. Zone 5.
M. x soulangiana \ Saucer Magnolia
Multi-trunk, broadly-spreading branches create rounded form 20-25’ high and wide. Spring flowering, large saucer-shaped creamy-white blooms, purplish-pink outside. Deep green, deciduous leaves appear after the blooms. Zone 5.
Malus ‘Sutyzam’ (‘Sugartyme’ ™) PP7062 \ Crabapple
Beautiful pale pink buds open to white flowers in the spring. Crisp green leaves are sharply toothed and hairy. Reaches 18X15’ tall at maturity. Excellent resistance to disease. Zones 4-8.
Malus ioensis ‘Prairiefire’ \ Prairiefire Crabapple
Buds open into dark, pinkish-red flowers during spring and later produces reddish purple fruit. Spring foliage turns from red to dark green for summer. Grows to about 20’ tall and equally as wide taking on a round shape in maturity. Excellent for adding impact to landscapes. Zones 4-10.
Myrica cerifera \ Southern Wax Myrtle
(MYE-reh-kah)
µTexas Nativeµ This large evergreen shrub or small tree with multiple trunks usually forms a narrow, round-topped crown. Makes a nice ornamental when planted in the landscape. Prefers sandy wet soils, but will adapt to a landscape setting. Mature height can reach 40’. Zone 6.
Nyssa sylvatica \ Black Gum
Beautiful fall color, changing from dark green in summer, through the red spectrum to purple in the fall. Slow to medium growth rate, maturing at 30-50’ in height with a 20-30’ spread. Excellent specimen tree preferring a more acidic soil that is moist and well-drained. Full sun, part shade. Zone 4.
Parrotia persica \ Persian Parrotia
Excellent use for small lawn or street tree. Spring leaves are reddish purple when unfolding, changing to lustrous medium dark green in summer. Fall color develops to brilliant yellow, orange then scarlet. One of the most beautiful trees for foliage effect. Qualities include exfoliating bark, diverse coloration, mostly pest free, stress tolerant and adaptable to various soil types. Grows 20-40' tall and spreads 15-30'. Deciduous. Zones 5-8
Pinus \ Pine
P. brutia ssp. eldarica \ Afghan Pine or Mondell Pine
Graceful, symmetrical pyramid grows 25-35’ high and 20-25’ wide. Bold branches hold long, blue-green needles. Rapid grower but needs drier climate for best performance. Zone 6.
P. elliottii \ Slash Pine
µTexas Nativeµ This rapid growing tree forms a broadly conical to pyramidal shape and a dense rounded crown. Mature height is 80-115’ tall. Grows naturally in low elevations and normally occurs on wet flatlands along borders of ponds, rivers and streams where soil is usually sandy and poor in nutrients. Zone 7b.
P. mugo \ Mugo Pine
Very hardy and one of the most widely used pines because of the slow growth habit, reaching 15X15’ with age. Shrubby in infancy but may become spreading with age. This pine has very dark green, 2” needles and short cones. Excellent container or rock garden plant. Zone 3-7.
P. thunbergii \ Japanese Black Pine
Sharp, rich green needles, rapid growing, pyramidal shaped. Bold irregular branching pattern. Mature height 40-50’ tall and 15-25’ wide. Zone 6.
Pistacia chinensis \ Chinese Pistache
Deciduous tree with moderate growth to 50X40’ Selected by the CEMAP Program for its ability to adapt to almost any soil or water conditions. Not prone to insect or disease problems. Beautiful fall color. Excellent choice for the landscape. Zone 6.
Prunus
P. caroliniana \ Cherry Laurel
µTexas Nativeµ A small tree reaching 35-40’ tall. Evergreen leaves, white blooms followed by glistening black fruit. Requires deep, moist, but well-drained soil. Zone 7.
P. caroliniana ‘Compacta’ \ Compact Cherry Laurel
Compact shrub smaller than the species. White flower spikes followed by fruits in fall. Makes a nice evergreen hedge. Mature height 10-12’. Well-drained soil. Zone 7.
P. glandulosa \ Dwarf Flowering Almond
Deciduous with many branches that grow in an upright, spreading habit to 6’ in height. Flowers appear early before leaves, and turn branches into long wands of blossoms. The 4” pointed leaves are narrow and light green in color. Pink or white ˝” flowers can be single or double. Prune back hard just after blooming. Cut wands can be used for arrangements. Dwarf Flowering Almond can be used as a flowering hedge. Most any well-drained soil. Sun to partial shade. Zone 4.
P. mexicana \ Mexican Plum
A single trunked, irregularly shaped tree reaching 25’ in height. Clouds of white blooms in early spring are followed with dark red to purple fruit. Exfoliating bark on older trees. Drought tolerant. Deciduous. Most any well-drained soil. Zone 5.
P. serotina var. eximia \ Escarpment Black Cherry
µTexas Nativeµ Flowers of white recemes, 4-6" long in early spring. Medium size tree, 45-50' tall and 35' wide. Adaptable soil requirements and high heat tolerance. Native habitat is Edwards Plateau and streambeds into the Rio Grands Plains. Zone 7.
P. x cistena \ Purpleleaf Sand Cherry
A cross between Prunus cerasifera ‘Atropurpurea’ and Prunus pumila. Leaves are hairy along the lower midrib. Bears white flowers but rarely fruits. Grows multi-branched, upright, 6-10’ high, and as wide. Very cold hardy. Zone 2.
Pyrus \ Ornamental Pear
P. calleryana ‘Aristocrat’ ™
Fast growth with a branching habit resulting in a strong pyramidal form. Very handsome, glossy, green, large leaves with wavy margins. Fall color is a purplish-red. White blooms in the spring. Height 40-50’ and 40’ wide. Zone 5.
P. calleryana ‘Bradford’
Snowy white blooms, bronze-red fall foliage and fast growth are some of the qualities that make this tree so popular. Non-fruiting. Reaching 30-50’ tall and 20-35’ wide. Zone 5.
P. calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ ™
The growth of this variety is dense, narrowly pyramidal and evenly branched with crisp, glossy green foliage. New growth has a reddish tint. Abundant white blooms in spring followed with outstanding reddish-orange to purple fall color. It reaches a height of 30-35’ tall and 15-20’ wide. Zone 5.
Quercus \ Oak
Q. buckleyi (texana) \ Texas Red Oak
µTexas Nativeµ This medium size shade tree is native to alkaline Hill Country soils, but will adapt to many situations. Outstanding fall color. Full sun to part shade. Grows 20-40’ tall and 20-30’ wide. Zone 7.
Q. glaucoides (Prev. Q. laceyi) \ Lacey Oak
µTexas Nativeµ This moderate size oak is one of the most attractive of the Texas white oaks. Dusky blue-green to bluish-gray, deciduous leaves turn shades of gold in fall. Prefers dry, well-drained soils. Mature height 25-50’ tall. Zone 7.
Q. macrocarpa \ Bur Oak
µTexas Nativeµ This large majestic tree grows 70-100’ tall and is identified by its thick, corky bark, large leaves and the acorns that can be up to 2” across. Grows from Texas to eastern North America. Tolerant of varying soils and moisture conditions. White oak group. Zone 3.
Q. muehlenbergii \ Chinkapin Oak
µTexas Nativeµ Excellent shade tree which should be more widely used. White oak group Mature height of 60-70’ tall. Prefers well-drained, alkaline or slightly acidic soil. Zone 5.
Q. polymorpha \ Mexican White Oak
µTexas Nativeµ Upright, wide-spreading tree. Thick blue-green leaves that emerge reddish-green tinted with pink. Mature height 80-100’. Drought tolerant once established. From Mexico, with a small stand native to Texas. Zone 7.
Q. pungens var. vaseyana \ Vasey Oak
µTexas Nativeµ This nearly evergreen has compact, scaly bark. Leaves are the smallest of all oaks and are gently lobed with wavy edges. Prefers limestone soil. Grows 25-40’ tall. Zone 7.
Q. shumardii \ Shumard Red Oak
µTexas Nativeµ Fairly fast growing, with an average height of 50’. Prefers rich, moist bottomland soil. The native range is from the southeastern Atlantic coastline into Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and east to Pennsylvania. Spectacular late fall color. Zone 3.
Q. virginiana \ Live Oak
µTexas Nativeµ Dark brown bark and deep green leaves make this tree popular. Evergreen leaves rejuvenate in the spring. Grows 40-80’ tall and can have a spread of 60-100’. Zone 7
Rhamnus caroliniana \ Carolina Buckthorn
(Ram-nus kare-oh-lin-ee-AY-na)
µTexas Nativeµ A small tree or shrub that develops smooth and lustrous dark green leaves. In the fall, small round, red to black fruit tops the leaves. A good ornamental. Acid or alkaline soils. Mature height is 25-35’ tall. Zone 6.
Rhus aromatica \ Fragrant Sumac
(ROOS air-oh-MAT-eh-kah)
µTexas Nativeµ Deciduous mounding 6x6’ shrub with beautiful fall color. Insignificant flowers early in the year produce red fruit in the spring that provide a food source for birds and wildlife. Prefers full to partial sun. Zone 3.
Rhus copallina var. lanceolata \ Prairie Flame-leaf Sumac
µTexas Nativeµ Clumping shrub to small tree with a rounded top. Leaves turn red and orange in fall. Can be a single trunk or pruned for a multi trunk. Blooms mid to late summer with white clusters. Fall fruit are red drupes. Needs well-drained soil, full sun to part shade. Zone 5.
Rhus virens \ Evergreen Sumac
µTexas Nativeµ Shiny green, 1˝" long leaves stay on plant during winter, dropping toward end of season, making it nearly evergreen. New growth appears within a week of losing leaves. Grows 8-12’ tall, and has 2” white flower clusters in late summer. Orange-red fruits form after blooming. Will grow in most any soil but needs good drainage. Full sun to part shade. Zone 8.
Salix discolor \ Pussy Willow
Large shrub or small tree, multi-stemmed, upright, growing 20X8-10’. Leaves are oblong, to 4” long. Likes wet habitat. Deciduous. Zone 2.
Senna corymbosa \ Flowering Senna
Continual summer blooming shrub with bright yellow flowers. The numerous spreading branches form a rounded crown. Native to Argentina, escaped from cultivation and has naturalized through East Texas to Florida. Grows to 12’ in height and 6-8’ wide. Does best in well-drained soil. Full sun. Zone 7.
Sophora affinis \ Eve’s Necklace
(soh-FOR-ah ah-FIN-us))
µTexas Nativeµ Pink wisteria-like blooms in spring, followed with a black string of 1˝” drooping segmented black black pods in the winter. Seeds are poisonous. Small tree maturing height at 15-20’. Full sun or use as an understory tree. Deciduous, with natural habitat in alkaline soil along creek or riverbeds, but adaptable to other soils. Makes a beautiful addition to the landscape. Zone 6.
Sophora secundiflora \ Texas Mountain Laurel
µTexas Nativeµ A large shrub or small tree, naturally multi-stemmed, grows 15-25’ in height with a 10-15’ spread. Early spring, fragrantly grape scented, pendulous racemes of purple blooms result in clusters of droops in winter. Seed pods are poisonous. Glossy green leaflets 1-2” long. Evergreen Tolerant of various soils if well-drained. Zone 7.
Taxodium ascendens \ Pond Bald Cypress
Almost thready appearance foliage on this deciduous conifer. Grows 45-55' tall, pyramidal, becoming flat-topped in old age. Extremely adaptable to soils, withstands standing water. Zone 5.
Taxodium distichum \ Bald Cypress
µTexas Nativeµ With its pyramidal shape, fast growth and the ability to adapt to urban landscape, this tree is an excellent ornamental. Deciduous leaves turn copper color in the fall. Mature height of 100-120’. Zone 4.
Ulmus crassifolia \ Cedar Elm
µTexas Nativeµ Medium size tree of the southern United States. Prefers bottomlands and streams in a limestone soil, but will adapt to other soils. Fast growing, to 60-70’ tall forming a round-topped tree. Beautiful shade tree with age. Zone 7.
Ulmus parvifolia \ Lacebark Elm
Deciduous, fast growing tree from China produces a round-headed tree with pendulous branches. Shedding bark is a beautiful mottled combination of gray, green, to reveal orange and brown patches underneath the bark. Mature size is 40X50’ wide. Zone 5.
Ungnadia speciosa \ Mexican Buckeye
(ung-NAH-dee-ah spee-see-OH-sah)
µTexas Nativeµ Attractive pink blooms are produced in the spring. This small tree or shrub will grow to 30’ tall in the right situations. Prefers limestone soils and grows naturally in Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. Attractive foliage makes this a nice ornamental. Zone 6.
Viburnum
V. dentatum ‘Christom’ \ Arrowwood Virburnum
White spring flowers give way to hundreds of little blue balls at the end of umbel-shaped flower heads. Great for landscaping, growing 5x5’. Full sun to part shade. Zone 3.
V. macrocephalum \ Chinese Snowball
Spectacular clusters of white flowers, 6-8” in diameter, having small sterile florets. Flowers appear early spring. Plants produce no fruit. Attractive as a border specimen or espalier. Zone 6.
V. rufidulum \ Rusty Blackhaw Virbunum
µTexas Nativeµ Handsome lustrous dark green leathery foliage, turn a rich burgundy in the fall. Clusters of creamy-white flowers in the spring. Reaches 10-20’ in height. Excellent plant for understory. Zones 5-9.
V. tinus ‘Compactum’ \ Spring Bouquet
Small dark green foliage covers the round, compact form of upright branches 4-6’ high and wide. Early spring brings pinkish-white flowers. Makes a good hedge. Evergreen. Zone 7.
V. x burkwoodii \ Burkwood Viburnum
White flowers bloom in spring among lustrous green leaves. Semi-evergreen leaves mature to a sporadic wine-red color in the fall. Reaches 8-10' in height and 6-8' wide. This multi-trunk upright grower likes full sun and slightly acid soil that tends to be moist, but well-drained. Zones 5-8.
Vitex agnus-castus \ Chaste Tree
Blue to purple flower spikes appearing late spring to late summer. Small tree or shrub maturing at 30’ tall. Attractive compound leaves. Native of China, but is very prolific in the wild. Zone 6.
X Cupressocyparis leylandii \ Leyland Cypress
Fast growing evergreen tree. Long, slender, upright branches of flat, gray-green foliage. Accepts wide variety of soils. Will make a nice screen. Zone 6-9.
.