Texas Gardener
Four Native Texas Trees you can grow Easily in Austin
There are quite a number of trees native to Texas which you can include in your garden if you live in Austin. However, Texas is a big state, and it has one of the world’s most diverse soil and climate conditions. You need to make sure that the environmental variables are ideal for the growth of these trees before you plant them .Here’s a way to make the job easier. Below are the top four native Texas trees which you can plant in Austin without any worries.
Desert Willow
The Desert Willow is classified as a small tree and is adaptable to most parts of Texas except the eastern regions (Houston, Tyler, Nacagdoches, Beaumont and Texarkana). It’s known for its blooms which look like snapdragon and grace the state throughout the summer. Its foliage resembles willow leaves, and you won’t have any trouble maintaining this tree in an Austin garden.
It has very low water requirements which make it adaptable to regions which are prone to draught. The Desert Willow grows between 15 to 20 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide. At its best, it also blooms during the fall. Just make sure that the soil in your garden has excellent drainage. This tree is low-maintenance, and could survive even if you just water it occasionally, when the climate is extremely hot.
Honey Mesquite
The Honey Mesquite is another small, Native Texas tree which is known for its wide, lacy structure. It grows well in most Texan regions except for the Eastern (mentioned above) and the Amarillo (Panhandle) regions. It’s a flowering tree which adapts very well to dry, hot conditions, but also grows well in areas which receive more than 40 meters of rain every year.
Make sure your garden soil is well-drained if you want to add this tree to your backyard because it still grows better under dry conditions. The honey mesquite belongs to the legume family and has seed pods, bright green foliage resembling feathers and drooping from its long branches. The tree is easy to grow but could be extremely difficult to remove. If you cut down a single-trunked tree, it would only be replaced with a multi-trunked re-growth.
Bald Cypress
The bald cypress gets its name from its fine foliage which makes it look barer than other cypress trees. In Texas, you’ll see it in full fall colors. The deciduous tree is classified as a large, native Texan tree, growing well above 35 feet tall. It’s not commonly grown as a backyard garden unless you own a wide expanse of land. The ideal soil type for this tree is alluvial and you’ll find it mostly in the wetlands. It can grow wildly along rivers, swamps, streams and creeks. It can grow well in Austin, and is pretty popular in other areas of Texas, but it can’t live in the Panhandle area.
Chinquapin Oak
The Chinquapin Oak is a large, native tree in Texas known for its bold foliage and peculiarly round top. Sometimes, its name is also spelled out as “chinkapin”. It is native to North Carolina, but could grow well in Austin as well as other parts of Texas except Amarillo in the Panhandle region. Records show that on average, this tree can grow between 30 to 50 feet tall and its leaves somewhat resemble chestnuts. It’s classified as a white oak tree, and could tolerate hot, dry conditions. The soil needs to have a good drainage for this tree to grow well.
Source: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/xeriscape/table5.html
About the Author
The author of this article has expertise in Austin Texas homes for sale. The articles about west Austin real estate reveals the author’s knowledge on the same. The author has published many articles in his Austin real estate blog as well.
Howard Cheek wildlife photography: Central Texas Gardener
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