City of Austin - Tree Encyclopedia: Species Selection

Tree Encyclopedia

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Species Selection

Choosing the proper species and planting location is critical to tree health a nd longevity. This section depicts information to assist with selecting the appropriate species and planting location.

ADAPTED TREES FOR THE AUSTIN AREA

LARGE	MEDIUM	SMALL	SMALL (Shade Tolerant)
American Elm Bald Cypress Blackjack Oak Bumelia Bur Oak Chinquapin Oak Cottonwood Escarpment Cherry Escarpment Live Oak Montezuma Cypress Pecan Post Oak Shumard Oak Southern Live Oak Texas Sycamore Walnut	Arizona Cypress Ashe Juniper (Cedar)* Big Tooth Maple Cedar Elm Cherry Laurel Chinese Elm Durand Oak Escarpment Black Cherry Honey Mesquite Lacebark Elm Lacey Oak Monterey (Mexican White) Oak Soapberry Texas Ash Texas Red Oak	American Smoke Tree Anacacho Orchid Tree Crape Myrtle Desert Willow Eve’s Necklace Flameleaf Sumac Flowering Senna Goldenball Leadtree Goldenrain Tree Mexican Redbud Poinciana (Pride of Barbados) Pomegranate Possumhaw Holly Roughleaf Dogwood Shin Oak Texas Mountain Laurel Texas Persimmon Texas Pistachio Texas Redbud	Carolina Buckthorn Mexican Buckeye Mexican Plum Red Buckeye Rusty Viburnum Texas Buckeye Yaupon Holly

* Ashe Juniper (Cedar) (Juniperus ashei)
Cedar trees are more properly identified as Ashe Juniper trees. Topography with dense cedars, and minimal competing vegetation, were described as "Cedar Brakes" by early observers. Cedar trees are native to the area and are a significant component of the Live oak/Ashe Juniper/Texas Oak association found through-out the Hill Country. Cedar trees do emit a substance that inhibits the growth of some other plants. This is referred to as allelopathy. Before embarking on a total cedar tree eradication program consider the benefits provided by having some cedar trees. They are the original xeriscape plants, provide diversity, and supply screening from adjacent properties. Conversely, cedars out-compete virtually all other native trees. Most trees can coexist with junipers provided that dense thickets or direct competition is avoided. Live oaks generally do not suffer greatly by competition with cedars. However there are exceptions and in areas where specimen oaks exist, thickets of small cedars should be controlled. Most native oaks can coexist nicely with a reasonable number of junipers in close proximity. However cedar elms invaded by cedars are a different matter. Existing cedar elms should be protected from encroachment from junipers. Cedar elms can exist in harmony with a few junipers in their root zone areas, however they can suffer severely when many junipers compete directly.

COMMON DESIRABLE CHARARTERISTICS FOR THE AUSTIN AREA

ATTRACT WILDLIFE	DEER RESISTANT	SEASONAL COLOR
Anacacho Orchid Tree Arizona Cypress Bald Cypress Big Tooth Maple Bumelia Bur Oak Carolina Buckthorn Cedar Elm Cherry Laurel Chinquapin Oak Desert Willow Escarpment Black Cherry Escarpment Live Oak Eve’s Necklace Flameleaf Sumac Flowering Senna Goldenball Leadtree Hackberry Honey Mesquite Mexican Buckeye Mexican Plum Mexican Redbud Pecan Pomegranate Possumhaw Holly Red Buckeye Roughleaf Dogwood Rusty Viburnum Shumard Oak Soapberry Southern Live Oak Texas Mountain Laurel Texas Persimmon Texas Pistachio Texas Red Oak Texas Redbud Yaupon Holly	American Smoke Tree Bald Cypress Carolina Buckthorn Desert Willow Flameleaf Sumac Flowering Senna Honey Mesquite Mexican Buckeye Mexican Redbud Montezuma Cypress Possumhaw Holly Poinciana (Pride of Barbados) Red Buckeye Rusty Viburnum Soapberry Texas Mountain Laurel Texas Persimmon Texas Redbud Yaupon Holly	American Smoke Tree Anacacho Orchid Bald Cypress Bigtooth Maple Cedar Elm Chinese Pistache Chinquapin Oak Desert Willow Eve’s Necklace Flameleaf Sumac Fruiting Pear Goldenball Leadtree Mexican Plum Mexican Redbud Possumhaw Holly Red Buckeye Roughleaf Dogwood Rusty Viburnum Shumard Oak Soapberry Texas Ash Texas Mountain Laurel Texas Pistachio Texas Red Oak Texas Redbud Yaupon Holly


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