Carolina Buckthorn Rhamnus caroliniana

A Texas native, that should have been named Texas Buckthorn is actually called Carolina Buckthorn. A small deciduous tree with a moderate growth rate.

Crabapple Malus angustifolia

Slow growing deciduous tree. Will need irrigation to get established, then drought tolerant. Does well in Parker County alkaline soils. This Texas native gives excellent fall color and a showy and fragrant flower in the spring. Great for bees and butterflies.

Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis

Small, deciduous fair growth rate. Very drought tolerant and does well in the Parker County alkaline soils. Showy pink flower in spring and summer. This tree works well in a cactus garden or as an accent tree to a garden of cactus or succulents. Do not over water this tree.

 Firewise - Designation by Texas A&M Forest Service

r3-2015

Goldenball Leadtree Leucaena retusa

Grows in full sun to partial shade, deciduous. Mature size 15’x10’. Blooms periodically in spring in bright yellow puff balls, followed by long seed pods. Lends a tropical look to the landscape. Excellent small trees suited for providing light shade with a tropical look. Leaves are soft green with a slightly weeping aspect.

Lacey Oak Quercus laceyi

This is one of the smaller Oak trees, able to grow in sun to partial shade, deciduous. Mature size 30’x30’. Ideal for small yards. Leaves turn bluish gray in summer. Lacey Oak is native to the Edwards Plateau a region in west-central Texas.

Mexican Plum, Prunus mexicana

Mexican plum is a beautiful single-trunk, spring-flowering small tree with bark that eventually gets dark and striated, peeling off in patches. It gets as tall as 25 feet and is fast-growing, making it a good tree for new landscapes.

Redbud Cercis canadensis OR Cercis reniformis

The Redbud will grow in full sun or dappled shade.  A small deciduous tree 20 foot by 10 foot when mature will bloom during spring in shades of purple, pink, or white, followed by seed pods.  The Oklahoma cultivar (Cercis reniformis) performs better than the Texas cultivar (Cercis canadensis). Most nurseries keep in stock a proven variety, Cercis canadensis commercially called Forest Pansy Redbud.

Rusty Black-Haw Viburnum, Virburnum rufidulum

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained loams and even in the soils of Parker County. Plant in full sun to part shade. Mature size 15 feet x 10 feet. Blooms in late spring with large creamy white blossoms, followed by berries. Plants generally grow denser in full sun. More than one plant should be used in order to facilitate proper pollination necessary for abundant fruit production.

Shantung Maple Acer truncatum

Native to China, the Shantung Maple is a small, rounded, deciduous understory tree that typically grows 20-25’ tall with a densely-branched, rounded crown features medium green leaves with triangular lobes. Leaves emerge reddish purple in spring but mature to dark green. A growth rate of 3 feet per year.

Texas Mountain Laurel Sophora secundiflora

This small evergreen is a great tree for small to medium areas. It will work well in partial shade to full sun. This is a showy Texas native with clusters of fragrant purple flowers in the spring and velvet seed pods later in the fall.

Texas Persimmon (Chapote) Diospyros texana

This a great small Texas native. It is deciduous with a slow growth rate and minimal water needs after established. Great for Parker County as it grows well in alkaline soil and summer heat.