NATIVE WOODY PLANTS FOR EAST TEXAS LANDSCAPES
Isn’t it interesting that most of the trees used in East Texas landscapes are natives and most shrubs are not? Traditions in our plant heritage appear to be the reason behind this dichotomy that has led to our present urban landscape ecology. After all, most early settlers were too busy worrying about survival to be concerned with landscaping their property. The interest was with food CROPS - grains, vegetables and fruit dominated their motivation. After security and a little prosperity settled in, Americans (immigrants with a recent memory of the Old World) were eager to surround themselves with familiar plants from their homeland. Showy, flowering plants were preferred for the home site and old standards made their mark. Native plants often failed to make inroads. It was easy for early settlers to move small shrubs, cuttings, and seeds from one location to another. With plants came design. Each ethnic group carved out a philosophy of display and utility; the swept floor, yard fence, farm garden/orchard and an assortment of perennials characterized many southern homescapes. Old plants - many that lost favor as trends and fashion concepts changed - are now enjoying a resurgence of interest in a garden public starving for plant information.
The native xeriscape garden is one designed to include species that survive and thrive under low irrigation strategies. In our area of Texas, we can successfully cultivate many of the dry lovers from this portion of the state and parts west. Besides creating an attractive and less demanding landscape, a properly maintained xeriscape can conserve a considerable amount of water. Think about it: each year, Fort Worth area residents pour more than 11 billion gallons of water on their lawns and gardens, enough water to fill Lake Worth. The cost of providing a safe and plentiful water supply continues to rise. The average Fort Worth resident's water bill more than doubles during the summer months of June to September. As much as 50 percent of this additional water is used to irrigate lawns and gardens. Landscape experts agree that a lawn can be maintained in an attractive and healthy appearance with up to 50 percent less water than is typically used. Practicing xeriscape principles - allows for an attractive and pleasing landscape and results in the highest water savings.
Native plant communities are useful in many types of landscapes, including urban sites. Natives best use in such situations may be in artificial but visually compatible groupings, combined with non-native species that are fitted to the site because of adaptation to similar conditions in other parts of the world where they have evolved. In mixed (native and non-native) landscapes, we attempt to imitate or extend beyond nature's exemplary combining of plant species. "In selecting plant combinations, we set out to achieve in a mortal life span what has taken nature thousands of years to accomplish" (Flint, 1987). To position plants correctly one should first consider their needs (soils, moisture, shade, etc.) and then match plants to that specific site. While landscapers can enjoy great latitude in integrating a diverse palette of plant materials into a garden design theme, some combinations make little sense. Daffodils in a cacti and desert plant collection might be offensive to some, even though the combination would work. The following woody natives are suggested for east Texas and recommendations are based on observations at the SFA Mast Arboretum.
ACERACEAE
Acer rubrum Red Maple
Height: to 40'
Leaves: simple, opposite, 3 to 5 lobed, deciduous
Flowers: dioecious, bright red flowers in very early spring.
Color selections are available known for fall foliage brilliance. Full sun, well-drained soils, good moisture in establishment years, brittle, relatively short-lived. 'Autumn Flame' and 'October Glory' are good cultivars. Acer rubrum var. drummondii, the Drummond red maple or swamp red maple, tolerates wetter sites. Strong need for east Texas color selection testing.
Acer saccharum Sugar maple
Height: 60'
Leaves: simple, opposite, to six inches across, 3 to 5 lobed.
Flowers: inconspicuous
There's some confusion between this species and Acer barbatum, the Florida maple common in the woods of east Texas. Has performed well in full sun if mulched and watered first few years. Good fall color, light bark, good shade tree. Not for poor, harsh landscapes. Like many maples, sensitive to bark injury via weedeaters and lawnmowers.
AQUIFOLIACEAE
Ilex ambigua Carolina holly
Height: 6 - 12 feet
Leaves: dark green (deciduous)
Flower: white, April-June
Use as per deciduous holly, full sun, inconspicuous flowers in April/May; red berries in October and November, full sun to a little shade; very sandy, well-drained acid soils; We have had poor luck establishing the plant at the arboretum, probably because we have done a poor job of site preparation (improving drainage).
Ilex decidua Deciduous holly
Height: 7 - 15 feet
Leaves: dark green, lustrous changing to yellow in the fall
(deciduous)
Fruit: orange to scarlet, September
One of our favorites; gaining in popularity; multi-stem specimen, red and orange berried cultivars available. 'Warren's Red', 'Council Fire', and 'Pocohantas' are good selections. The deciduous holly has performed reliably in the arboretum - full sun and part shade locations - suckers easily removed to start new plants - cutting propagation.
Ilex glabra Inkberry
Height: 6 - 8 feet
Leaves: lustrous dark green sometimes yellow green (evergreen)
Fruit: black berry, September-May
Wetland native excellent for foundation, hedges, masses, or as an accent plant. Slow-growing. Deserves more investigation. Hot plant in the trade. ‘Shamrock’, ‘white-fruited’ and many other varieties under test in the Arboretum.
Ilex opaca American holly
Height: to 30' although dwarf forms available.
Leaves: lustrous green, spiny.
Fruit: red berries in late fall on fruiting selections.
The SFA Mast Arboretum signature plant. Underutilized. Lots of attributes: evergreen, dense foliage, bright red berries in fall and winter (yellow berried forms available), striking bark interest, few pests, and extremely durable once established. Full sun, moderately well-drained soils best. Responds to irrigation and enhanced soil nutrition; shallow root system benefits by a mulching program. Considered to be slow growing in the landscape. Sensitive to weed eaters when young. SFASU Arboretum has over 30 cultivars under evaluation and many look strong. Quite a variation in growth rates. Dwarf forms available.
Ilex verticillata Coralberry
Height: 6 - 10 feet
Leaves: deep rich green (deciduous)
Fruit: bright red, August-September
Grows well in wet, poorly-drained soils and deserves more use in such sites. Deciduous; good fall color; acid soil but reported to tolerate higher pH. We have eight cultivars in the arboretum that look good. I’m still trying to locate 'Chrysocarpa', 'Fastigata', 'Padifolia', and 'Naria.’
Ilex vomitoria Yaupon
Height: 2'(dwarfs) to 20+ feet.
Leaves: small, evergreen.
Fruit: red, yellow, October - November
Good selection of cultivars, very durable landscape plant. Weeping, fastigate, and dwarf forms available. Full sun preferred. 'Jewel', 'Otis Miley' (yellow fruit), 'Yawkeyii' (yellow fruit), 'Folsom's Weeping', 'Fleming Upright', and many others perform well. While relatively free of insects and diseases, a leaf psyllid has been a problem in Nacogdoches landscapes, causing new growth and leaves to contort and fail to unfold fully. There's probably some resistance out there.
BIGNONIACEAE
Bignonia capreolata cross vine
Height: depends on structure, will climb 30 - 50 feet
Leaves: dark green turning reddish purple in cold weather
(semi-evergreen)
Flower: orange to red trumpet shaped, April-June and sporadic throughout the year.
An absolutely stunning evergreen vine for east Texas. Needs good positioning to maximize impact. Young plant grows best in morning till noon shade and the plant flowers best when the crown can get full sun. Moist soils when young; vine is very drought tolerant when well established. 'Atrogsanguinea' is an excellent red color selection. We also have ‘Tangerine Beauty’, ‘Helen Friedel’, ‘Jekyll Island’, and ’Dragon Lady’. Plant needs the head of plant able to enjoy full sun when mature.
CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Viburnum acerifolium Maple-leaf viburnum
Height: 4 - 6 feet
Leaves: bright green changing to red or purple in fall (deciduous)
Flower: yellowish white, June
A rather rare native shrub in east Texas. A shade-tolerant species with brilliant fall colors (creamy-pink, rose, red, to grape juice purple). Appreciates a well-drained soil with good moisture for first few years. Somewhat difficult to locate in the trade.
Viburnum dentatum Arrow-wood viburnum
Height: 6 - 15 feet
Leaves: dark green changing to yellow or reddish purple in fall
(deciduous)
Flower: white, cream colored due to yellow stamens, May
Responds to pruning. Tree or bush form. Thicker plant when grown in full sun. Moderately well-drained soils. Good performer in the Arboretum.
Viburnum rufidulum Rusty blackhaw
Height: 4 - 8 feet as a shrub, 8 - 20 feet as a tree
Leaves: dark green changing to red in fall (deciduous)
Buds are covered with a deep rich rusty brown pubescence, hence the name; excellent plant and should be used more widely. Part shade, moist soils. Performs well in the Arboretum.
Viburnum nitidum Witherod
Height: 12'
Leaves: lustrous green
Flower: white in May,
Semi-evergreen, lustrous green leaves, white flowers in May; responds to pruning by becoming dense. Needs more use.
Viburnum nudum Possumhaw viburnum
Height: 12'
Leaves: Opposite, simple, variable.
Flower: Off-white, dense, 4" across.
Another full sun to part shade species. Moist soils. We have an outstanding plant in the bog in wet soil that has bright red leaves in the fall.
CELASTRACEAE
Euonymus americanus strawberry bush
Height: 4 - 6 feet
Leaves: dark green changing to yellow green in fall (evergreen)
Flower: 5 petaled greenish purple, July-September
Goes unnoticed until September or October when the warty, scarlet capsules open to display orange seeds. From this character it gets it's other common name "hearts-a-burstin". Not susceptible to scale. We have a Dodd narrow-leafed and an "evergreen" selection.
CYRILLACEAE
Cyrilla racemiflora swamp cyrilla
Height: 10 - 25 feet
Leaves: dark green above, bright green below changing to orange in fall (persistent)
Flower: striking white 6" inflorescence, June-July
Also known as titi, a beautiful shrub for foliage and spider-like flowers, can be grown from zone 6 south, belongs in a naturalistic wetland setting. Full sun; attractive to bees.
FAGACEAE
Quercus alba White oak
Height: 50 - 80 feet
Leaves: grayish pink when unfolding, then turning dark green changing to red or wine colored in fall (deciduous). Doubtful for high use due to slow growth, and difficulty in transplanting; Majestic and worthwhile tree for large areas. Long-lived.
Quercus lyrata Overcup oak
Height: 30 - 50 feet
Leaves: dark green and leathery changing to tannin brown in fall (deciduous)
Fruit: almost entirely covered, hence the name. Good choice for difficult sites (flooding and slopes).
Quercus shumardii Shumard oak
Height: 50 - 70 feet
Leaves: dark green and lustrous, turning orange in fall (deciduous)
Landscape Value: very desirable due to unique leaf shape, works well as an accent plant, brilliant fall color.
Quercus stellata Post oak
Height: 40 - 60 feet
Leaves: dark green, cross shaped with rounded edges (deciduous)
Landscape Value: dense round topped crown with stout spreading branches.
Quercus incana Bluejack oak
Height: 12 - 30 feet
Leaves: grayish green above, white below (deciduous)
Landscape Value: small, nicely shaped tree for poor sandy sites.
Quercus michauxii Swamp chestnut oak
Height: 20 - 60 feet
Leaves: dark green lustrous above, silvery white pubescent below (deciduous)
Grayish flaky bark, heavy mast producer for poorly drained sites. Good fall color.
Castanea pumila Allegheny chinkapin
Height: 12 - 20 feet
Leaves: yellowish green above, white pubescent below (deciduous)
Fruit: nut enclosed in a bur with spike like clusters. Most trees form clumps resulting from repeated dieback and sprouting (Chestnut blight).
HAMAMELIDACEAE
Hamamelis virginiana Witch-hazel
Height: 20 - 30 feet
Leaves: medium green changing to yellow in fall (deciduous)
Flower: yellow fragrant, October-December.
Works well in a shrub border, near buildings in shaded areas.
HIPPOCASTANACEAE
Aesculus arguta Texas buckeye
Height: 15 - 20 feet
Leaves: rich green lustruous, 7-9 leaflets (deciduous)
Flower: yellow 4-8 inches, March-May; Stunning in early spring as leaves are unfurled.
Aesculus pavia Red buckeye
Height: 10 - 20 feet
Leaves: dark green lustrous, 5 leaflets (deciduous)
Flower: red to white, March-May; Handsome tree in flower, best in full sun.
LEGUMINOSAE
Gleditsia triacanthos Honey locust
Height: 30 - 70 feet
Leaves: bright green changing to yellow in fall (deciduous)
Flower: greenish yellow, fragrant; Excellent lawn tree for filtered shade; 'inermis' is without thorns and much preferred.
MAGNOLIACEAE
Magnolia grandiflora Southern magnolia
Height: 60 - 80 feet
Leaves: lustruous dark green above, pubescent below (persistent)
Fruit: rose red; Flower: creamy white and fragrant, 8-12 inches, May-June
Landscape Value: handsome, worthwhile tree, needs room to develop.
‘Little Gem’ and ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ touted as semi-dwarfs;
will grow out in time - keep tipped back. Many cultivars that need testing in East Texas.
Magnolia macrophylla Bigleaf Magnolia
Height: 30-40 feet.
Leaves: 12-32 inches long, 7-12 inches wide, bright green and glabrous above, silvery gray and downy below, (deciduous)
Flower: creamy white, 8-10 inches across, 6 petals, fragrant, June
A round-headed, cumbersome landscape specimen; needs to be positioned out of the wind; giant leaves main interest but flowers impressive as well; litter problems makes this a better woodland plant than a specimen for the well-manicured yard. Being hit by a 30"-long leaf is not funny to the average homeowner.
Magnolia pyramidata Pyramid magnolia
Height: 25 to 40 feet
Leaves: 6-8 inches long, bright green above, (deciduous)
Flower: 6-15 petalled, 4 inches in diameter, creamy white
A rare plant in Texas known only from one provenance on the Jasper/Newton county line. A slender tree with ascending branches; likes moist rich soils; works well along creeks or streams, adds flavor to the landscape with leaf and bark interest; worthy of introduction into East Texas landscapes to "rescue" the species.
Magnolia virginiana Sweet bay
Height: 10 - 50 feet
Leaves: dark green above, white below (deciduous)
Flower: creamy white, lemon scented, May-June
Graceful small specimen tree, foliage is handsome in wind as it buffets the leaves exposing the underside. M. virginiana var. australis is semi-evergreen in the SFASU arboretum. Dodd's nursery, Semmes Alabama is marketing a little-leaf, little-bloom dwarf sweet bay that appears to have merit. Ours has been very slow to get started! Prefers moist soil but quite tolerant of dry soils once well established.
MYRICACEAE
Myrica cerifera southern wax myrtle
Height: 10 - 20 feet
Leaves: dark green glossy above, yellow dotted below (evergreen)
Excellent pruned screen, tolerates infertile soils, leaves and berries are used in making pottpouri, this plant gives us the bayberry scent. ‘Emperor’ has unusual lacy foliage. Myrica pusila is smaller statured and more difficult to find. Tolerant of most soil types.
OLEACEAE
Chionanthus virginicus fringe tree
Height: 12 - 20 feet
Leaves: dark green and lustrous (deciduous)
Flower: white fragrant, 6-8 inches, May-June; Beautiful specimen tree, good in groups, outstanding in flower, does well in cities due to it's tolerance to air pollution. Full sun, well-drained soils.
RUBIACEAE
Cephalanthus occidentalis button bush
Height: 6 - 10 feet
Leaves: bright green lustruous above, lighter pubescent below (deciduous)
Fruit: red or brown rounded mass of nutlets
Of special interest during the brief flowerig period with white "balls" that cover the plant; does well in moist sites, has a rather loose gangly appearance. Full sun. Worthwhile screening candidate for moist locations.
ROSACEAE
Crataegus brachyacantha blueberry hawthorn
Height: 4 - 12 feet
Leaves: dark green above, pubescent below (deciduous)
Flower: white, 5 petaled turning orange with age
Extremely showy when flowering, likes moist sites, full sun, susceptible to rust.
Crataegus opaca mayhaw
Height: 4 - 12 feet
Leaves: dark green above, rusty pubescent below (deciduous)
Flower: white, February-March
Prefers to have it's feet wet, does well in moist soils, full sun, outstanding in bloom. Great small tree. Fruit is prized for jelly making .
Prunus mexicana mexican plum
Height: 6 - 10 feet
Leaves: shiny yellowish green (deciduous)
Flower: white, clustered on branches, May-June
Prefers moist sites, fruit is edible and sweet and is eaten by many birds and animals.
Prunus serotina black cherry
Height: 50 - 60 feet
Leaves: dark green changing to yellow or red in fall (deciduous)
Flower: white, May
Tall, straight noble tree whose fruit is used in the making of homemade wine or jelly. Short-lived and borers may be a problem in stressed sites.
SAXIFRAGACEAE
Itea virginica Virginia sweetspire
Height: 3 - 9 feet
Leaves: bright green changing to crimson in fall (deciduous)
Flower: white, upright, fragrant, April-June
Flowers at a time when few plants are in flower. Prefers moist to wet sites. Not utilized enough in home landscapes, holds it's leaves a long time. 'Henry's Garnet' has a longer inflorescence and enjoys excellent fall color. The cultivar has performed well in the SFASU Mast Arboretum over many years. 'Longspire' and 'Sarah Eve' (not quite pink) are available. ‘Saturnalia’ also in the garden.
STYRACACEAE
Styrax americanus American snowbell
Height: 6 - 8 feet
Leaves: bright green (deciduous)
Flower: white bell shaped, hang down instead of facing up, May-June
Slender multi-stem, rather wispy shrub: appreciates cool moist acidic sites: excellent for southern gardens. S. americanus var. pulverlenta is a smaller statured form. Has performed well in full sun, mulched, with moderate irrigation during summer months.
Styrax grandifolius bigleaf snowbell
Height: 8 - 12 feet
Leaves: dark green above, pubescent below, (deciduous)
Flower: white, fragrant, May-June
Prefers moist acidic sites, another good choice for southern gardens. Conditions as to American snowbell. Mix with azaleas and maples in woodland garden. Dappled shade.
Halesia diptera two-wing silver bell
Height: 20 - 30 feet
Leaves: dark green and glabrous above, pubescent below (deciduous)
Flower: 4 lobed, white, bell shaped, May
Performs best on moist, yet well-drained sites, it is a beautiful, small, rounded tree usually multiple stemmed or low branched.
SYMPLOCACEAE
Symplocos tinctoria sweet leaf
Height: 6 - 15 feet
Leaves: dark green and lustrous (persistent)
Flower: yellow, fragrant, April-May
Fruit: orange to brown
One of the handsomest of fruiting shrubs and should be used in every park, bird sanctuary, or home landscape, a plant in full fruit is spectacular.
THEACEAE
Stewartia malecodendron silky camellia
Height: 10 - 18 feet
Leaves: 4 inches long, dark green (deciduous)
Flower: 2-3 inch diameter, white petaled, purple filamented, blue anthered, May-June
Beautiful flowering small tree for moist but well drained sites, hard to propogate. Known from only two locations near Burkeville, Texas this plant is not for the faint of heart. Slow growing in most sites. Part shade to shade, sandy soils, moisture during establishment years. Fertility requirements unknown. Susceptible to Phytophthora?
VERBENACEAE
Callicarpa americana american beautyberry
Height: 3 - 8 feet
Leaves: medium green, pubescent (deciduous)
Flower: light lavender pink, June-August
Fruit: violet to magenta berry
Deciduous shrub for massing, have seen it under pine trees with excellent effect. Slope planting; best fruiting in full sun. Purple berries with white form available.
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Last Revised 10/26/03