Trees of Central Texas

by Keith Brown

About Keith Brown

●been in tree care entire working life●somewhat active climber●Board Certified Master Arborist●member ASCA●Current president for ISA Texas Chapter●Owner of Austin Tree Experts●City of Rollingwood Arborist●16 years in the tree business

Understand the Land / Environment

●Austin has very diverse micro-environments●Environment is 90% of tree size and lifespan●hill country, east black gumbo, the "austin

bowl", sandier soils in Roundrock

General Info:●34" Rain per year●Hardiness Zone 8●AHS heat zone 9●We are "Temperate Mixed Forest"

Over 100 Species of Trees

●Primarily broadleaf (angiosperm,hardwood)●Very few Conifers (gymnosperms,softwoods)

What is Native?

If a native american indian moved a tree from one part of the continent to another, would we say that tree is native to the new area?

We don't have records that old.

Fruit Trees

●fig●pear●loquat●peach●plum●persimmon●avocado?●citrus - best in a pot on the patio (cold)

Conifers (aka christmas trees)

●Bald cypress / montezuma cypress●Arizona cypress●Eastern red cedar●Italian cypress●Arborvitae

DO NOT PLANT LEYLAND CYPRESSthe heat will eventually kill them.

Shade Trees

Mexican Sycamore

&

Bur Oak

Fast Growing Trees

Mexican Sycamore is the only one I endorse. Most others have high maintenance requirements, structural integrity issues and short life span.

Fast Enough Growing Shade Trees

●Bur oak●Red oak●Live oak●Monterrey oak●Chinquapin oak●Cedar Elm●Crepe myrtle●Gingko●Pecan

The Old Men

Only a few central Texas trees have the capacity to outlive generations of people:●Bald cypress●Live oak●Pecan●Bur oak

Hard to Identify Trees

●Live oaks●Bur and Post oaks●Walnuts and Pecans●Eastern red cedar and ash juniper●Escarpment black cherry●Lesser common oaks

Live Oaks : virginiana vs. fusimormis

●virginiana we call "coastal." Faster growth rate. Straighter branches. Growing in the perfect spot. Probably don't live as long.

●fusimormis we call "escarpment." These are our native oaks. Twisted trunks. Very old trees. Grow fast in maintained landscapes, but slow by mother natures will.

Bur Oaks and Post Oaks

Bur oak Post oak

Black Walnut and Pecans

walnut pecan

Eastern Red Cedar and Ash Juniper

Red Cedar Ash Juniper

Escarpment Black Cherry

Lesser Common Oaks

Oaks are "promiscuous." The hybridize pretty readily. These trees are easily confused:

●drummond post oak - scaley bark, grows tall●white shin oak - scaley bark, grows to 15'.●blackjack oak - bark like red oaks, leaves

like post oak.

Drummond Post Oak

Questions?