Landscaping choices in Texas are diverse, and taking time to pick the right trees that can sustain and prosper in the Fort Worth region is essential for beautiful, long-lasting results. Here at Landscape By Design, we strive to help clients choose hardy native plants and trees that are adapted to our environment.
One of the most important factors for many of our clients is having ample shade that helps keep Texas properties cooler so that they can cut down on energy costs while adding comfort. Here, we’ll discuss the best trees to compliment your North Texas native landscapes.
Bald Cypress: A Hardy, Bold Choice
Those who want a tough and hardy tree that can adapt to many types of soil should consider the bald cypress tree. These majestic trees are known to thrive in wet, swampy environments as well as drier ones, making them a solid choice for a range of climates. In rainy seasons, bald cypress trees can assist with drainage to keep the property relatively dry. In the fall, the leaves turn brown and orange, creating a gorgeous backdrop.
Bigtooth Maple: An Elegant Native Texas Tree
An impressive native Texas tree that offers beauty year-round is the Bigtooth Maple. This heat-tolerant tree can grow up to 50 feet in height and is best known for a striking open and rounded crown that offers tremendous shade. In the fall, its leaves transition from brilliant green to warming hues of red and orange.
Resilient Bur Oak Trees
Another native Texas tree that compliments most landscapes is the Bur Oak. This deciduous tree has thick bark, is heat tolerant, and grows well in a variety of soil and moisture conditions. Generally, however, the bur oak tends to grow faster and taller—up to 80 feet—in alkaline, acidic, loamy, and well-drained moist clay soils. Placement is important as this species requires full sun for at least six hours each day.
The Bur Oak tree offers dense shade and is highly regarded for lovely yellow leaves in the fall and large acorns that drop in cooler weather months. These trees can offer beauty for generations to come as they boast a lifespan between two and three centuries!
Cedar Elm Trees
Cedar Elms are native to the state and can reach heights of 75 feet tall. They are highly diverse and are drought-tolerant trees with wide, straight trunks, and lovely oblong crowning branches. The bark is grayish or light brown due to a top layer of colored sapwood, and its exterior resembles loose flakey scales.
This deciduous tree has an abundance of long, glossy leaves that are around 1 inch long, and they have a sandpaper-like texture and serrated edges. In summer, the leaves are green, but in the fall, they transform into bright yellow. Cedar Elms flower bi-annually and are a haven for birds and small nesting mammals; the tree also attracts butterflies.
D.D. Blanchard Southern Magnolias
Add beauty and a remarkable fragrance to any landscaping design with stunning D.D. Blanchard Southern Magnolia trees. These evergreen trees add life to lawns in winter when many other trees are dropping their leaves. This tree has large, dark green leaves with rusty brown undersides, and it blooms in the summertime with gloriously scented white flowers.
This tree can be easily pruned due to its straight base with leaves that tend to grow in a pyramidal shape from the ground up. D.D. Blanchards need full sunlight and routine watering to remain healthy and productive bloomers. However, they grow at a fast rate of around 1 to 2 feet per year and can reach heights between 50 and 60 feet.
Love Shade & Wildlife? Spruce Up Landscapes with Pecan Trees
Pecan trees are known to grow rather large. Specifically, they can achieve heights of up to 160 feet and trunk diameters that exceed 6 feet. As the Texas State Tree, pecans can grow just about anywhere in the state, and North Texas is no exception. This tree is very sturdy and tolerates soil conditions with a high alkaline pH, making it ideal for most Texas landscape designs.
The prime spot to grow pecan trees is atop hills or areas that allow for natural irrigation to prevent over-soggy conditions that can result in root rot. Pecan trees are deciduous, but they still feature green leaves that create an attractive feather-like pattern a good majority of the year. However, what makes pecan trees so popular are their tasty nuts that can be eaten raw or used in sweet and savory dishes—or even sold or shared with friends!
Create Your Perfect North Texas Landscape
At Landscape By Design, we do so much more than tree landscaping. Our experienced designers and contractors are skilled in all aspects of Texas landscaping, including plants, flower gardens, stone paths, patios, pergolas, and water fountains to complement the entire space. We even install outdoor kitchens, spas, and other extras that drive properties in the Greater Fort Worth area to the next level of luxury. Contact us to schedule a consultation!