In my past few columns I have discussed various issues that affect siting trees in the landscape.  Now I will begin a few weeks more of presenting a variety of trees (by size) for your consideration.   Most are native to the area; I will make note when they are imported from outside the U.S.

I have reviewed a variety of online sources for my information, and then compared them with a booklet written by Joan Russell and produced by the Pines and Prairies Land Trust, Tree Planting Guide for Bastrop, Caldwell, Lee and Fayette Counties of Texas.   I know this booklet has been reprinted since the 2005 version I have in hand, and you may be able to pick it up by contacting the PPLT at www.pinesandprairieslandtrust.org   More details are available in the booklet itself, although I am listing a few trees they don’t cover at all.

I’ll start with the smaller trees and work my way up in size.

SMALL EVERGREEN TREES 
American Holly (Ilex opaca) Medium to slow in growth to 15-25 feet high x 15-20 feet wide, this evergreen tree has dark green shiny/spiny leaves and bright red berries in fall.  Good for wildlife as both cover and nesting place, and for the berries which are eaten by birds.  Tolerates some shade.

Carolina Cherry Laurel (Prunus caroliniana) Rapid growth to 15-20 feet high and 15 feet wide, it can be grown limbed up as a tree, or as a very large hedge/screen.  Fragrant white bottlebrush-like flowers in spring are followed by dark purple/black berries in fall.  Berries are eaten by birds but can be toxic to mammals.  Needs good drainage and may seed out rampantly.  Somewhat shade tolerant.

Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) Grows as at moderate rate to up to 20 feet high and about half as wide.  Most often it is multi-trunked and forms a rounded large shrub or small tree.  In the wild it grows only near creek’s edge, so it will require some supplemental water in dry periods.  Both the berries and the foliage have a bayberry fragrance.  Will grow in both sun and shade

Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) This evergreen tree is a slow grower to 12 feet high and wide, and therefore expensive in the trade.  It blooms in spring and the purple flowers in grape-like clusters are highly fragrant.  Seeds are toxic so be careful with small children in the area.  Will grow in sun or part-shade.

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)  Because I battle this native shrub or small tree on my ranch I have a hard time imagining folks wanting to plant it.  It is very prized in Austin and areas west for its evergreen foliage and red berries (on female plants).  It spreads by suckers and berries, so take this into consideration when planting it.  It will develop into a multi-stemmed shrub or tree to 20 feet tall and about 15 feet wide.  Birds love the berries and foliage is a staple browse for deer.