This week I’ll continue my “dissertation” on small deciduous trees for local landscapes.  Please remember that even though most of these trees are native to the area (or nearby) they will still require supplemental irrigation for at least the first year they are planted out.  This time of year is one of the best for planting trees, since they will have what’s left of fall and all of winter and spring to get their roots in the ground in preparation for next summer, whatever that may bring.

Dogwood (Cornus florida) This tree to 30 feet high and 20 feet wide is native to the southeast U.S.  They need sandy or loamy acid soil and require light shade provided by large deciduous trees overhead.  Not drought tolerant, they can be found in our Lost Pines area along creeks.  I have one on my land along Alum Creek, and I am happy to say it appears to have survived the recent fire.  There are also a few trees scattered about in older neighborhoods of Smithville. White flower bracts appear in spring and last only a few weeks; red fruits ripen in late fall.  Good fall color in shades of orange, yellow and gold. 

Eve’s Necklace (Sophora affinis) So called because it’s seed pods are compartmentalized and each long pod resembles a beaded necklace, this small tree to 25 feet high and 20 feet wide is covered with wisteria-like white/pink blooms in early spring.  The seed pods are poisonous to both animals and humans, similar to its evergreen “cousin” Texas Mountain Laurel.  It will grow in full sun or light shade, and casts light or open shade for plants beneath it.  A native of the Edward’s Plateau west of Austin, it requires good drainage to thrive.

Flameleaf Sumac (Rhus lanceolata) Another native of areas west of I-35, neutral or alkaline soil is a must for this small tree to 30 feet by 20 feet.  Most often multi-stemmed (but occasionally or pruned to single stem), this drought and heat tolerant species is most often grown for its vivid red fall foliage.  Although my land is in the pines and the soil is sandy and acidic, I have one of these trees at the pine forest’s edge.  It also features white flowers in spring and red/brown clusters of small fruit in fall.  This is a sort of wild-looking thing in most cases, but with careful pruning it could be a tree for small residential landscapes.