Falling under the United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) Hardiness Zones 6 to 9 , Texas is a large state feature divers climates . While the region along the Gulf Coast experience blistering , humid summers and mild winters , West Texas nurseryman confront desert - like growing conditions . The South Texas champaign experience red-hot , rainy summers , while the Texas Hill Country enjoys lower winter temperatures and a farseeing growing season . Texas nurseryman must consider their USDA Hardiness Zone , plant vigor and growth rate when selecting Tree for garden and landscape .
Texas Ash
The Texas ash ( Fraxinus texensis ) , a fellow member of the Olea europaea house ( Oleaceae ) , is a tight - grow tree diagram that senesce to heights between 30 and 45 feet . This deciduous tree diagram course occurs on canyon rooftree , jolty slopes and limestone pitcher’s mound across Texas . It blooms green bloom from April through June , and the green leaves turn vivacious red , orange and yellow tones in the autumn . The drought - liberal Texas ash prefers dry , acidic territory in part shady locations .
Honey Mesquite
The dearest mesquit ( Prosopis glandulosa ) , a small tree or a large bush in the pea family ( Fabaceae ) , progress to up to 30 foot in both height and spread . The twigs have light-green leave and recollective , abrupt spikelet . Fragrant yellow to green flowers prime from February through September during besotted atmospheric condition . These mellifluous - smell blossoms attract both shuttle and bees . This fast - develop mesquite variety by nature occurs along Texas stream bank . This tree needs dry , well - run out dirt in sunny positions .
American Elm
The American elm Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Ulmus Americana ) is a fellow member of the Ulmaceae family that accomplish 60 to 80 feet in height with slightly smaller feast . American elmwood are fast - get trees extremely susceptible to Dutch elmwood disease . Red and green flower flower from February to April , while the fleeceable leaves turn a non - showy yellowness in the autumn . The American elm naturally grows in lowland surface area and along stream banks across Texas . This heat - broad elm tree variety prefers moist land in part shady to fully gay locating . Texas gardeners often plant American elms as shade trees and lawn trees .
Southern Red Oak
The southern red oak tree ( Quercus shumardii ) , also called the shumard oak , is a straightaway - grow , adaptable tree in the birch menage ( Fagaceae ) . The dark-green leaf often wrick an attractive scarlet red color in the autumn . Non - showy , white or green flowers appear from March through May , followed by acorns on the fledged oak tree tree . The southern carmine oak tree reach between 50 and 90 fundament in height with slightly smaller spread head . This Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree needs moist to dry soils in part shadiness to full sun . The southerly red oak tree work well as a lawn tree or tad tree .
American Sycamore
The American sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis ) , also called the planer - tree diagram and the American plane , is a fellow member of the Platanaceae plant family . This tight - growing sycamore variety generally hand between 75 and 100 feet in stature with similar bed covering . The large , immature leave change to a non - showy brown in the autumn . lily-livered or scarlet flower cluster bloom in March and April , followed by brown or orangish fruiting balls . The American sycamore prefers moist , silty or loamy soil in part shade to full sunlight . Texas gardeners primarily expend this tree diagram in turgid planting areas with difficult soil .