Hi all,

I'm looking to put in a small tree in my front yard this spring, and would like to know what has done well for you. Fall color would be a plus. I don't want something that gets too tall as I will have a part sun flower bed in the front as well. House is east facing and the front yard gets sun most of the day.

Thanks ,Kim

Redbud? The leaves turn yellow, but aren't that spectacular IMO. Leaves are large, so they are easy to gather up. Crepe Myrtle grown as a small tree would fit the size requirement also, though there are some really dwarf plants you'd probably want to avoid if you are wanting a small tree.

Chittamwoods are attractive - resemble live oaks but stay under 20' here and are not evergreen. Spring leaves look like white flowers.

Cedar Elm is a wonderful tree, the leaves are small and turn a golden color in the fall.
You don't even have to rake the leaves they disappear by themselves, it is also a host for the Mourning cloak and the Question mark butterflies.
http://www.wildflower.org/plan...

Here cedar elms grow very large - or maybe they are a different variety?

I don't know, ours are medium size and very nice.

I was considering a redbud, but the TAMU website said they are short lived. My parents also had issues with one when they first moved to Texas. What about a vitex? No fall color but I'd be ok trading that for flowers all summer. I like crepe myrtles, esp. the red ones so that is also a possibility. I have limited space where I can put in trees or large shrubs because of a gas easement on the left side of my property and two large red oaks in the backyard, so that's why I was looking for smaller trees.

Kim

The Vitex and Crepe Myrtle are not Texas natives but they are beautiful
Maybe a Mexican Plum? or a Red Buckeye?

Kim, I think Crape Myrtles sucker, so you would have to control that aspect. Dave highly recommends Vitex.

My Cedar Elm is big, here it is from 2013, think this one would not suit your purpose.



Have you tried the Texas Smartscape plant search tool?
http://txsmartscape.com/plant_...

The mexican plum does sound interesting. I looked it up on the TAMU site and it says it gets up to 25 ft tall, which is probably a little larger than I was wanting. I like the hardiness though, and the spring flowers.

Kim

American Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus)

Also, a pear tree might be a good option, although not native they do well in Tx, often with pretty fall color and pretty spring flowers that are attractive to pollinators.

More links for American Smoke Tree ~
http://www.wildflower.org/gall...
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plan...
https://www.google.com/search?...

I love Mexican plums. They provide wonderful fragrance during bloom and I don't think they usually reach 25' height. Most are much smaller than that. It would work for your requirements, but I think their lifespan is shorter than a redbud, though.

What about native sumac? It will surely provide spectacular fall color. I consider it more of a large shrub than a tree, but those growing around in fence rows will reach 12-15'.

Yaupons can be trimmed to form a small evergreen tree - red berries too if you get a female, and the leaves aren't prickly like some hollies.

Another one that I like is Rusty Blackhaw; there are other viburnums that can grow as small trees in Tx.
Viburnum rufidulum ~ http://aggie-horticulture.tamu...

Vitex has been tough as nails for me. Not much fall color but nice in bloom. Crepe myrtle is my favorite though, so many different colors and sizes there should be one perfect for what you want.

I'm following this. But the tree i need would be in the under- forest. We lost so many oaks after the drought! There are about a dozen self-planted oak saplings from a very old oak but they will take forever to grow. We have access to the forest by a gate that i would like to cover, for some privacy. There is a nice wide Youpon Holly to the left of the gate and an old pine tree on the right. Nothing on the middle. We can see straight out to the Greenbelt trail and vice versa. I need fast growing underbrush that will grow to a medium size tree FAST

Banana? Might work in your area for a good part of the year. Will Texas Mountain Laurel grow there? Not sure how fast it grows, but it's dense enough to provide privacy.

You could try Carolina Cherry Laurel, it grows fast, it is evergreen and native as well.

You might consider a Washington Hawthorn. It provides pretty fall color, spring blooms and then red berries in the winter, which feeds the birds. The only thing I can think of that might be a negative are the sharp thorns along the branches if you have young children. They provide safety for small birds when nesting so for me, they are a positive. You do live in the southern most growing zone for this tree. It's growing range is zone 4-8.

https://www.arborday.org/trees...



Myles