Well I went down to the Green Gate last weekend with my parents to look at plants, and they had very large Tx mountain laurels there (about 3-4' tall) for $30. I couldn't resist, so that's one tree that will be going in. Still need to figure out where the darn septic line is before digging...I called that 811 and the only things they marked were the cable and internet and the pipeline that runs along the south side of the property. What about things like sewer, water, and electric?? Sigh...

Kim

Texas Mountain Laurel is a great tree, congratulations on your purchase

Kim, you can find the big underground stuff probing with a piece of re-bar.

Texas Mountain Laurel is wonderful!

For that understory tree, you can use vitex.
It's a beautiful little tree, can be trained as a shrub, has beautiful color & scent, *and*...
it's the leaves that are scented, so when the first frost kills the leaves, you can strip them off & make potpourri!
The fragrance is a kind of spicy/sagey/yummy affair.

@irisfan I love vitex!! I have no room to grow one in my own yard but now maybe I can enjoy one this way? The forest gets a smattering of sunlight but like a forest it is mostly shady. Will it flower without full sun?

I love my TX Mountain Laurels! Great choice, Kim!

I love mine too, it is full bloom right now, the very first time it had happened for us, usually we have a late freeze that kills the flowers, but this year it is wonderful.

@blueeyes, this is one of ours, blooming in Seguin. I love them so much

Beautiful! I want one too!

Well, I was just looking in the database - Texas Mountain Laurel (Dermatophyllum secundiflorum) and it says it's only hardy down to Z8a. But, I'm wondering if it would survive here in 7b... maybe since it grows for you @frostweed?

I think it would survive, but the blooms might not be reliable. Nevertheless it is a beautiful evergreen, and it is worth having just for that.

TX Mt. Laurel is so beautiful! Would it grow as underbrush in our little part of the forest?

@ShadyGreenThumb, we have a one growing under a Monterrey Oak and it has started leaning way out to try to get sun

I don't know how they would do in bright shade, that one is total shade