TREE SPECIES SELECTION CHART

Common Name Tree Type Height* Spread* Growth Rate Moisture Conditions Benefits Possible Problems Comments
Baldcypress Deciduous 100' 25-50' Moderate Moist Fall Color Knees Well adapted to many soil conditions and moisture. Handles wet area well.
Bradford Pear Deciduous 40' 20-25' Moderate Moderate Flower, Fall Color, Bark Texture/Color Weak Branching Good specimen tree for developed sites. Colorful fall foliage and spring blooms
Chinese Elm Deciduous 60' 40' Moderate to Rapid Moist to Dry Fall Color, Bark Texture Shallow roots Excellent tree for all soil conditions. Attractive bark. Drake variety is good.
Chinese Pistachio Deciduous 25-40' 25-40' Moderate Moderate Fall Color Poor Form When Young Brilliant fall color, Tolerant of poor, dry soils. Poor shape when young, but fills out with maturity.
Crab Apple Deciduous  To 25'  To 25' Rapid  Dry  Flower, Wildlife  Disease  Showy flowers through summer. Needs drainage: Appropriate near utility lines. 
Crape Myrtle Deciduous  To 25'  To 25"  Moderate  Dry to Moist  Flower, Bark  Disease, Insects  Many sizes and colors available. Good summer flower specimen treet. Powdery mildew a problem. Appropriate near utility lines. 
Deodara Cedar Evergreen  80'  50+  Rapid  Moderate  Color, shape  Disease, Insects  Excellent tree. Shade tolerant native. Good for wildlife.
Flowering Dogwood Deciduous 25-30' 20' Moderate Moderate to Dry Flowers, Wildlife Dieback, Disease and Insects Beautiful fruit and flowers. Must grow in  an acid, sandy, well-drained soil. 
Ginkgo Deciduous  75'  30'  Moderate  Moderate to Moist  Foliage/Shape    Excellent specimen tree, requires good drainage. 
Golden Rain Tree Deciduous  To 50'  To 30'  Moderate to Rapid  Moderate  Flower and Foliage  Freeze damage, foliage drop  Large sprays of flowers in fall and attractive seed pods. 
Green Ash Decidious  100;  50'  Rapid  Moist  Shape/Color  Insects-Decay  Compound foliage. Well-suited to many soils. Attractive shpae and foliage. 
Hickory Deciduous 75'+ 50' Slow to Moderate Dry to Moist Wildlife, Fall Color, Fruit Insects and Decay Attractive fall color, durable tree.
Holly Evergreen  To 25'  To 25'  Moderate  Moderate to Wet  Fruit, Wildlife, Fall and Winner Color  Spring Leaves, Surface Roots  Striking native plant. Bright red berries in late fall and winter. Appropriate near utility lines. 
Live Oak Evergreen  75'  100'  Moderate  Dry to Moist  Durable, Wildlife, Strong, long lifespan  Large, Surface roots  Limit use to areas with large spaces. Shading and roots a problem. 
Loblolly Pine Evergreen  100'  50'  Moderate to Dry  Moderate  Attractive Foliage  Site Selective  Attractive dense dark green needles. 
Pecan Deciduous 75' 50'+ Moderate to Rapid Moderate to Dry Edible Fruit, Wildlife Brittle Wood, Disease, Insects State tree of Texas. Plant with enough room! Grows slowly until well established. Site specific.
Yellow-Poplar Deciduous  To 90'  To 50'  Moderate to fast  Dry to Moist  Shape, Texture, Leaf color  Few Problems  Fast growing shade tree with good form. 
Plum Deciduous  To 25'  To 25'  Moderate to Fast  Moderate to Wet  Flower, Wildlife, Bark Texture/Color, Fall Color  Short lifespan, Insects, Diseases  Bright white flowers and edible fruit. May need damage protection. Appropriate near utility lines. A number of species are adaptable. 
Redbud Deciduous  To 25'  To 25'  Slow to Moderate  Moderate  Flower, Fall Color  Short Lived, good soil required.  Several Redbuds available. More showy in clusters. Appropriate near utility lines. 
Red Cedar Evergreen 50' 30' Slow to Moderate Moderate to Dry Dense Foliage Living Christmas Treet Diseass, Insects Shallow roots. Best in high pH soils.
Red Maple Deciduous  50-60'  25-35'  Rapid  Moderate to Wet   Colorful Seed, Flowers Disease, Short lifespan   Native, good for many soils. Excellent fall color.
River Birch Deciduous  To 50'  25-35'  Fast  Moderate to Wet  Fall Color, Bark  Shallow roots  Some problems with aphids, powdery mildew and leaf spots. 
Shumard Oak Deciduous  100'  50'  Moderate to Fast  Moderate  Wildlife and Fall Color  Fruit Drop  Good oak for many soils. Attractive colored bark. Good for wildlife. 
Silver Bell Deciduous  To 25'  To 25'  Slow  Moderate  Flower, Wildlife  Short lifespan  Excellent tolerant specimen. Outstanding spring blooms. Needs drainage.  
Southern Magnolia Evergreen To 75' To 50' Slow to Moderate Dry to Moist Wildlife, Flower, Foliage Fruit and Leaf Drop, Shading Leaves Louisiana State Flower. Long lifespan
Southern Red Oak Decidous To 100' To 75' Moderate to Dry Moderate to Dry Wildlife, Shape Fruit Drop, Large Mature Size Healthy attractive tree with fall color and nice shape. Not for heavy clay soils.
Sycamore Deciduous 100' 50'+ Rapid Moist Bark Texture/Color Leaf and Fruit Drop Provide plenty of room and moist site.
Water Oak Deciduous 100' 50'+ Fast to Moderate Moist to Dry Wildlife Drops limbs, disease, insects Good native oak for its wide range of sites. Large size.
Weeping Willow Deciduous To 25' To 25' Moderate to Fast Moist Good for Wet Areas Special effects in landscape Small tree with weeping branch structure.

*  At Maturity