Live Oaks (Quercus virginiana) are medium to large evergreen oak trees with horizontal branching, dark brown bark, and 1” acorns. Live Oaks shed their old foliage in late winter. This is the most populous tree in the Park with a count of approximately 1,800 trees. Live Oaks are found growing along the curb lines and jogging trails in the Park.

Light      Full sun

Size       40-50’ tall, 80-100’ wide

Water   Medium to low              

Soil        Adaptable

Loblolly Pines (Pinus taeda) are medium to large trees with six to nine inch long evergreen needles that grow in bundles of three. These trees produce red-brown cones, have scaly plated bark, and a very straight trunk. There are nearly 1,400 young and mature Loblolly Pines throughout the Park. The small pine pictured is near Brays Bayou in view of the Bill Coats Bridge.

Light      Full sun

Size        60-100’ tall, 25-35’ wide

Water    Once established, needs moderate watering        

Soil         Tolerates many soils and is somewhat drought resistant         

Crape Myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are small to medium to large sized, multi-stemmed, deciduous trees with vibrant flower clusters. The thin bark exfoliates to expose a smooth brown-grey bark underneath. Crape Myrtles are also called the “lilac of the south” because their flowers are similar to the Northern Lilac. Crape Myrtles are found scattered throughout the Park. Crapes of different sizes are located at the entrance to parking lot G and lining the Zoo fence.

Light      Full sun

Size        15-30’ tall, 6-15’ wide

Water    Once established, will tolerate drought    

Soil         Does best in moist, well drained soil, but will survive in a variety of soils                  

Post Oaks (Quercus stellata) are a deciduous shade tree that grows slowly, has shallow roots, and is known for its sturdy wood that is commonly used for lumber. The leaves are distinctively cross-shaped and the acorns have a bowl-shaped cup. Harris County lies near the southern boundary of where Post Oaks naturally thrive. The large Post Oak pictured here is in Lake Plaza. Some would say it resembles a giant Bonsai Tree.

Light      Full sun

Size       50-80’ tall, 40-70’ wide

Water   Fairly drought tolerant, but can be damaged in extreme drought as                         well as excessive rain          

Soil        Needs well-draining soil that is neutral or acidic

Bald Cypress trees (Taxodium distichum) are deciduous conifers that survive well in city conditions. When growing near water, the roots come to the surface to form “knees.” You will find these Bald Cypress by the boardwalk in Lake Picnic Area to the east of the Molly Ann Smith Plaza.

Light      Full sun

Size        50-70’ tall, 25’ wide

Water    Adaptable to wet or dry conditions          

Soil         Prefers moist, acid soils

Willow Oaks (Quercus phellos) have narrow, pointy, willow-like leaves that grow in clusters. This ornamental deciduous tree has atypical soft wood for an oak and frequently grows near waterways and bottomlands. The photo of these Willow Oak leaves was taken from the mature tree that is growing alongside the parking lot F and behind Kinder Station, near the Houston B-Cycle Station. 

Light      Full sun

Size        40-60’ tall and 35’ wide

Water    Widely adaptable           

Soil         Prefers acidic soil

Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassilolia) leaves are small and rough on the top. When this medium to large deciduous elm tree is young, there may be corky wings on the twigs. The close-up image of Cedar Elm wings was taken near the Buddy Carruth Playground for All Children.

Light      Full sun

Size        50-70’ tall, 40-60’ wide

Water    Medium to low water requirements, drought tolerant         

Soil         Can withstand poorly drained clay soils, alkaline adaptable             

Red Buds (Cercis canadensis) are a fairly small deciduous legume with purple-pink flowers that bloom in the early spring. Red Buds have heart shaped leaves. This Red Bud tree is located inside the Japanese Garden to the right of the entrance. There are also many new Red Buds planted near the train footbridge in the “island” of McGovern Lake.

Light      Full sun to shade

Size        30’ tall, 25’ wide

Water    Tolerates both drought and wet soil

Soil         Grows best in well drained moist soil, but does well in alkaline and clay                 

Shumard Oaks (Quercus shumardii) are good, medium-sized trees with a beautiful copper red fall color. Birds and squirrels love the egg-shaped acorns. The Shumard Oak pictured is near the Buddy Carruth Playground for All Children water play feature.

Light      Full sun

Size        40-60’ tall, 40-60’ wide

Water    Drought tolerant

Soil         Prefers well-drained soil            

Water Oaks (Quercus nigra) are fast growing, large, deciduous oak trees. Water Oak leaf shape can vary greatly from having rounded, smooth edges to being lobed and bristle tipped. This picture of a somewhat common Water Oak leaf shape was taken in the picnic area behind Miller Outdoor Theatre, where many mature Water Oaks can be found.

Light      Full sun

Size        50-80’ tall, 50-80’ wide

Water    Prefers moist    

Soil         Does best in well-drained, moist sites (is not very drought tolerant)

SOURCES:

"Cedar Elm, Basket Elm, Scrub Elm, Lime Elm, Texas Elm, Olmo, Southern Rock Elm." Texas Native Plants Database. Aggie Horticulture, 2014. Web. 01 July 2014. <https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/ulmuscrassifolia.htm>.

Cook, Valerie & Hitchcock, David. Cool Houston! A Plan for Cooling the Region. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), 2004. Print.

Dr. Randall, Jesse. "Common Post Oak." ISU Forestry Extension - Tree Identification: Common Post Oak (Quercus Stellata). Iowa State University Forestry Extension, 6 June 2012. Web. 01 July 2014. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/iowa_trees/trees/post_oak.html>.

Garrett, Howard. "Post Oak." Dirt Doctor Howard Garrett Organic Gardening, Home, Health, Pet Care, Pest Control, Compost, Nutrition, Environment. The Dirt Doctor, 2014. Web. 01 July 2014. <http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Post-Oak_vq911.htm>.

"Interesting Facts about Live Oak Trees." Southern Pride Tree Farm, Inc. Southern Pride Tree Farm, Inc., 2014. Web. 02 July 2014. <http://www.sptreefarm.com/interesting-facts-about-live-oak-trees.html>.

"Loblolly Pine." Monrovia: Horticulture Craftsmen since 1926. Monrovia, 2014. Web. 01 July 2014. <http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1957/loblolly-pine/>.

"Plant Care Guides: Crape Myrtle." National Gardening Association: Help Us Grow the Next Generation. National Gardening Association, 2014. Web. 01 July 2014. <http://www.garden.org/plantguide/?q=show&id=2093>.

"Redbud." Tree Information & Care Tips from TreeHelp.com. Treehelp.com, 2014. Web. 01 July 2014. <http://www.treehelp.com/redbud/>.

"Texas Tree Selector: Tree Description Water Oak." Texas Tree Planting Guide. N.p., 2014. Web. 01 July 2014. <http://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/Display_Onetree.aspx?tid=83>.

"Tree Details—The Tree Guide at Arborday.org." Arbor Day Foundation. Arborday.org, 2014. Web. 01 July 2014. <http://www.arborday.org/treeguide/treeDetail.cfm?id=137>.

"Virginia Tech Dendrology Factsheets." Dendrology at Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech University Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, June 2014. Web. 02 July 2014. <http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/factsheets.cfm>.