Welcome to our Plant Library! Dave and his staff share their years of experience trying out different plants, along with the maintenance know-how that comes from doing it all yourself. The photos and descriptions here will introduce you to some of the wonderful plant material we can enjoy here in North Texas. We hope you enjoy this handy resource.
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(Quercus virginiana)
A staple of the Southern landscape, live oaks are one of the primary components of the city’s green canopy. Not exactly evergreen (they shed their leaves in January as they are putting out new ones), but close enough, the live oak lends a timeless, stately quality to any setting. Several cultivars (‘High Rise,’ ‘Cathedral’) have a narrower habit and fit better in our city lots.
(Quercus shumardii)
The best oak for scarlet fall color here in North Texas. This pyramidal-shaped tree grows relatively quickly when young, slowing with age and topping out at around 90 feet tall. A good red oak can shade your whole house and reduce your electric bill substantially in the summer. If you have one, take good care of it; construction activity often kills them. Be sure to get a red oak with ascending branches; a lot of pin oak genes are lurking out there which will produce a tree that dies in 5-10 years. With oak wilt and the finickiness of red oaks, you might want to consider one of the many other oaks that do well here.
(Quercus laceyi)
A smaller oak, often multi-stemmed or even shrubby, this oak has smallish blue-green leaves and beautiful peachy new growth and fall color. A good choice for a smaller space where a big oak would take over. This is a stunning tree.
(Lagerstroemia)
Where would we be in August without the sturdy crape myrtle? Flowering in all shades of white, pink, lavender and watermelon, crape myrtles peak just when the rest of the garden is flagging. Some varieties have good fall color and lovely exfoliating bark for winter interest as well. They need full sun to avoid getting spindly and mildewy; some easily grow 20’-25’ tall so plan ahead.
(Ulmus parviflora)
A medium sized tree, 40’-50’, with a round or oval crown, the lacebark elm has beautiful exfoliating bark and casts light, dappled shade. Drought-tolerant and tough, it makes a good street or shade tree; does need some staking to keep it straight while it gets established. Check out this handsome row of lacebark elms along Preston Road in front of St. Mark’s School.