Shade Tree

Gardening Guide

Shade Tree

Fan-Tex Ash

Fraxinus velutina ‘Fan-Tex’
Fast growing deciduous tree with a rounded habit. Dark green foliage turns yellow in fall. Withstands heat and is drought tolerant and will do well even in poor soils. Use as a street or lawn tree.

40-50' tall x 25-30' wide

Full sun

Zone 6 / Hardy to 0ºF

Texas Ash

Fraxinus texensis
A beautiful shade tree with a rounded crown and colorful fall foliage. Excellent drought tolerance. Native to the North Texas area. A great selection that should be utilized in more landscapes.

45' tall x 35' wide

Full sun

Zone 8 / Hardy to 20ºF

Deodara Cedar

Cedrus deodara
Large evergreen tree with a distinctive pyramidal form. Gray-green foliage on somewhat pendulous branches. Heat and drought tolerant once established. Tolerates a wide range of soils.

50-60' tall x 40-50' wide

Full sun

Zone 7 / Hardy to 10ºF

Eastern Red Cedar

Juniperus virginiana
Heat, salt and drought tolerant evergreen with a pyramidal growth habit. Grows well in limestone and rocky soils. A wonderful plant as a single specimen or planted in groups and often an effective windscreen.

40-50' tall x 20-25' wide

Full sun

Zone 3 / Hardy to -30ºF

Arizona Cypress

Cupressus arizonica
Fast growing, pyramidal, evergreen tree. Fine, feathery, foliage. Magnificent windbreak, screen, or accent. No serious problems. Prefers hot, dry conditions.

40' tall x 20-30' wide

Full sun

Zone 7 / Hardy to 10ºF

Bald Cypress

Taxodium distichum
Beautiful tree with distinctive feathery, light green foliage that turns reddish-brown in fall. Broad pyramidal growth habit. Provides year-round interest. Nice as a single specimen or when planted in groups. Thrives in moist conditions. Very fast growing.

60-75' tall x 25-30' wide

Full sun

Zone 5 / Hardy to -10ºF

Cedar Elm

Ulmus crassifolia
Upright, spreading to weeping, deciduous tree. Graceful, rounded form. Stiff, rich green leaves. Fall color yellow and red tones. Withstands drought and heavy, infertile soil.

50-60' tall x 30-40' wide

Full sun

Zone 6 / Hardy to 0ºF

Lacebark Elm

Ulmus parvifolia
A medium sized, broad-headed tree with graceful arching branches and finely toothed, small green leaves. Gray, green and orange flaking bark. Drought tolerant. Grows well in most soils. Fast growing.

40' tall x 30' wide

Full sun

Zone 6 / Hardy to 0ºF

Autumn Gold Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’
Male form with symmetrical conical growth becoming broader with age. Bright green foliage turns brilliant yellow in fall. Extremely free of any serious disease or insect pests and tolerates city conditions well. Does not produce messy fruit.

50' tall x 30-40' wide

Full sun

Zone 4 / Hardy to -20ºF

Goldenrain Tree

Koelreuteria paniculata
Beautiful, dense, rounded tree with clusters of yellow flowers in early summer followed by showy, lantern-shaped, papery fruit capsules. Excellent as a small lawn tree or for shading a patio.

20-30' tall x 20-30' wide

Full sun

Zone 5 / Hardy to -10ºF