Welcome to the Think Trees Tour at Hampton Branch! We encourage you to learn about the trees that grow in Austin and how to identify them. Maybe you’ll even find a new favorite to plant in your own landscape.
Click or tap the numbered icons in the map for abbreviated descriptions and tree locations. Use the navigation bar above to see more pictures and details about each species. Scroll to the bottom of the page to take community action and find your next Think Trees Tour.
Click or tap the numbers in the map to see tree names. Use the navigation bar above the map (or scroll down) to see more photos and details of each species.
(1) Live Oak
Quercus virginiana, Q. fusiformis
Long, narrow acorns of Escarpment live oak with tapered cups and pointed tips
Mealy oak gall (Disholcaspis cinerosa) on live oak twig
A mature, brown acorn on a Coastal Live Oak branch, showing the blunt tip and shallow cup
Live oak leaves with pollen-producing flowers called catkins
close view of dark, chunky live oak bark
Live oak acorns can be long and narrow, or stubby and round. Pollen is produced in spring in catkins. Several kinds of wasps lay their eggs in the bark, causing unusual growths called galls. Bark is dark gray or brown and forms thick chunks.
At the front entrance of the library and a short walk down the trail in back are some magnificent live oaks. There are two closely related species whose ranges overlap along I-35: Quercus fusiformis (Escarpment Live Oak) and Q. virginiana (Southern Live Oak). It is often difficult to distinguish between them in the field. These are probably Escarpment Live Oak.
Live oaks reign in Austin. Their acorns are sometimes long and narrow, sometimes shorter and rounder. Both species keep their leaves through winter. The old leaves drop and the new leaves emerge all within a few weeks in early spring.
Famous Austin Live Oaks include the Treaty Oak and The Auction Oaks downtown. Live oaks are strong, reliable trees, but they are susceptible to Oak Wilt disease, which can spread through their roots and destroy whole colonies of trees. Oak wilt is treatable, but consider a white oak instead if you are planting a new tree, especially if you live in an area where there are already lots of live oaks.
(2) Monterrey Oak
Quercus polymorpha
Close view of monterrey oak buds just before leaves emerge
Monterrey oak forms pollen in flowers called catkins. They are columns of tiny, yellow, ball-shaped flowers that turn brown and fall within a few weeks
Monterrey oak leaves can vary in size and shape but generally they are oval-shaped with irregular edges
Glossy, green Monterrey Oak leaves with developing acorns beginning to protrude from their tan cups
Monterrey oak bark forms wide, flat plates
Oak buds begin to swell in early spring. Pollen-producing catkins come before the first leaves. Monterrey Oak acorns form deep inside their cups, with only the tips protruding. Bark forms wide, thin plates.
Monterrey Oak is a medium to large tree that usually keeps its leaves all winter and drops them just before growing new leaves in spring. Acorns have a striped appearance and bulge out of shallow caps.
Also known as Mexican White Oak, this species is resistant (though not immune) to Oak Wilt disease. Its native range is south of us, so we hope it will be able to survive hotter, drier weather as our climate warms up. It can grow up to 50 feet tall, so should not be planted near utility wires.
(3) Texas Mountain Laurel
Dermatophyllum secundiflorum
A hard, red seed from a Texas Mountain Laurel pod
close view of texas mountain laurel leaves and developing flowers
close view of fading texas mountain laurel flowers and developing seed pods
Close view of texas mountain laurel branches with mature, brown seed pods
Close view of a compound leaf from a texas mountain laurel, showing pinnate, oval-shaped leaflets
Texas Mountain Laurel grows compound leaves with oval-shaped leaflets. Thick clusters of purple flowers form in spring, followed by bean-like seed pods. The pods become fat and hard by fall. The seeds inside have a hard shell that is bright red.
Texas Mountain Laurel is a small tree or large shrub that keeps its dark, glossy leaves year-round. It is native to limestone bluffs, making it tolerant of alkaline soils and drought. The large, purple clusters of flowers often remind people of the smell of grape Kool-Aid. Bright, red seeds form in large, woody, bean-like pods. Mountain Laurel grows slowly and can grow safely under utility wires. Leaves last year-round, so this plant can be used as a hedge to screen a view. It becomes a nice ornamental when planted as a single specimen.
(4) Cedar Elm
Ulmus crassifolia
Front and back of cedar elm leaves with samaras clustered on twigs
Cedar elm in winter with no leaves showing multiple clusters of mistletoe
Cedar elm bark
Close view of a cedar elm twig showing corky "wings"
Cedar elm leaves are small and stiff, with a rough surface like sandpaper. Seeds form in autumn in flat discs called samaras. Bark forms thin, narrow flakes. Mistletoe is a common parasite of Cedar Elm. Sometimes young trees form corky "wings" that protrude in flat strips.
Cedar Elm is one of our most reliable shade trees in Austin. It is medium to large at maturity, reaching heights of 50-60 feet, so it should not be planted under utility wires. The leaves are smaller than most elms and have a rough, sandpapery texture. It is sometimes called Fall Elm because it flowers and grows seeds at the end of the year (most elms flower in spring). Seeds form inside flat discs called samaras. This tree tolerates a wide range of soil types and can stand up to drought and heat.
(5) Texas Persimmon
Diospyros texana
Close view of texas persimmon leaves
Texas persimmon branches covered in bright, green leaves in early spring
Texas persimmon branch lines with dangling, bell-shaped flowers
close view of thin, flaking bark on a texas persimmon tree
Close view of several persimmons, two dark, ripe and purple and two green
Texas Persimmon flowers in spring and fruits in summer. The dark, purple fruits are enjoyed by wildlife and people. The bark peels away in thin strips, lending visual interest.
Texas persimmon is a small, native fruit tree. It shouldn’t be planted within 20 feet of utility wires. The thin, flaky bark adds visual appeal all year. It produces grape-sized fruits that can be eaten off the tree or made into jelly, wine, or other recipes.
Texas Persimmon thrives on the limestone bluffs of West Austin. It can tolerate extreme drought and high pH soils. It’s a great choice for an ornamental specimen or understory canopy.
(6) Chitalpa
x Chitalpa tashkentensis
A white and pink, bell-shaped chitalpa flower with frilled edges
Chitalpa tree covered in flowers in summer
Light green, narrow chitalpa leaves with tapered points on dark brown branches
Chitalpa trunk showing dark, gray bark that peels away in flakes and green leaves that are long aND NARROW TAPERING TO A POINT
Newly emerging Chitalpa leaves and flower buds
Chitalpa grows large flowers through summer that can be white, pink or purple. Leaves are long, narrow, and tapered to the tip. Bark is dark brown or gray and peels away in flat flakes.
Chitalpa is a hybrid of Catalpa and Desert Willow. It shares the large, pink-to-purple flowers of Desert Willow, but the leaves are wider and larger. Flowers grow from spring through summer. It tends to form multiple stems and spread widely. It is very resistant to drought and heat. It can reach heights of 35 feet, so should not be planted within 20 feet of power lines.
(7) Chinese Pistache
Pistacia chinensis
Pistache bark forms thin, narrow strips
Thick cluster of small, red berries on a Chinese Pistache
CLose view of a compound leaf on a pistache tree
A chinese pistache in fall with bright, red leaves
Chinese pistache is very prolific and can become invasive in the landscape. It grows compound leaves that turn orange or red in fall.
Chinese Pistache is a medium-sized shade tree that grows up to 35 feet tall. It is a hardy tree with good fall color and does well in our alkaline soils, so it was recommended for Austin years ago. Now we find they produce too many seeds and become invasive in our area. Check out the Grow Green Plant Guide or the Tree Planting Guides for recommended species to plant instead of Chinese Pistache.
(8) Bradford Pear
Pyrus calleryana
A bradford pear tree covered in bright, white flowers
Close view of a cluster of five-petaled bradford pear flowers
Braford pear leaves and small, round fruits
A bradford pear tree next to a large broken branch that it lost in a storm
Bradford Pear trees put on a big show of white blooms in spring and red color in fall. Unfortunately, the fruits can escape and become invasive. The wood is brittle and branches have poor structure, making storm failures common. We don't recommend planting Bradford Pear.
Bradford Pear was cultivated for its distinctive teardrop shape and large, white flowers that appear in early spring. It was bred to be sterile, but it can cross with native pear trees and become invasive. It is a pretty tree for 10-20 years, but eventually its poor structure and brittle wood lead to broken branches. Check out the Grow Green Plant Guide or the Tree Planting Guides for recommended species to plant instead of Bradford Pear.
(9) Texas Ash
Fraxinus albicans
a texas ash branch showing compound leaves on opposite sides of the branch with oval-shaped, pointed leaflets
Close view of texas ash samaras growing in clusters on a branch
mature, brown, paddle-shaped samaras from texas ash, with a long, thin, narrow blade and a swollen bulge at the base where the seed forms
Texas ash branch showing opposite growth pattern of twigs and thin, green flower spikes in spring
texas ash leaved in fall, showing tinges of yellow and red coloration
Texas Ash grows thin, green flower spikes in springs. Twigs and leaves grow in pairs from opposite sides of the branches. Seeds form in long, narrow, paddle-shaped samaras. Leaves can turn yellow, orange or red in fall. Ash trees are at risk from an invasive beetle,Emerald Ash Borer. We no longer recommend planting ash trees of any kind.
Texas ash is a small to medium-sized tree that grows naturally near creeks and other waterways but tends to be drought tolerant. It has compound leaves in opposite arrangement that often show bright fall colors. Leaflets tend to be smaller than other ash species, with more rounded tips. It grows seeds in paddle-shaped structures called samaras.
We don’t recommend planting any Ash species anymore because of an invasive insect, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). If you already have an Ash tree, you should educate yourself about EAB before it arrives. The wisest course may be to remove poor quality Ash trees now, before the insect kills them and makes the job more dangerous.
(10) Mexican Plum
Prunus mexicana
Mexican plum leaves in fall with red color
mexican plum stem with flaking bark
bright, white flowers with clusters of yellow-tipped white pistils in the center on a mexican plum tree
Mexican plum branch with dull green leaves and pink developing fruit
Mexican Plum heralds spring with bright, white flowers. Rough green leaves form next. In summer, small, round fruits form that are enjoyed by people and wildlife. Bark is usually smooth and gray-brown, with horizontal stripes of light gray or white. As it matures, bark peels away in thin flakes.
Mexican Plum is a small, native fruit tree. It produces fragrant, white flowers in spring before leaves appear. The bark is dark brown or gray, with horizontal striations in lighter gray or silver. The fruits are small, ripening July through September. They are enjoyed by people and wildlife.
(11) Mexican Buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa
close view of newly emerging mexican buckeye leaves tinged red at the edges
A mature, open mexican buckeye pod next to several hard, glossy, brown seeds
Several green, developing mexican buckeye seed pods and one partial mature, brown seed pod on a branch
A mexican buckeye tree covered in pink blooms
two mature mexican buckeye seed pods on a branch. they are just starting to open and the brown seeds are partially visible.
Mexican Buckeye kicks off spring with a display of bright, pink flowers. Compound leaves have narrow, tapered leaflets. Seeds form in hard, woody pods that often remain on the tree through winter.
Mexican Buckeye is a large bush or small, rangy, understory tree. It has compound leaves with pointed leaflets. It is covered with light, pink flowers in spring. Seeds form in large capsules, or pods, that turn brown and split open when ripe. Seeds are hard, brown, shiny balls that grow 3 or 4 to a capsule. The pods often remain on the tree through winter to add visual appeal.
(12) Chinkapin Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
Chinkapin oak acorns developing on a twig with dark, green leaves
Close view of developing leaves on a chinkapin oak, showing the wide serrations along the edges
Close view of chinkapin oak bark, showing thin, flat flakes of gray
A chinkapin oak twig showing new, green leaves and strands of pollen producing flowers called catkins
back of a chinkapin oak leaf, showing the pronounced veins
Chinkapin oak grows acorns with blunt tips that form in rounded cups. Leaves have a wide sawtooth edge. Pollen forms in flower spikes called catkins. The backs of leaves have pronounced veins that angle out from a central midrib.
Chinkapin Oak is a medium to large tree in the White Oak group, so it is resistant to oak wilt disease. The edges of leaves form a wide zigzag. This oak should not be planted near electric wires, as it can be up to 50 feet tall. It tends to have a rounded, spreading canopy. As with all oaks, its acorns support a range of wildlife.
Take Action
Learn more about our public tree data and where public trees are located using TreePlotter, the City of Austin's application for tree inventory.
