Welcome to the Think Trees Tour at Ruiz 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.
Interactive Map
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
A Live Oak tree next to Grove Blvd. at Ruìz Library.
Long, narrow acorns of Escarpment live oak with tapered cups and pointed tips
the tan ball of a 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, gray, 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.
Live Oaks mark the entrances to the driveway here. 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 transplants came from a nursery, so they are probably Southern 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.
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) Cedar Elm
Ulmus crassifolia
A Cedar Elm tree next to the parking lot at Ruìz Library
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.
(3) Gum Bumelia
Sideroxylon lanuginosum
A Bumelia tree next to the parking lot at Ruìz Library.
Gum bumelia branches with mature, green leaves and clusters of small, white flowers and buds
Glossy, green leaves of a gum bumelia tree on a branch with sharp thorns
a gum bumelia twig bearing mature green leaves and developing berries against a white background with a ruler.
a composite image with gum bumelia on the left and live oak on the right
mature bark on a gum bumelia tree, showing the distinctive, rectangular flakes that peel away over time
Gum Bumelia grows dark, green leaves that drop in fall. Sharp thorns often form along the branches. Clusters of small, white flowers form in spring, followed by small berries that feed wildlife in summer and fall. At a distance, Gum Bumelia is easily confused for Live Oak, but close inspection shows the differences. Bark peels away in distinctive rectangular strips.
Gum Bumelia is a tough, native tree easily mistaken for live oak. It tends to grow multiple stems and reaches heights up to 50 feet, so should not be planted near power lines. The oval leaves grow in clusters along twigs, while live oaks grow single leaves at each bud. Often removed due to sharp spines, this tree should be appreciated more. Wildlife eat the fruit, while honeybees gather pollen and nectar from its flowers. It has proven hardy through both droughts and freezes.
(4) Mesquite
Neltuma glandulosa
A Mesquite tree next to the golf course behind Ruìz Library.
a bipinnate mesquite leaf on the ground
A developing catkin on a mesquite branch
Mesquite pods hanging on a tree
Mesquite twig showing a sharp thorn
Several tan, beanlike mesquite pods on the ground
Mesquite leaves have an unusual leaf that splits into two feathery strands of long, narrow leaflets. Bees and other pollinators enjoy the flowers that form in spring as long, puffy catkins. In summer, seeds form in long, beanlike pods that feed a range of wildlife. Watch out for the sharp thorns, which have been the bane of many a rancher's tire!
Mesquite is a low, spreading tree reaching heights up to 30 feet. It has compound leaves with long, narrow leaflets. Seeds grow in long pods that look like green beans. Bees and other insects enjoy the flowers that appear in spring and summer. Watch out for the sharp thorns, which have been the bane of many a rancher's tire!
Mesquite occurs naturally in hot, dry pastures and other open areas. It weathers drought well. Folklore says the last frost of the year has passed once Mesquite trees grow new leaves in spring.
(5) Shumard Oak
Quercus shumardii
A Shumard Oak tree behind the Ruìz Library.
Three deeply lobed leaves with pointed tips from a shumard oak tree against a white background
Shumard oak twig with developing acorns. The cups have just begun to open at the end revealing a pointy green dot of acorn
A shumard oak branch with green leaves and acorns that are almost mature. The cups are small, thin and brown with the green acorns bulging out
Red-orange leaves on a shumard oak in autumn
light gray bark on a shumard oak with shallow fissures between plates
Shumard Oak is a large shade tree with deeply lobed leaves. It is in the Red Oak group, so the tips of the leaves have tiny points or bristles. Pollen-producing catkins grow in early spring. Acorns are large and bulge out from flat, thin cups.
Shumard Oak is one of our largest trees at maturity. It has deeply lobed leaves with pointed tips that often turn red or orange in autumn. Shumard Oak and its Red Oak cousins (like Spanish Oak, Buckley’s Oak, and Blackjack Oak) are most susceptible to oak wilt disease.
Red oaks are the only oaks that can form the fungal mats that can spread spores via insects and cause new disease outbreaks. Shumard Oaks can still be a good choice in Austin, but must be monitored carefully and removed promptly if infected by the Oak Wilt fungus (Bretziella fagacearum).
(6) Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
A Bur Oak tree behind Ruìz Library.
Large, green bur oak leaves with deep lobes
a bur oak twig showing thin fins of bark along the length
Bur oak bark, with narrow, thick strips of gray and dark fissures between them
a single leaf from a bur oak tree, showing deep lobes with rounded tips
a pair of acorns attach to a bur oak twig at the base of tan cups with a frilled edge. Small, green domes of acorns emerge from the cups and have tiny points at the tips
Bur oaks are big. Big acorns, big leaves, big trunk and branches. If you have the space, they could provide decades of shade and wildlife habitat to your landscape. Bur oaks are in the White Oak group, meaning they are resistant to Oak Wilt disease.
Bur Oak is our largest oak at maturity. It needs deep soil, but can tolerate a range of soil types and is well adapted to Austin. It is in the White Oak group, so it resists oak wilt disease. The leaves can be close to a foot long, with deep lobes and rounded tips. The acorns can be as large as golf balls. The bark forms deep fissures that create long, straight ridges, especially on twigs and small branches.
(7) Ashe Juniper
Juniperus asheii
An Ashe Juniper tree in the field south of Ruìz Library.
a bushy, small juniper tree with multiple stems
tan, pollen-producing cones at the tips of a juniper branch
Juniper branches with developing cones, some light green and some turning blue
close view of blue juniper berries, which are technically the seed cones
ashe juniper bark peeling away in thin, papery strips
Ashe Juniper is a native conifer that grows in thin limestone soils west of Austin. It often forms multiple trunks and resembles a bush more than a tree. The small, blue "berries" are the seed-producing cones. They can be used as a culinary spice. Pollen producing male flowers form at the tips of branches and release clouds of allergy-producing pollen in winter. Ashe Juniper often looks bushy, with multiple stems.
Ashe juniper is the bane of allergy sufferers everywhere, but it’s a Hill Country native hero. This tough, scrubby, evergreen tree grows throughout the Austin area, but especially west of MoPac. It tends to form multiple stems, which helps distinguish it from its close cousin, the single-stemmed Eastern Red Cedar. Endangered Golden-Cheeked Warblers rely on its peeling strips of bark to make nests and raise their young. The dead foliage that accumulates underneath their branches builds soil where other plants’ seeds land and germinate. The berry-like cones provide food for lots of native wildlife.
(8) Texas Redbud
Cercis canadensis var. texensis
A Texas Redbud tree near Ruìz Library.
A thick cluster of bright, pink flowers on a redbud tree
A hand supports developing redbud leaves, demonstrating their heart shape and red color in the newest leaves
a Texas redbud branch showing the dull, green backside of leaves
Rows of mature, brown seed pods dangle below leafy branches of a redbud tree
close view of three redbud seeds against a white background with a ruler. A dried seed pod is behind them. the seeds are about 5 mm across.
mature redbud bark begins to split away in flat plates, revealing an orange-brown color underneath
Texas Redbud trees kick of spring with a show of bright, pink flowers. They are followed by simple, heart-shaped leaves up to 4 inches across. Seed pods develop through summer, resembling snow peas. They eventually turn brown and stay on the tree through winter after the leaves fall. Bark is light gray to reddish brown.
Redbud is a small tree in the legume family. It produces bright, pink flowers in spring before leaves appear. Flowers develop into seed pods that resemble snow peas and often stay attached to the tree even after the leaves drop in fall. The common Eastern Redbud (C. canadensis) tends to do poorly in Austin because it prefers more acidic soil. A few Cercis varieties can do well in alkaline conditions, including Texas Redbud and Oklahoma Redbud. This tree is small enough to live under power lines or other utilities.
(9) Mulberry
Morus spp.
A Mulberry tree next to Grove Blvd at Ruìz Library.
Glossy, green mulberry leaves in a form that sometimes resembles a mitten and other times has two lobes at the base
glossy , green mulberry leaves showing the most common form of mature trees, with entire, serrated margins that taper to a point.
glossy, green mulberry leaves showing a form that resembles three long fingers extending from the base
mulberry bark is gray and crumbles away in flat chunks to reveal orange tinting underneath
a mulberry branch with glossy green leaves and developing, green fruit
Mulberry leaves can take several different forms, especially on young trees. Berries form in late spring to early summer. They can be white, pink, or dark purple. People and wildlife enjoy eating them.
Mulberries are medium-sized trees with short trunks. The branches can be brittle and prone to breakage, but tend to be low to the ground and don’t cause much collateral damage. The fruits are enjoyed by wildlife as well as people. It attracts birds and butterflies, including the Mourning Cloak, which eats the leaves as a caterpillar.
Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) is native to North America. White Mulberry (M. Alba) was introduced to America from Asia and has spread across the country. This could be either species, or a hybrid of the two.
(10) Sycamore
Platanus spp.
A sycamore tree next to the bus stop in front of Ruìz Library.
Smooth, light, gray sycamore bark with some thin, curling flakes beginning to peel away
The glossy, green back of a five-pointed sycamore leaf as large as an adult's hand
The back of a Mexican Sycamore leaf looks silvery white due to tiny hairs
Several sycamore leaves growing on a branch in alternate pattern
a spiky, yellow seed ball on a sycamore tree
Sycamore has smooth, gray bark that eventually crumbles away in small flakes or chunks. The large, glossy leaves of Mexican Sycamore are silvery-white underneath due to tiny hairs. Seeds form in small balls that explode into fluff that floats on the wind.
A Sycamore tree is next to the bus stop. American Sycamore is native to our area, but this might be a transplanted Mexican Sycamore. Sycamore grows naturally near creeks and lakes. Bark flakes away naturally to reveal a smooth, gray trunk underneath. Seeds form in small balls that explode into fluff when mature. It grows up to 100 feet tall, so only plant it if there is plenty of space to grow and no nearby electric wires. Severe droughts are very hard on these trees, so we recommend planting Mexican Sycamore (Platanus mexicana) instead.
(11) Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
A Yaupon Holly in front of Ruìz Library.
Yaupon holly in early spring, with mature, dark, green leaves and tiny, new, glossy leaves tinged with red at the edges
yaupon holly branches showing green, oval-shaped leaves with lightly scalloped edged; developing green berries; and mature, red berries
close view of yaupon holly twig with glossy, green leaves, clusters of tiny, round flower buds, and a small, four-petaled, white flower with a yellow center. A red insect is on the flower.
yaupon holly branch with a bee on a flower and two red berries
A cardinal nest about six feet high in the branches of a yaupon holly tree
Yaupon Holly grows small, oval-shaped leaves with scalloped edges that remain on the tree year-round. Tiny, white flowers attract bees and other pollinators in Spring. Red berries develop in late summer and fall, providing food for birds and small mammals. Yaupon creates a mid-story layer where many birds like to build nests.
Yaupon is a large bush or small tree, often forming multiple trunks. It keeps its leaves through the winter, so it is often used as a hedge or bushy screen. It produces clusters of red, berry-like drupes along its branches. Birds and wildlife enjoy the berries starting in fall. Cut branches can bring festive color indoors during December. Yaupon is the only plant native to Texas that makes caffeine.
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.
