Welcome to the Think Trees Tour at Carver 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) Wax Myrtle
Morella cerifera
A wax myrtle branch thick with mature, green leaves with irregular oval form
wax myrtle bark showing thin raised ridges scattered across it sideways
wax myrtle branch with green leaves and clusters of small, round, white berries circling the twig
Developing wax myrtle leaves with long, narrow form that tapers at each end
Wax Myrtle is a large bush that keeps its leaves all year. It makes a good replacement for privets and other invasive hedge plants. Bark is mostly smooth and gray or brown. Clusters of tiny, wax-coated berries form in summer and fall. They can be boiled to extract the wax and make candles.
Wax Myrtle is a large bush that keeps its leaves through winter, making it a good choice for a hedge or screen. Typically 6 to 12 feet tall, it can reach heights of 20 feet. The leaves and flowers produce a strong, sweet fragrance. Some plants produce male flowers and pollen, while others produce female flowers that form wax-coated berries in late fall. Pollinators, including the Red-Banded Hairstreak, are attracted to the flowers. Birds eat the fruits. Wax Myrtle needs a lot of moisture to get started and does best near water, but is tolerant of drought once established. The fruit can be boiled to extract the waxy coating and make candles.
(2) Cedar Elm
Ulmus crassifolia
Cedar elm bark showing wide, flat plates with deep fissures between them
Front and back of cedar elm leaves with samaras clustered on twigs
Cedar elm in winter with no leaves showing multiple clusters of mistletoe
Newly developing cedar elm leaves with red coloring in the twigs
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) Cherry Laurel
Prunus caroliniana
A Red Admiral butterfly feeding on cherry laurel flowers
Glossy, green cherry laurel leaves with clusters of bright, white flowers at tehri bases
back of a cherry laurel leaf is dull, light green. There is a pronounced vein down the length of the blade, which tapers to a point.
Dark, glossy, green leaves of a cherry laurel tree with small, round, dark purple fruit and tiny, red leaf buds at the axils
Cherry Laurel is a small tree that keeps its leaves all year, making it a good choice for hedges and screens. Leaves are dark green and glossy on the top, dull green on the back. Thick clusters of white flowers attract pollinators in spring. Dark, purple fruits form in fall and remain through winter. Birds eat the berries.
Cherry Laurel is a small to medium sized tree that keeps its leaves year-round. It is a tough, drought-resistant native species that does best in well drained soil. It has dark green, glossy leaves and dark brown bark. Clusters of white flowers form in early spring that attract pollinators. It produces small fruits in fall that are eaten by birds. It can be pruned into a bush or hedge, making it a good alternative to privets or other invasive bushes. Though not as large as some trees, Cherry Laurel should not be planted within 20 feet of utility wires.
(4) Monterrey Oak
Quercus polymorpha
wide, flat flakes of brown monterrey oak bark
swelling leaf buds on a monterrey oak twig
Glossy, green leaves of a monterrey oak tree with newly developing acorns at the tips
Thick clusters of acorns developing among dark, green leaves on a monterrey oak tree
fingers highlight a mature acorn on a monterrey oak branch. The thick cup covers more than half of the brown nut, which has stripes along its length in varying shades of brown
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.
(5) Chinkapin Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
Dark, green chinkapin oak leaves with wide zigzag edges
Back side of a chinkapin oak leaf, showing pronounced midrib and pinnate veins
A chinkapin oak branch in spring, with developing green leaves and strings of pollen producing flowers on dangling catkins
chinbkapin oak twig with dark green leaves, light green leaf backs, and developing, light green acorns just peeking out of brown cups
chinkapin oak acorns developing on a twig. Only a small tip of green acorn shows from the brown cup
Chinkapin oak bark in thin, gray strips
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.
(6) Texas Redbud
Cercis canadensis var. texensis
Redbud bark is usually smooth and gray, though as it matures it will split and flake away
A thick cluster of bright, pink flowers on a redbud tree
Rows of developing seed pods dangle below leafy branches of a redbud tree
Redbud branches with several bright, pink flowers and dried, brown seed pods from the previous year
A hand supports developing redbud leaves, demonstrating their heart shape and red color in the newest leaves
Redbud has smooth, gray bark. Bright, pink flowers appear in early spring, followed by simple, heart-shaped leaves up to four inches across. Seeds form in flat ods that resemble snow peas. The pods turn brown and remain on the tree through winter after the leaves have fallen.
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.
(7) Shumard Oak
Quercus shumardii
light gray bark on a shumard oak with shallow fissures between plates
Two deeply lobed leaves with pointed tips from a shumard oak tree with a ruler in the background showing their total length is near 7 inches
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
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 trees that can form the fungal mats that can 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).
(8) Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
Close view of yaupon branch showing mature leaves and tiny, new leaves tinged red at the edges growing at the tips
A yaupon holly branch with small, oval shaped leaves and tiny, white flowers clustered along the twigs
Yaupon holly branch with green leaves, a few mature red berries, and numerous tiny, green developing berries
close view of yaupon showing leaves, flowers, berries, and a honeybee
A cardinal nest about six feet above the ground in the branches of a yaupon holly tree
Yaupon holly has small, oval-shaped, dark green leaves with slightly scalloped edges. They stay on the tree all year, with new leaves forming at the tips of branches in spring. Tiny, white flowers appear in spring that attract bees and other pollinators. The thick, bushy growth creates a middle canopy that makes a good hiding place for bird nests and other wildlife.
Yaupon is a large bush or small tree, often forming multiple trunks. It keeps its leaves through the winter, so it can be used as a hedge or bushy screen. It produces clusters of red, berry-like drupes along its branches in autumn. Birds and wildlife enjoy the berries starting in fall. Cut branches can bring festive color indoors during December.
(9) Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
crape myrtle stems showing a mottled pattern in the thin, flaky bark
a crpe myrtle twig with several light green, oval-shaped leaves and red coloring in twig
a flower spike from a crape myrtle with numerous round, green flower buds and several mature, pink flowers with frilly petals
Close view of crape myrtle seed pods. THey are dried, brown balls splitting open at one end into segments like an orange
A crape myrtle in winter showing fine, intricate branches with no leaves or flowers
Crape myrtle adds visual interest all year. Leaves, flowers, bark and seed pods all stand out in the landscape. They are available in a range of sizes and flower colors.
Crape Myrtle is an imported tree from Asia. It typically forms a cluster of several stems, but can be trained to grow as a single trunk. It has proven to be reliable in a wide range of soils and climates without becoming invasive. It produces abundant flowers throughout summer, which can be white, pink, lavender, or red. Showy seed pods remain visible during winter after leaves drop. The bark peels away in thin flakes, creating more visual interest. Crape myrtle tolerates drought and root disturbance better than most trees. It is available in a range of sizes to fit most landscapes. Be careful to select an appropriate variety if you plant it underneath power lines or other utility wires.
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.
