Welcome to the Think Trees Tour at John Gillum 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) Anacacho Orchid Tree
Bauhinia lunarioides
Close view of two-lobed leaf with flower buds on an Anacacho orchid tree
Anacacho orchid tree flowers with a honeybee
Anacacho orchid tree seed pods developing on the branches
almost mature seed pods on anacacho orchid tree
Anacacho Orchid Tree has unusual leaves with two lobes. Showy, white flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Seed pods form in summer into fall, peeling open when mature to release the seeds.
Anacacho Orchid Tree makes a nice understory tree, with its silvery gray bark and fragrant white flowers that resemble orchids. It is a relatively rapid-growing tree after its first year, when placed in a favorable location. It should be planted on the south side of buildings in areas with harsh winters. The nectar attracts butterflies and bees.
(2) Arizona Ash
Fraxinus velutina
Arizona ash branch with compound leaves and samaras
Cluster of arizona ash samaras
arizona ash bark
a single, compound, pinnate leaf from an arizona ash
An arizona ash branch showing opposite leaf arrangement
Arizona 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.
Arizona Ash is often planted due to its fast growth. It has compound leaves in opposite arrangement. It grows seeds in paddle-shaped structures called samaras. Having a typical lifespan of 40-60 years, it gets large quickly and declines rapidly. It is prone to poor structure and tends to fall apart in old age.
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 hazardous and expensive.
(3) Mexican Buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa
close view of newly emerging mexican buckeye leaves tinged red at the edges
A mexican buckeye tree covered in pink blooms
Several green, developing mexican buckeye seed pods and one partial mature, brown seed pod on a branch
two mature mexican buckeye seed pods on a branch. they are just starting to open and the brown seeds are partially visible.
mexican buckeye seeds and pods
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.
(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) Pecan
Carya illinoensis
Pecan branch with drooping, compound leaves and clusters of catkins dangling underneath
pecan branch with drooping compound leaves
Two pecans developing in thick, green husks among green leaves
Partially exposed pecan on the ground with part of its husk still attached
pecan branch in winter with no leaves, showing remains of husks from fallen nuts at the tips
Fingers holding a flake of pecan bark in front of the stem where it was removed, showing gray outer bark and reddish-brown inner layer
Pecan leaves emerge after almost all our other tree species, usually in late March. They are pinnately compound, with scythe-shaped leaflets that sag and droop on the tree. Male flowers come soon after the leaves in the form of long, dangling catkins. Nuts drop in October or November. Bark forms flat plates.
Pecan is the state tree of Texas, so it can be found planted all around Austin. It has compound leaves and grows edible nuts that ripen in October or November. When the leaves are gone during winter, the husks from the nuts are often visible on the branches, aiding identification. Native trees tend to have small nuts that may not taste very good, but several varieties are available that have been bred for large, sweet-tasting pecans.
(6) Sugar Hackberry
Celtis laevigata
Sugar Hackberry trunk showing the light gray bark with warty protrusions
Sugar Hackberry leaves on a twig
Sugar Hackberry branch with star-shaped, white flowers
Underside of a sugar hackberry branch showing small, green, developing fruits
Sugar hackberry branch in winter with no leaves, showing numerous small, brownish-red berries
Underside of Netleaf Hackberry leaf, showing pronounced veins in distinctive pattern
Hackberry grows small, star-shaped flowers in early spring. Leaves are long and narrow with a tapered point. Small, round berries grow through summer and ripen in fall. They are a food source for a wide range of wildlife. Bark is light gray and mostly smooth, but forms warty growths with age. A similar native species is Netleaf Hackberry, which has more pronounced veins on the backs of leaves.
Often reviled and frequently neglected or abused, hackberry trees get a bad rap. This medium to large tree seems able to survive almost any conditions. It is very drought hardy. Birds and other wildlife rely on the “berries” it makes (called drupes). It was a food source for Native tribes in this area, who also used the wood to make tools and bowls, bark to make sandals, and leaves to make a brown dye for wool.
Related to elms, Sugar Hackberry has an upright, arching form that can be very attractive when maintained properly. In 2014, an Urban Forest Inventory Analysis found hackberries make up 6 percent of our tree canopy. Protect these tough, native trees when you can.
(7) Lacebark Elm
Ulmus parvifolia
lacebark elm bark, showing the mottled, red-orange pattern
Lacebark elm leaves on a branch
barnch structure of lacebark elm is often poor, with tight forks and included bark
Lacebark elm twig, showing small, glossy leaves; round, flat samaras, and a ladybug
Lacebark Elm takes its name from the distinctive, orange-red pattern formed by the bark. It has small, glossy leaves with finely serrated edges. Seeds form in flat discs called samaras in autumn.
Lacebark Elm is a large shade tree native to Asia. Like Cedar Elm, Lacebark Elm grows flowers in autumn and has small leaves, but the leaves are not as coarse as on Cedar Elm. The name comes from the thin, flaky bark that crumbles away to reveal a mottled, orange-brown pattern. Seeds form in flat discs called samaras. Wood tends to be brittle and trees often have poor structure. This species is best planted away from high traffic areas and valuable property. It is very prolific and spreads rapidly.
(8) 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.
(9) Monterrey Oak
Quercus polymorpha
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.
(10) Leyland Cypress
Cupressus × leylandii
Leyland cypress bark
Close view of leyland cypress foliage against a white background
close view of leyland cypress buds
Close view of a developing seed cone on a leyland cypress branch
Numerous cones turning from green to brown on a leyland cypress branch
Leyland Cypress is a large tree with scalelike foliage. It stays green year round, making it a good screen plant. Bark peels away in papery strips. This hybrid does not produce viable seeds, but it does grow round, brown cones.
Leyland Cypress is a large, fast-growing, evergreen tree developed in nurseries. It needs lots of space and should not be planted underneath utility wires. It grows small, round, seed cones in fall, but they do not produce viable seeds. It requires good drainage to avoid common fungal diseases.
Given adequate space, Leyland Cypress makes a good screen or wind block. This example is too close to the building and sidewalk, so it will require frequent maintenance to avoid damage and keep it out of the way of people visiting the library.
For a similar plant that is better suited to Austin's soils and climate, consider Arizona Cypress, instead.
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.
