Welcome to the Think Trees Tour at Terrazas 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) Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
Large, green bur oak leaves with deep lobes radiating from a twig
A single bur oak leaf on concrete next to a bandana with the text austintexas.gov/trees. The leaf is over a foot long and 5 inches at its widest, with deep lobes along the sides
Two large acorns on a bur oak twig. The tan cups cover three quarters of the green acorn that has a tiny point at the end
A thick bur oak twig with thin strips of raised fins along the length and several smaller twigs growing from it
Gray and black bur oak bark separating into thick chunks with deep fissures
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 alkalinity. 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.
(2) Chinkapin Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
A chinkapin oak twig showing new, green leaves and strands of pollen producing flowers called catkins
Close view of developing leaves on a chinkapin oak, showing the wide serrations along the edges
back of a chinkapin oak leaf, showing the pronounced veins
Chinkapin oak acorns developing on a twig with dark, green leaves
Close view of chinkapin oak bark, showing thin, flat flakes of gray
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.
(3) Pecan
Carya illinoensis
Pecan leaves and catkins
pecan branch with drooping compound leaves
Pecan developing in green husks
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
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.
(4) Shumard Oak
Quercus shumardii
a light green leaf with deep lobes and pointed tips from a shumard oak tree
A twig from a shumard oak with several clusters of developing acorns. The cups have barely begun to open and a small disc of green acorn is visible at the tip of each one.
Maturing acorns on a shumard oak tree. The cups are brown and thin. The green acorns bulge out over half an inch. They have dark green striations radiating from the tip with a point at the end
A shumard oak branch covered in red-orange leaves in fall
Light gray bark on a shumard oak tree with wide, shallow fissures between narrow plates of bark
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).
(5) Possumhaw
Ilex decidua
Possumhaw branch in early spring with soft, green leaves that are blunt at the tip and narrow at the base
Close view of green possumhaw holly leaves with tiny flower buds at the tip of the twig
View from underneath a possumhaw branch with several clusters of tiny, white flowers sprouting outward
Possumhaw holly in winter, with no leaves and covered in red berries
Possumhaw grows small, white flowers in spring. Leaves are thin, soft, and rounded with narrow bases. They drop off in fall and winter. Berries form in fall and remain through winter, serving as food for wildlife.
Possumhaw Holly is a small tree or large bush that can be planted underneath utility wires. A close cousin to Yaupon Holly, Possumhaw has similar leaves and red berries. The leaves of Possumhaw are larger and softer, tapering at the base. This tree will drop its leaves in fall, while Yaupon will not. Most plants are either male or female. A female plant with a pollinator nearby will be covered with red-orange drupes (berries) through winter. Birds and other wildlife are attracted to the fruit.
(6) Monterrey Oak
Quercus polymorpha
football-shaped, brown Monterrey oak buds opening in early spring, revealing the first light green tips of leaves
Monterrey oak twig with a green leaf and yellow threads of pollen producing catkins.
Large, green monterrey oak leaves with developing acorns
Two acorns developing on a monterrey oak twig. One is small and barely emerging from its cup. The other is almost mature, bulging from its cup with a rounded tip and a point on the end. Dark green striations run the length of it.
Monterrey oak bark forming flat chunks of light gray
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.
(7) Cedar Elm
Ulmus crassifolia
Front and back of cedar elm leaves with samaras clustered on twigs
Close view of a cedar elm twig showing corky "wings"
Cedar elm in winter with no leaves showing multiple clusters of mistletoe
Cedar elm bark
A cedar elm twig with 9 leaves against a whit background. The have uneven bases and taper to a point, with tiny serrations around the edges. A metric ruler shows the largest to be 3 cm long
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.
(8) Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
A hand holds a leafy green twig from a desert willow. the leaves are long, narrow and tapered to a point
Large, bright, pink, bell-shaped flowers with yellow pistils dangle from the tip of a desert willow branch with dark, green leaves in the background
A hand holds a dried seed pod from a desert willow that has split open to reveal the seeds inside with cottony strands attached
Smooth, brown bark of a desert willow with small beige dimples scattered across it
a mature desert willow stem with thin, narrow, papery strips of bark peeling from the surface. Several twigs emerge from the stem with new green leaves.
Desert willow has thin, rough bark. Large, pink flowers grow through the summer. Leaves are long, narrow, and taper to a point. Seed pods look similar to green beans, but the small seeds are attached to cottony, wispy strands that float on the breeze.
Desert willow is a small, rangy tree (sometimes more of a big bush) that is very drought tolerant. It is not a true willow. There are no other species in its genus, so it is fairly safe from invasive insects or diseases from other parts of the world. It grows large, pink flowers through spring and summer. It is small enough to grow under utility wires, but its tendency to spread out means it requires more maintenance when planted next to sidewalks or other traffic ways.
(9) Live Oak
Quercus sp.
Mature live oak leaves on twigs with emerging new leaves tinged red at the edges and the first catkins of the year
the tan ball of a Mealy oak gall (Disholcaspis cinerosa) on live oak twig
Long, narrow acorns of Escarpment live oak with tapered cups and pointed tips
a mature, dark brown acorn swells from a tan cup on a live oak branch with dark, green leaves surrounding it
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 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. 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. This transplant came from a nursery, so it is probably Southern Live Oak.
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.
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.
