Think Trees Tour at Menchaca Road Branch

Welcome to the Think Trees Tour at Menchaca Road 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. The trees at this library are almost all Live Oaks, but we have included a few trees on adjacent properties. Please respect our neighbors and use caution if crossing the street.

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 . 

Almost all of the trees on this property are 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. The large, native trees at this library are probably Q. fusiformis. The younger trees planted near the building are more likely to be Q. virginiana.

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. 

This Live Oak near the front driveway is in poor condition. You may wonder why we don't remove it. Though we always try to take out trees that may be hazardous to protect the public, this tree is not likely to hurt anyone if it breaks. It has seen better days, but it still provides a wide range of infrastructure and health benefits.

Historically, native people sometimes bent trees on purpose to note the location of trails, water, or other landmarks. We don't have any evidence that this is one of those marker trees, but we think it's fun to think about. What do you imagine this tree might have pointed towards before Austin became a city?

Texas Redbuds line the sidewalk across the street (please use the crosswalk at Slaughter Lane if you cross the street). 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. 

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. Kiowa people would extract a resin from the bark to use as chewing gum. Bumelia has proven hardy through both droughts and freezes.  

These next few trees may be present for you tour, or may be missing. They don't really belong here, but they keep coming back, anyway. The soil they grow in is hard to access, so they are difficult to remove completely. Typically, there will be a few volunteers popping up in this strip between properties.

First, we have Chinese Pistache. 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 we used to recommend it. Now we find it produces 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. 

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. 

Arizona Ash is often planted due to its fast growth. It has compound leaves in opposite arrangement, usually having 5 to 7 leaflets each. 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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

Learn more about our public tree data and where public trees are located using  TreePlotter , the City of Austin's application for tree inventory.  

Be part of the Native Tree Seed Collection Program by learning how to collect and send native tree seeds. This program is a partnership between  Central Texas Seed Savers ,  TreeFolks , and the  City of Austin's Watershed Protection Department .