Texan Trees
All trees contribute to our atmospheric oxygen that we breathe when their roots absorb water, their leaves absorb carbon dioxide and the sun provides that energy source to produce oxygen, this process is known as photosynthesis. When I initially relocated to Texas I was interested in the landscaping and wondered what can be grown here in the climate. One of the first trees that caught my eye was the Texas Redbud Tree, a native flowering tree of Central Texas, not to be confused with the Eastern Redbud. The Texas Redbud grows best in alkaline soil and they can produce some of the most beautiful pinkish flowers to be admired up close, as well as, at a distance seeing that the tree can grow up to 15-20 feet tall.
The Crepe Myrtle is a flowering shrub tree that was adopted by Texas as a state shrub in the late 1990's. The Crepe Myrtle can grow up to 20 feet tall with its flower petals blooming in the summer in the vibrant colors of lilac, pink and red.
The Texas Sabal Palm is native to South Texas and has a way of capturing your attention with its tall trunks that have a crosshatch appearance to them and their green fan-shaped leaves. These beauties can grow up to 50 feet tall which makes them observable at a distance. They possess the ability to withstand extreme weather conditions making them a pillar within the Texas tree community.
About a decade ago I decided to take on a new challenge in life and began the initial process of homesteading, which requires that you grow some of your food sources at home. So I decided to plant some fruit trees, but going to the nursery to view the various trees available for planting was overwhelming. After viewing several options I chose to plant a green pear tree, a plum tree and a peach tree to grow in my then backyard. Texas has roughly 319 tree species registered in the big tree registry with flatwood plums, black cherry and wild crabapple fruit trees being native to the state; fruit trees are a beautiful and beneficial addition to your dwelling spaces landscaping.
