The Best Trees to Plant in Houston for Shade and Value
Planting the right tree in the right place is one of the best investments a Houston homeowner can make. A well-chosen shade tree can reduce your cooling costs, increase your property value by thousands of dollars, and provide beauty for decades. Here are our top recommendations for the Greater Houston area.
Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
The quintessential Houston tree. Live oaks are:
- Evergreen (or nearly so - they drop leaves briefly in spring)
- Long-lived - can survive for centuries
- Wind-resistant with strong wood
- Massive shade providers with wide-spreading canopies
Best for large properties where they have room to spread. Plant at least 30 feet from structures.
Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia)
A native Texas tree that's often overlooked:
- Drought-tolerant once established
- Fast-growing compared to live oaks
- Beautiful fall color - yellow to golden
- Resistant to most elm diseases
- Smaller mature size makes it suitable for more properties
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Despite the name, this deciduous conifer thrives in Houston:
- Tolerates wet and dry conditions equally well
- Beautiful fall color - russet to orange
- Fast-growing and long-lived
- Pest and disease resistant
- Attractive, distinctive form
Shumard Red Oak (Quercus shumardii)
For those who want a classic oak with fall color:
- Brilliant red fall foliage
- Faster growing than live oaks
- Good shade tree with an upright, rounded canopy
- Adaptable to Houston's clay soils
Monterrey Oak (Quercus polymorpha)
Increasingly popular in Houston landscapes:
- Semi-evergreen in our climate
- Drought-tolerant once established
- Fast-growing for an oak
- Attractive bark and form
- Resistant to oak wilt
Trees to Avoid
Some commonly planted trees that we recommend avoiding:
- Bradford Pear - Weak wood, splits easily in storms
- Silver Maple - Aggressive roots, weak branches
- Arizona Ash - Short-lived, prone to borers
- Mimosa - Invasive, messy, disease-prone
- Chinese Tallow - Invasive species banned in many areas
Planting Tips
- Plant in fall or winter (November through February) for best establishment
- Dig a wide, shallow hole - 2-3 times the width of the root ball but no deeper
- Don't amend the backfill soil - use the native soil so roots adapt
- Mulch properly but keep mulch away from the trunk
- Water regularly for the first two years
At HamodaTrees, we can help you choose and plant the right trees for your property. We also provide ongoing care to keep your new trees thriving. Contact us for a consultation.