Recently, we harvested some impeccable Fannin Select Live Oaks at our growing farm that are undeniably some of the finest trees for sale we have ever had in our inventory.
The Live Oak is a magnificent, long-living tree. Its small, glossy and dark green leaves will shed in late winter and early spring to make room for new foliage and growth. It’s a top-quality tree for providing privacy and adding shade. The average growth rate for this oak is 1′ to 2′ per year once established, and it reaches 40 to 50 feet at maturity.
The Shumard Red Oak is an outstanding Texas shade tree that is highly recognizable by its broad and sharp-edged leaf structure. It’s a fast-growing tree with an upright canopy and produces beautiful red and yellow leaves in the fall before it sheds them. It will grow 2 to 3 feet a year until it reaches a height between 50 and 60 feet at maturity.
The Cedar Elm is a wonderful and hardy native Texas tree. Its leaves are small and deep green with a rough texture. It produces golden yellow leaves in fall before it sheds them. This elm will grow 1.5 to 2.5 feet annually until it reaches a height between 40 and 50 feet at maturity.
The Chinese Pistache is a beautiful tree that grows quickly in full sun to partial shade and will withstand heat and drought extremely well. Its small leaf clusters are green in the summer and turn brilliant red and yellow in the fall before they are shed. It grows 2 to 3 feet annually until it reaches a height between 40 and 50 feet at maturity.
Bur Oaks are hardy oak trees that are native to this area of Texas. Bur Oaks have a very long life span and, once established, can live over 150 years. They are not only drought tolerant, but also thrive in soils that are alkaline, acidic, loam, clay and areas with poor drainage. The tree’s unique characteristics include large, dark, curvy leaves; a corky, rough bark; and large, ping-pong-ball-sized acorns. As one of the white oak variety, they are very fire resistant. In the fall, the leaves turn copper and yellow in color. The leaves are quite large and can grow to 8”-12” in length. The Bur Oak’s majestic limb structure makes it one of the premier shade trees in North Texas. The canopy is dense, round and spreading. Little pruning is necessary to allow it to thrive and strengthen. With a deep root system and a tap root that can reach 14’ by the time they have reached maturity, Bur Oaks can be difficult to transplant. Additionally, their roots are rarely a problem for sidewalks, curbs and foundations. While they may have a variety of insects from time to time, they are rarely a serious threat and can be managed with horticultural sprays. Their acorns of up to 1” long or more are the largest of any oak in North America and are very desirable to wildlife in the area. Bur Oaks have been measured as tall as 75’ with an 80” diameter trunk and a canopy stretching over 100’.
Whether it’s in a wet or dry environment, hard clay or sandy loam, this hybrid can withstand almost anything. As a combination of the silver and red maples, the Autumn Blaze Maple adapts to a variety of climates and soils, is fast-growing, and presents magnificent fall colors. Growing 2’-3’ each year, it will ascend to a height of 50’ with a 30’ wide canopy. In fact, the Autumn Blaze Maple outgrows any other tree in the maple family. Virtually “no need pruning” makes this one of the most ideal shade trees as its shape will remain constant with little or no maintenance. Its strength and resistance to high winds and ice damage make it the perfect shade tree for both urban and suburban neighborhoods. It is resistant to bugs, invasive diseases and car exhausts, and it doesn’t drop seed pods.
The Eastern Red Cedar is a coniferous evergreen that is part of the Juniper family. While it can grow to as much as 75’ tall, it will take a very long time to reach that height. A traditionally slow growing tree, its bark is fibrous, a reddish-brown color and will peel off in narrow strips. While a potent allergen, it is not near as potent as the Ashe Juniper. It is tolerant to both hot and cold climates and thrives in the most adverse soil conditions. Over the past 200 years, Eastern Red Cedars have been used as hunting property dividers for Native Americans and windbreaks and fence posts by farmers throughout North America. It has been called the “red stick” thus, Baton Rouge, LA was named for this tree. Eastern Red Cedars can be planted very close together and therefore provide excellent visual screens between neighbors. This tree also delivers juniper berries, which are a popular Winter food supply for many birds.
A drought-tolerant, deciduous tree, the Chinquapin Oak grows well in dry, rocky soils in a full sun environment. It is a medium-to-large growth member of the White Oak family of trees. Normally growing 40’-60’ and occasionally as tall as 80’, it has an open, round canopy. Although similarity to the White Oaks is obvious, it can take up to 30 years to produce its first crop of acorns. These acorns mature in September/October and grow to approximately ¾” long and ½” wide are sweet, edible and thin-skinned and a favorite of wildlife. Their oblong, saw-toothed and shiny green leaves can grow 4” to 7” long. The teeth on the leaf are a somewhat curved shape and can be mistaken for a chestnut leaf. Much like the White Oak, the bark has shallow grooves, an ash-like look and peels off as the tree matures making it a striking specimen both in landscape and in the wild. No matter the gender, flowers will bloom from April to early June. Its wood is an integral part of the woodworking industry, as it is used in furniture and cabinetry as well as fence posts. It has also been designated as a Texas Superstar™ plant by Texas A&M AgriLife Research. That means this tree has undergone several years of extensive field trials by Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, both part of the Texas A&M System.
The Lace Bark Elm is a moderately growing tree that reaches a height between 35 and 40 feet at maturity with a crown spread of 30 to 35 feet. It is a deciduous tree with small, green leaves that have serrated edges. The exfoliating bark of this tree makes it unique. As one piece of bark peels away, a patchwork pattern of various shades of grey, brown, green and orange is left behind. The Lace Bark is a very hearty tree able to withstand the harshest growing conditions and adapts well to various soil types. It grows 1.5 to 2 feet annually.
This conifer adapts best and is acclimated to wet conditions. Its foliage is medium green, soft-textured and fern-like. Its attractive fall color is a dark, rusty red. This beautiful tree has the ability to live more than 100 years and is an excellent choice for areas with wet soil conditions. It grows 1.5’-2’ per year and can reach a height of 60-70 feet at maturity. However, in the Florida Everglades, they have been found at over 120’ tall and 500 years old. Growing best in humid climates, the Bald Cypress also thrives in warm, dry areas as well. The cones are round and green and range in size from ½” to 1 ½ ”. Upon maturity, they turn brown and fall apart releasing 20-30 triangular shaped seeds. The Bald Cypress will grow rapidly when young but slow down as they age. In fact, the Bald Cypress can grow to 40’-50’ in its first 15-25 years. Its light, feathery leaves make it a popular ornamental, but its size qualifies it as an excellent shade tree. Municipalities are using the Bald Cypress in increasing numbers due to its ability to thrive in urban areas where air pollution, compacted soil, drought and poor drainage are prevalent. Being one of the few conifers that sprouts, they normally emanate from the stumps of younger trees. If they survive, the sprouts normally do not produce quality trees. The older the tree, the less vigorous and susceptible to wind damage the sprouts become.
