Shade Trees

Acacia salicina: Willow Acacia
Fragrant, white, puffball flowers. Provides moderate shade. 30-40' (9-12m) high.

Acacia stenophylla: Shoestring Acacia
Necklace-like seed pods, long narrow green leaves have weeping appearance. Provides light to moderate shade. 20-40' (6-12m) high.

Ceratonia siliqua: Carob Tree
Brown seed pods with a chocolate flavor. Provides dense shade. 30-40' (9-12m) high.

Cercis canadensis subsp. mexicana: Mexican Redbud
Pink flowers mid winter. Heart shaped leaves. Provides moderate shade. 18-25' (5.5-7.6m) high.

Chilopsis linearis: Desert Willow
Large, fragrant flowers are purple to pink to white. Provides light shade. 6-25' (1.8-7.6m) high.

Cordia boissieri: Texas Olive
Clustered, white flowers with yellow throats. Provides moderate shade. 12-24' (3.7-7.3m) high.

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum: Texas Mountain Laurel
Fragrant violet-blue flowers in drooping clusters. Velvety white bean pods persist on the tree for months. Provides dense shade. 15-25' (4.5-7.6m) high.

Ebenopsis ebano: Texas Ebony
Creamy yellow, fragrant flowers. Provides dense shade. 15-30' (4.5-9m) high.

Eucalyptus species: Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus trees are not recommended because they grow large rapidly and are structurally weak. Owners experience severe die-back during freezes and expensive tree-trimming bills to remove dead wood. The leaves contain a flammable oil. The trees produce abundant litter from falling leaves, flowers, fruit, and bark. Heavy branches (the wood is dense) routinely drop off during the summer and are dangerous to anyone underneath.

Fraxinus greggii: Littleleaf Ash
Inconspicuous flowers. Provides light to moderate shade. 12-20' (3.7-6m) high.

Lagerstroemia indica: Crepe Myrtle
Clustered, crinkled, pink, red or white flowers. Provides moderate shade. To 30' (9m) high.

Lysiloma watsonii: Feather Bush
White puffball flowers, fern-like leaves. Provides light shade. 20' (6m) high.

Maclura tricuspidata: Mandarin Melon Berry
Attractive, red hanging fruit. Provides medium to dense shade. 25' (7.6m) high.

Moringa oleifera: Moringa
Edible leaves and seedpods. Provides light to light-medium shade. 32-40' (10-12m) high.

Morus species: Mulberry
Fruit attracts birds. Provides dense shade. 10-50' (3-15m) high.

Neltuma glandulosa: Honey Mesquite
Fuzzy yellow flowers. Provides moderate to dense shade. 30' (9m) high.

Neltuma velutina: Velvet Mesquite
Fragrant, fuzzy yellow flowers. Provides moderate to dense shade. 30-40' (9-12m) high.

Neltuma x: Hybrid Mesquite
Fuzzy cream colored flowers. Provides moderate to dense shade. 20-40' (6-12m) high.

Nerium oleander: Oleander
Flowers bloom spring through fall, many colors available. Provides moderate shade. 3-20' (1-6m) high.

Olea europaea: Olive
Evergreen. Provides dense shade. 30' (9m) high.

Olneya tesota: Desert Ironwood
Purple and white flowers. Provides moderate shade. 15-30' (4.5-9m) high.