The Top 10 Native Trees of Dallas: Enhancing Your Landscape While Supporting Local Ecology

A native tree is one that grows naturally in a specific region. As native trees need minimal fertilizer, pesticides, and maintenance, they create optimal wildlife habitats. Here are 10 beautiful and hardy trees native to the Dallas area:

Ashe Juniper

Ashe junipers are evergreens that can grow up to 20 feet high and wide and often have white patches on their gray or reddish bark. They make great habitats for Dallas wildlife, help prevent erosion, and can serve as natural wind and sound barriers. Further, they’re resistant to wood decay and insects. When trimmed properly, they can be maintained as large shrubs.

Black Cherry

Black cherry trees are large natives that provide excellent shade during hot Texas summers. They produce small cherry clusters that attract birds and bees. They grow in sunny areas, thrive in acidic soils, and have high heat tolerance.

Bald Cypress

The bald cypress is a large deciduous tree that can grow up to 120 feet and live for hundreds of years. They grow well in wet soils, swampy areas, and along waterways. Bald cypress trees provide excellent wildlife habitats and help prevent flood damage by slowing water flow.

Cedar Elm

Cedar elms are large trees that grow up to 90 feet and can withstand extremely hot and dry Texas conditions. They can also survive poor drainage, air pollution, and hard soil. Property owners should prune the drooping branches of cedar trees to prevent them from breaking.

Chinquapin Oak

The chinquapin oak is a large, lush shade tree that thrives in limestone soil. It tolerates heat, drought, and oak wilt and produces acorns that attract wildlife. It only requires a little pruning and fertilization, even in poor soils.

Desert Willow

The desert willow is a smaller tree requiring full sun, but it’s highly drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. Its flowers attract various pollinators. This willow naturally has multiple trunks but can be pruned to have a single trunk like most other tree species.

Eve’s Necklace

Eve’s necklace is an ornamental flowering tree that grows 25 feet high and 15 feet wide. It’s another low-maintenance species that tolerates sun, partial shade, heat, drought, and poorly draining soil. Its name comes from the clusters of flowers resembling a necklace.

Mexican Buckeye

Image via Flickr by Aka Hige

The Mexican buckeye grows 12 feet high and 10 feet wide and produces bright pink flowers, making it an excellent ornamental tree. Mexican buckeyes tolerate heat and drought, requiring full or partial sun and well-drained, moist soil to thrive.

Shumard Oak

Shumard oaks are a large, hardy species that rarely succumbs to oak wilt. They grow over 100 feet high and produce vibrant red leaves in the fall. They grow best in rich, moist soils, especially along bodies of water.

Southern Magnolia

This shade tree has rich green leaves and fragrant white flowers. It can grow up to 40 feet tall and tolerates heat and drought. Southern magnolias require little pruning and minimal cleanup when their cones fall to the ground.
Many trees native to the Dallas area provide low-maintenance shade sources and wildlife habitats. If you’re looking for a Dallas tree company to help maintain your native trees, contact our team of certified arborists at TreeNewal.