I'm looking for some suggestions on a flowering ornamental tree/shrub. What I am not wanting are vitex, saucer magnolia, and japanese maple. I already have these in other places in my yard. I am needing/wanting something that will grow between 5-10ft tall. I would like for something with white flowers but would consider other colors. The area gets full morning sun and bright afternoon shade. Thanks in advance for your help.
Ornamental tree
Cat - you would do well with an Anacacho Orchid Tree. They grow to a max of 15' and have lovely silver green foliage, gorgeous (and fragrant!) white flowers in spring, and are endemic to Texas. I will hopefully get some seed this spring, but I know others that do have some.
I'd love to see more suggestions! I'm really interested in a fragrant native tree/shrub. Have Mexican buckeye (hasn't bloomed yet) and a Texas Mountain Laurel which I started from seed, and it's very very slooowww growing. May have to shop for bigger specimen when $$ allows....
Mary
TX_gardener - I'll get some pictures of my anacacho this spring. They usually bloom in the fall again, but the spring blooms are best.
You may also find a sweet olive tree a good alternative. I don't think they get very tall (I don't have one quite yet) but early spring they also bloom, and their fragrance is POTENT. I absolutely love walking by them when they're blooming at the nursery. I know some DGers have these as well.
Does skunk tale count as "fragrant"?
There's something called fragrant ash. It's native further west, but I think would grow if you were maybe attentive that it didn't get boggy. Nothing flashy, but fragrane and white flowers.
Fragrant sumac is more subtle, but maybe more interesting - flowers in the spring, then fall foliage, and red berries. It grows more like a shrub if left to itself, but you could shape it somewhat.
Texas ebony, um, would make your mountain laurel seem fast-growing, but they are very cool trees if you can wait. You're a little north for it, but maybe depending on the specific site.
There are a bunch of acacias that are fragrant and have lots of flowers, if you like that sort of tree. Maybe more desert-y than the others you're mentioning.
Here is a few for consideration.
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PHLE4 Mock Orange
http://wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=22919 Sweetspire
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CHLI2 Desert Willow
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MAPY magnolia pyramid
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PRME Mexican Plum
Whole lot more on that site I am sure.
Desert Willow
American Smoke tree
(and I second Mexican Buckey)
Or you could go with something elible -- Santa Rosa Weeping Plums are beautiful.
Sweet olive tree or Banana Shrub.
Roughleaf Dogwood could fill the bill, and it is native to this area.
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CODR
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/cornusdrummon.htm
Josephine.
Scarlet Buckeye...so spectaular now that it is beginning to bloom!...
American Smoketrees..love the Lime-ish leaves...
Native purple smoketrees/large shrub...but maybe a darker coloration there would not work?
Not sure of your soil, but we have several viburnums are hardy to your area, as well as native...if there is shade, Rusty Black Haw...how could you NOT love this one?...the scent is wonderful now and the dark green mature leaves just pop
Oak-leaf hydrangea...it is hard to beat with 3 seasons of color...and how many plants can hold their leaves through this past winter?!...and stay a vibrant red.
Sooo many choices and soooo little ground...LOL
Thanks for all the ideas... to quote txaggiegirl: Sooo many choices and soooo little ground...LOL
I've grown a sweet olive in North Carolina and Georgia; would that be the same one? Tiny white flowers and soooo fragrant, just wonderful!
Sounds like it to me...Osmanthus fragrans...they are blooming now!
txaggiegirl, I can't wait to smell them next week! :D
Check out the different varieties on http://www.lazyssfarm.com/Plants/Shrubs/M-R%20Shrubs/shrubs_trees_M-R.htm#SHRU15905 ... my wish list if getting longer and longer!
Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. I've been looking them all over again and again. I have narrowed it down to a few...here are the ones I like the best so far...
Anacacho Orchid Tree
Roughleaf Dogwood
Rusty Black Haw
I do like the smoke trees but the pics don't show the flowers well. Do y'all have some good pic of it in full flower glory?
I was just informed this does very well as a small tree (rather than potted). The smell is fabulous! Just another for consideration... :)
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59091/
Looks like that one wouldn't be hardy in any zone above 10. Also shows high allergy possible.
Ive been yearning for a Forest Pansy Redbud Tree but you may not want dark foliage. This redbud has purple leaves. My regular redbuds are doing well with morning sun. I too have a 5 inch high Mountain Laurel that is 3 yrs old. I dont think I'll live to smell it. I saw on a list from Texas A&M that there is a cross with Catalpa and Desert Willow that sounds good to me. I think it's called Chitalpa. I love Dogwoods and you are far enough North you can probably grow them. I have not been successful here in 9a yet. They have the beautiful white flowers in spring, red berries and glorious red foliage in the fall. I like their structure too.
If I were in your shoes, I would grow a fruit tree. Beautiful spring flowers and fruit to eat. A&M has a list on their website of varieties that are adapted to our areas in Texas. Again, you are far enough North that you could provide a fruit tree with the number of chill hours it needs to produce fruit. I cant use anything here that requires more than 400 chill hours. Im studying a book just now called "The Edible Front Yard" and Im trying to go in that direction. The book is about designing beautiful landscapes with plants that produce food. Hence, my interest in fruit trees.
You all probably realized I was describing the East Texas understory tree Cornus florida and not the rough-leaf variety of Dogwood.
Yeah, Sheila, I don't know why they have those zones listed for the Sweet Almond because several comments are from people living in "lower number" zones that have successfully grown them. You are right about the allergies! Probably best to make sure one is not allergic before planting.
Steadycam3--we think alike! I said I'm not planting any more trees unless they can feed us! A friend gave me a handout on Backyard Orchard Culture. Talks about using fruit trees bred for your zone, planting them fairly close and keeping them pruned to a workable size. I have a strip of land on the side of the driveway crying for fruit trees! But if I bring any home, my hubby will leave :( hahaha! Like someone giving you a puppy before you're ready...
Cam I hadn't thought of 'Forest Pansy'. I love that tree. My neighbor has one in his front yard and I admire it every day :) LOL I do like the dark foliage, purple is my favorite color too.
Have either of you seen the thread that Dennis started last year about edible landscape? It's got some really good stuff on there, y'all should check it out.
Bar, why would your husband leave you over fruit trees?
Hahaha! Because he would have to do the digging, planting and possibly spraying involved. (I have medical stuff going on that's affecting my muscles and energy). If I let a bit of time pass, and our lives get a bit more settled, it might be a possibility for the future. Since we put a pool in last summer, I think we'll be here a while, God willing!
If you know anything about Roundups and if they are having one in our area, let me know!
Ohhhhh, I see. He would be reacting to the "Honey dew" produced by the fruit trees. chuckle.
LOL, steadycam3.
Bariolio....The events that people tell me about are listed up at the top of the Texas forum main page. It is a "sticky" thread and stays put. I listed one there that a friend of a DG member is having in Buda TX.
I am in 7a and have had good luck with the sweet almond, even moving it around this cold winter it is looking great.