#10 Chinkapin Oak
(Quercus muehlenbergii)
Similar to the Monterrey Oak in leaf style and overall look, the Chinkapin Oak does excellent in South Texas Conditions while still providing a visually appealing tall shade tree. Chinkapin Oaks like a lot of water, but are very drought resistant in South Central Texas after the establishment period. Chinkapin Oaks can grow a little taller than Monterrey's for those who want a little extra height.
#2 Mexican Sycamore
(Platanus mexicana)
If you want a tree that grows fast, you can't do much better than the Mexican Sycamore. This remarkable tree can grow 5FT to 7FT every year! The Mexican Sycamore is extremely well adapted to South Central Texas and has no problem taking our tough heat and drought conditions when established. Of course, with great speed comes great need. The Mexican Sycamore will need a good amount of water, especially when establishing. The Mexican Sycamore makes giant leaves and comes in two basic varieties: All green and green top, white bottom. One downside of the Mexican Sycamore is the amount of dropping it leaves. Despite a few little hiccups, the Mexican Sycamore is am excellent tree for San Antonio, Austin and Helotes, TX and easily makes the top 5 of our list.
#5 Live Oak
(Quercus virginiana; fusiformis)
The tried and true Live Oak makes our top 5 for good reason. Live oak trees are incredibly dependable and incredibly hard to kill! Heat, Drought, everything resistant: Live Oaks are often used as a "Plant and Forget" tree. While we do not recomend forgetting about your tree, it is a great option for water restricted area.
"Top 20 Shade Trees" for San Antonio!
Custom Plant Information by Wilson Landscape Nursery & Florist- Helotes, Texas
Welcome to Wilson's—We are glad you came our way! Click on the tree name for its individual information.
We at Wilson's hope that you find this plant information to be helpful and interesting. Let us know if we can help you further as you search for that special tree. Our information is based upon decades of loving trees, learning about trees, growing trees, maintaining trees, talking about trees, selling trees. planting trees, watching trees grow, enjoying the beauty of trees and being grateful to God for creating trees! We have grown and tested our trees everywhere imaginable so you can be sure your new tree will thrive! In the hill country, in the valley, in full sun or on the moon, our trees can survive anywhere!
“The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.” “And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 2:9; 1:12)
Twenty Great Trees To Choose From
This project started as a "Top Ten" list. But I just couldn't leave out so many great trees! I have had to really force myself to rank these "Top Twenty," because I love them all. The fact of the matter is that ranking trees is very subjective when you have so many trees that grow equally well. The truth of the matter is that here are twenty great trees to choose from! Nevertheless, I do have my reasons for ranking the way I have and I realize that there are other legitimate rankings. The most important ranking will come from you!
Choosing a Tree Should Be A Happy Time
As long as a tree grows well in our area, and is recommended by knowledgeable professionals, then your choice from a list like this depends upon what seems good to you. After you have done your own personal research, then trust your own gut feeling about what looks good to you. Choosing a tree should be a happy time, based upon your own personal taste. If you choose any of these twenty, they will provide decades of enjoyment. Each tree on this list has its own strengths and weaknesses. Click the individual plant information sheets for more detailed information on each individual tree.
Choose For Your Unique Location
Keep in mind that your ranking should depend upon how well a particular tree blends into your own landscape. For example, many might rank the Live Oak tree as their number #1 choice; however, if you already have ten Live Oak trees in your yard, and your whole neighborhood is covered in Live Oak Trees, then a Live Oak Tree may not rank high on your list. The Live Oak tree will always be king of the San Antonio forest; yet, this list is based generally upon what the existing San Antonio area needs now to provide the best tree diversity and beauty.
The Most Popular Trees Now
This top 20 list is also based upon what trees are popular in landscaping now. Trees become popular as people discover their beauty. This tends to snowball, usually for good reason. For the last twenty years or so, the Monterrey Oak has been the most widely planted tree in the San Antonio area. For the last few years, the Mexican Sycamore has been gaining popularity.
A Good Approach to Buying
I would recommend that you read the plant information sheets on each tree. See what “sounds” good to you. Then I would suggest that you look at one of these trees growing in the ground. See what “looks” good to you. I have often found that a particular plant or tree will sound really good on paper but when you see it in person you may or may not retain your enthusiasm. If you are like me you love to read about a particular tree and imagine how beautiful it is. This is good as long as you ground your imagination in reality.
Don't Judge A Tree By Its Pot
Keep in mind that trees in a nursery pot will not look as good as that same tree growing in the ground. Growing trees in pots is unnatural. “Do not judge a book by its cover.” "Do not judge a tree in a nursery pot." When it gets in the ground it will show its true character.
A Blessing For You
We hope that this plant information helps you as you search for that perfect tree. Whichever tree you choose, may it bring you many years of beauty and peace.
May you and your tree be “like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1:3)
Wilson Tree and Landscape Nursery serves Helotes, San Antonio, Castroville, Shavano Park, Stone Oak, Austin, Leon Valley, Braun, Camp Bullis, Alamo Ranch, Balcones Heights, Castle Hills, Villages of Westcreek, Hollywood Park, Alamo Heights, Woodlawn Lake, Fair Oak Ranch, Timberwood Park, Boerne, Lytle, Pearson, Lacoste, Macdona, Rio Medina, Natalia, Dunlay, New Braunfels, Mcqueeny, Seguin, San Marcos, Converse, Bulverde, Comfort, Lake hills, Hondo, Kerville and more! We offer beautiful trees and planting services. We make it easy to get a buy a tree and get it installed all at one place. You pick it out, we'll put it in! You can rest assured: In the hill country, in the valley, in full sun or on the moon: Our trees can survive anywhere!
Honorable Mentions
Helotes Trust Tree Source For 30 Years! Helotes TX #1 Florist For 30 Years!
Top 20 Shade Trees For San Antonio, Helotes And South Central Texas
#6 Deodar Cedar
(Cedrus deodara)
Finding a blue spruce lookalike in South Central Texas can be a difficult challenge. Most Spruce, Juniper types do not like our intense heat and drought. The Deodar Cedar is one such tree that can handle South Texas and still gives a unique and refreshing blue-green tint. The Deodar Cedar has been proven to do well in all South Texas soil types, but prefers to stay on the dry side without getting overly soggy.
#8 Southern Magnolia
(Magnolia grandiflora)
Over the last decade Southern Magnolia cultivars have been gaining a lot of popularity. Varieties like "Little Gem", "D.D. Blanchard" and others can be seen throughout South Central Texas. But the mother of all these varieties, the Southern Magnolia, is an excellent tree in its own right! This evergreen makes beautiful, tough, all green leaves and makes one of the prettiest large white flowers of any tree. Add the fact that the Southern Magnolia grows 40FT to 60FT tall putting it in a league of its own!
#4 Bigtooth Maple
(Acer grandidentatum)
Coming in just below the Texas Red Oak is the highly sought after Bigtooth Maple. This tree is special because of the breath taking orangish-red fall foliage it makes. More importantly, the Bigtooth Maple tree is native to South Central Texas and can handle all of our difficult growing conditions. However, because the Bigtooth is hard to find and can be inconsistent with its foliage, we have decided to place it under the dependable Texas Red Oak.
The Monterrey Oak is our #1 best shade tree for San Antonio, Helotes, Austin and South Central Texas for many reasons. The Monterrey Oak is first and foremost a survivor. Incredibly hard, the Monterrey can take all manor of beating including our punishing heat in the summer and drought conditions when established. Monterrey Oaks are also immune to Oak wilt. Beyond survivability, the Monterrey Oak is a beautiful semi-evergreen that make large, tough leaves and keeps them almost year round. The Monterrey has a beautiful upright growth habit and can easily grow 2.5FT to 3.5FT every year with proper care.
#7 American Elm
(Ulmus americana)
Once the most popular tree in America, the American Elm fell out of favor after dutch elm disease decimated the tree population. Luckily there was one variety that resisted the horrible disease: the Jefferson Elm. Take one look at the American Elms gorgeous giant leaves and almost straight up growth habit and you will understand why it was so popular! The American Elm is also extremely fast and hardy.
#3 Texas Red Oak
(Quercus buckleyi x shumardii)
Fall foliage trees are less common in South Central Texas than other types. We have a few show stoppers like the Bigtooth Maple, but they are rare and inconsistent with their fall color. Luckily the Texas Red Oak is perfect for South Central Texas AND has beautiful fall foliage consistently. The Red Oak is extremely drought resistant and grows fairly quickly for an Oak.
#9 Bald Cypress
(Taxodium distichum)
One of the tallest and most unique looking trees on our list. The Bald Cypress give Texans a beautiful pine/cypress tree look in a tree that can handle our conditions. These guys are quite fast but do like a lot of water though! Bald Cypress naturally grow by rivers and there are multiple Bald Cypress across Texas that are older than 1,000 years! So even though Bald Cypress need a lot of water to establish, they are proven survivors!
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