October 14, 2024
Native Small Trees, Foraging, HOA Native Plant Design
We all groaned as Texas Native Plant Week launched with a record 101° after weeks of no rain. Still, it looks like we’re finally heading in the right direction, just in time for Texas Arbor Day on November 1. Possumhaw holly’s a drought-resilient small deciduous tree or shrub to add to our wildlife habitat list.
In winter, those plump berries steal the show on sculptural bare branches. Beyond, russet-toned bald cypress claims leaf-peeping status for a few golden weeks. Yaupon holly, another drought-tough choice, remains evergreen. In late winter, migrating cedar waxwings noisily swoop in to strip both hollies clean in minutes!
October through early March is the best time to plant trees in Central Texas. So, this week Matt Kolodzie from Friendly Natives Nursery in Fredericksburg picks a few smaller specimens (including possumhaw) to work as accents or for shade in a small yard, all geared for wildlife.
He and John Hart are fans of prairie flameleaf sumac, not only for its swoon-worthy flaming fall color, but for its very bee-loved flowers. Later, birds devour its reddish fruits. Photo by Matt Kolodzie.
For shade to part shade, Matt goes for roughleaf dogwood. I have this one as a privacy screen on a chain-link fence, although it’s winter-deciduous. In spring, butterflies and bees simply cover its white flowers. In the wild, Matt told us, it wants to make a thicket, which it sure has for me.
Songbirds quickly devour its notable white berries (fruits).
And for a small shade tree (30×30’) for smaller yards, Matt recommends lacey oak, one that CTG has often featured. Its lovely blueish-toned leaves turn apricot in fall. Plus, lacey oak is resistant to oak wilt.
Here’s Matt’s small tree/shrubby tree for details, including deer resistance.
Find the right native plant for your yard at the Texas Native Plant Society database. 
Discover how to forage native and invasive wild plants, even in your backyard, including those so-called “weeds” with Eric Knight and Stacy Coplin, authors of Foraging Texas. They’re also founders of Local Leaf, where they make Yaupon Matcha™ from local, wild yaupon hollies, the only native plant in North America that contains caffeine (as well as various health benefits).
In Foraging Texas, they profile plants across the seasons—from trees to cool weather chickweed—including identification, growth habits and best time to pick. Of course, they advise caution about where to harvest (not along highway strips), and any locations where pesticides or herbicides are used. Even if you don’t forage, it’s a great reference to learn more about plants that we encounter.
And they include a few recipes! For us, Stacy shows off a yummy lamb’s quarters spinach dip. Get her recipe.
Sign up for their fantastic foraging classes at the Wildflower Center and other locations around town (and I know they fill up fast!).
Now, what about the little shoots growing on live oak trees? Brooke Koppy from Dripping Springs wanted to know when it’s okay to cut them off. We suggested she contact a Certified Arborist, and that led her to Jessica Jones from Austin Tree Surgeons. Photo by Brooke Koppy.
Jessica explained that these shoots are called epicormic sprouts, caused by stress. The stress could be due to the recent years of extended drought, freezes, or both. And yes, we can cut them back in cool weather, but it’s best not to trim in summer when it’s typically hot and dry. Jessica also noted that these wounds don’t need to be painted after cutting, since they’re very small.
Daphne added: “Live oaks form similar sprouts from their roots. As with epicormic sprouting in the canopy, root sprouts may be due to stress. If the tree is growing in your lawn, you may choose to simply mow over the sprouts, or you can prune them off at the base, close to the ground, perhaps even pulling up a piece of the root along with it. As with canopy water sprouts, you don’t have to worry about treating the cut surface to prohibit oak wilt, as these small wounds don’t attract the sap-feeding Nitidulid beetle that vectors this terrible disease.” But, do not apply herbicide to these lawn roots, since they are connected to the mother tree.
Find out more about oak wilt and when to safely prune susceptible trees.
On tour: It’s not easy starting from scratch. And when you’re new to Texas, picking the right plants multiplies the challenge. But when Martin and Eileen Byhower arrived in Sun City, Martin couldn’t wait to adapt his horticultural know-how for lawn-free gardens under shady live oak trees in deer country—in an HOA to boot!
Creating diversity with deer-resistant plants—including small trees—topped his list. “I’ve got about 150 different species of plants in my yard, blooming at different times of the year,” he told us. Multiple elevations with hardscape and plant heights promote visual and wildlife appeal, from ground-hugging lizards to birds. “So, my yard could be an example of what is possible working within the confines of an HOA.” That’s a flameleaf sumac in the center, and there’s also a fragrant mimosa. At the end of the raised bed, there’s a yaupon holly. Read the blog and watch his video for more native plant trees and design ideas.
Watch the whole program now! And thank you for stopping by! Linda