There are many native and adapted small understory trees that add beauty and support wildlife, like this Yaupon Holly. In winter it gets hordes of robins, waxwings, and other birds feeding on its berries, after the pollinators swarm its flowers in summer. Evergreen, sun or shade, and deer-resistant, It’s one of my favorite plants!

Anacacho Orchid

Anacacho Orchid

Mexican Buckeye in bloom

Mexican Buckeye flower close-up

Red Buckeye, usually a shrub but it will eventually grow into a lovely small tree.

Carolina Cherry Laurel

Carolina Cherry Laurel detail

Desert Willow, perfect for full sun

Desert Willow

Roughleaf Dogwood

Eve's Necklace

Eve’s necklace detail

Prairie Flameleaf Sumac

Prairie Flameleaf Sumac detail

Goldenball Leadtree, loved by pollinators!

Mexican Plum

Mexican Plum-one of the very best pollinator plants!

Mexican Plum flowers, this plant is probably the best pollinator tree we have!

An evergreen shrub for the first several years, Texas Mountain Laurel will eventually become a shade tree. The purple flowers are often described as smelling like grape Kool-Aid! But keep the seed pods away from children and pets.

Texas Mountain Laurel

Possumhaw

Possumhaw Holly is a hardy deciduous tree that keeps its berries long into the winter until the birds eventually gobble them up.

Retama is fast growing and great for xeriscapes

American Smoke Tree

Texas Persimmon

Texas Persimmon

Texas Redbud

Yaupon Holly

Yaupon Holly

Yaupon Holly will attract lots of wildlife to your yard, like this Cedar waxwing!