{"id":16231,"date":"2020-01-03T17:02:10","date_gmt":"2020-01-03T20:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?p=16231"},"modified":"2025-04-04T15:40:18","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T18:40:18","slug":"the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/","title":{"rendered":"The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Everyone has an idea about what kind of trees they want in their yard \u2014 and for different reasons. Some want more shade or pretty ornamental trees for their Houston yard. Others choose fruit-producing ones. But what some people don\u2019t know is that they might be doing more harm than good if they want one of these six worst trees to plant in Houston.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-dd9a0593-a44c-4a73-846b-29f69bb073f3\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\"><\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#0-consider-your-climate-and-hardiness-zone\" style=\"\">Consider Your Climate and Hardiness Zone<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#2-1-japanese-blueberry-elaeocarpus-decipiens-\" style=\"\">1. Japanese Blueberry (Elaeocarpus decipiens)<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#3-2-mimosa-albizia-julibrissin-\" style=\"\">2. Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#4-3-hackberry-celtis-occidentalis-\" style=\"\">3. Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#5-4-ash-fraxinus-texensis-\" style=\"\">4. Ash (Fraxinus texensis)<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#6-5-bradford-pear-pyrus-calleryana-\" style=\"\">5. Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana)<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#7-6-mulberry-morus-alba-\" style=\"\">6. Mulberry (Morus alba)<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#8-faq-about-houston-trees\" style=\"\">FAQ About Houston Trees<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-consider-your-climate-and-hardiness-zone\">Consider Your Climate and Hardiness Zone<\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-medium wp-image-16232\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Joshua-Kornegay-Joshuas-Native-Plants-Houston-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Joshua Kornegay\" class=\"wp-image-16232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Joshua-Kornegay-Joshuas-Native-Plants-Houston-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Joshua-Kornegay-Joshuas-Native-Plants-Houston.jpg 511w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Joshua Kornegay<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p>Your climate and hardiness zone should guide your tree selection decisions, not sentimentality. For example, some people want trees that remind them of home. That urge can be a problem, as Joshua Kornegay of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joshuasnativeplants.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joshua\u2019s Native Plants<\/a> warns in an emphatic email:<\/p>    <p>\u201cNEW gardeners often ask me to sell them species that either do NOT grow in the zone\/climate or \u2026 ask for something I do not recommend,\u201d says Kornegay, a native Houstonian with more than 25 years in the green industry.<\/p>    <p>\u201cFor example, northerners often ask for cherry trees, for the fruit \u2026 It doesn\u2019t get COLD enough down here for them to put on fruit!\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-just-because-you-can-plant-doesn%E2%80%99t-mean-you-should\">Just Because You Can Plant Doesn\u2019t Mean You Should<\/h3>    <p>You can get just about any tree you\u2019d like at a nursery or home improvement store. That doesn\u2019t mean it suits your yard or will grow well in Houston.<\/p>    <p>As Joshua told us, \u201cThe mature size of a tree should FIT the size of your proposed planting area.&nbsp; Small yard?&nbsp; [Choose a] small tree or narrow-crowned tree. Sounds easy, right?&nbsp; Well, you\u2019d be surprised at the DISASTERS I\u2019ve seen!&nbsp; WE have, (or can get you) almost ANY tree you desire. BUT only after you do your homework.\u201d<\/p>    <p>Trees, like other types of plants, work in some places while in others they don\u2019t. So today, we\u2019re looking at the six worst trees you can plant here in Houston<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-1-japanese-blueberry-elaeocarpus-decipiens-\">1. Japanese Blueberry (<em>Elaeocarpus decipiens<\/em>)<\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Elaeocarpus_decipiens_02.jpg\" alt=\"Elaeocarpus decipiens\" class=\"wp-image-68344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Elaeocarpus_decipiens_02.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Elaeocarpus_decipiens_02-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Elaeocarpus_decipiens_02-646x485.jpg 646w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Elaeocarpus_decipiens_02-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Elaeocarpus_decipiens_02-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Elaeocarpus_decipiens_02.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p>The Japanese blueberry tree is a broadleaf beauty that is more trouble than it&#8217;s worth in Houston. It\u2019s a pretty tree, producing ornamental flowers each spring and dark blue \u2014 though inedible \u2014 fruit in the winter months. But don\u2019t let its looks fool you. You should avoid planting <a href=\"http:\/\/ekps.tamu.edu\/details?id=118\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Japanese blueberry trees<\/a> in Houston.<\/p>    <p>As Joshua told us, \u201cNew-home builders often plant these as they are easy to take root and grow quickly. BUT, as the years go by, this species is a BUG magnet and is prone to soot, a black powdery airborne fungus that is pretty much INCURABLE!\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 8-11<\/li>    <li><strong>Sun:<\/strong> Full sun to partial shade<\/li>    <li><strong>Soil:<\/strong> Tolerates neutral to slightly alkaline soils<\/li>    <li><strong>Foliage:<\/strong> Broadleaf evergreen<\/li>    <li><strong>Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Moderate<\/li>    <li><strong>Mature size:<\/strong> 40-60 feet tall, 20-40 feet wide<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-2-mimosa-albizia-julibrissin-\">2. Mimosa (<em>Albizia julibrissin<\/em>)<\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2018-07-08_11_10_27_Rosea_Mimosa_blossoms_along_the_ramp_from_southbound_Interstate_95_New_Jersey_Turnpike_Eastern_Spur_to_westbound_.jpg\" alt=\"Mimosa\" class=\"wp-image-68348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2018-07-08_11_10_27_Rosea_Mimosa_blossoms_along_the_ramp_from_southbound_Interstate_95_New_Jersey_Turnpike_Eastern_Spur_to_westbound_.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2018-07-08_11_10_27_Rosea_Mimosa_blossoms_along_the_ramp_from_southbound_Interstate_95_New_Jersey_Turnpike_Eastern_Spur_to_westbound_-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2018-07-08_11_10_27_Rosea_Mimosa_blossoms_along_the_ramp_from_southbound_Interstate_95_New_Jersey_Turnpike_Eastern_Spur_to_westbound_-646x485.jpg 646w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2018-07-08_11_10_27_Rosea_Mimosa_blossoms_along_the_ramp_from_southbound_Interstate_95_New_Jersey_Turnpike_Eastern_Spur_to_westbound_-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2018-07-08_11_10_27_Rosea_Mimosa_blossoms_along_the_ramp_from_southbound_Interstate_95_New_Jersey_Turnpike_Eastern_Spur_to_westbound_-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:2018-07-08_11_10_27_Rosea_Mimosa_blossoms_along_the_ramp_from_southbound_Interstate_95_(New_Jersey_Turnpike_Eastern_Spur)_to_westbound_Interstate_280_(Essex_Freeway)_in_the_New_Jersey_Meadowlands,_within_Kearny,_Hudson_County,_New_Jersey.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Farmartin<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p>The mimosa (like the one pictured above), with its delicate, almost lacey foliage is an instant eye-catcher. Just don\u2019t put it in your Houston yard. It\u2019s an invasive exotic tree brought to the States in 1745 from China. It grows quickly and offers shade and a few weeks of beautiful pink flowers.<\/p>    <p>But the rest of the year, <a href=\"http:\/\/ekps.tamu.edu\/details?id=20&amp;region=zone_e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mimosas<\/a> are unattractive (unless you like big, brown seed pods hanging down), it sheds, and it can quickly spread, threatening other plants in your yard.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 7-10<\/li>    <li><strong>Sun:<\/strong> Full sun<\/li>    <li><strong>Soil:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/edis.ifas.ufl.edu\/pdf\/ST\/ST06900.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adapted to most soils<\/a>, including sand, loamy, clay, acidic, and slightly alkaline<\/li>    <li><strong>Foliage:<\/strong> Dark green foliage<\/li>    <li><strong>Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Moderate<\/li>    <li><strong>Mature size:<\/strong> 20-30 feet tall, 25-40 feet wide<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-3-hackberry-celtis-occidentalis-\">3. Hackberry (<em>Celtis occidentalis<\/em>)<\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Celtis_occidentalis_berry_Odessa_Ukraine.jpg\" alt=\"Celtis occidentalis\" class=\"wp-image-68345\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Celtis_occidentalis_berry_Odessa_Ukraine.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Celtis_occidentalis_berry_Odessa_Ukraine-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Celtis_occidentalis_berry_Odessa_Ukraine-646x485.jpg 646w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Celtis_occidentalis_berry_Odessa_Ukraine-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Celtis_occidentalis_berry_Odessa_Ukraine-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Celtis_occidentalis_berry,_Odessa,_Ukraine.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Celtis_occidentalis_berry,_Odessa,_Ukraine.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yuriy Kvach<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p>With small fruits that attract birds, who wouldn\u2019t want a hackberry? Houston homeowners, that\u2019s who. Actually, it\u2019s not a good choice in any urban or suburban area for two reasons. First, it\u2019s a weedy tree that insects love to feed on \u2014 especially woolly aphids. And second, the <a href=\"https:\/\/hort.ifas.ufl.edu\/database\/documents\/pdf\/tree_fact_sheets\/celocca.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hackberry<\/a> has invasive roots that can thwart the growth of other plants in your yard.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 3-9<\/li>    <li><strong>Sun:<\/strong> Full sun to partial sun<\/li>    <li><strong>Soil:<\/strong> Well adapted to most soils except high alkaline soils (&gt;8 on the pH scale), depending on the variety<\/li>    <li><strong>Foliage:<\/strong> Deciduous<\/li>    <li><strong>Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Low<\/li>    <li><strong>Mature size:<\/strong> 40-80 feet tall, 40-50 feet wide<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-4-ash-fraxinus-texensis-\">4. Ash (<em>Fraxinus texensis<\/em>)<\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Fraxinus_texensis_kz02.jpg\" alt=\"Fraxinus texensis\" class=\"wp-image-68346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Fraxinus_texensis_kz02.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Fraxinus_texensis_kz02-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Fraxinus_texensis_kz02-646x430.jpg 646w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Fraxinus_texensis_kz02-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Fraxinus_texensis_kz02-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Elaeocarpus_decipiens_02.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Fraxinus_texensis_kz02.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p>Ash is a popular tree throughout the Houston area with many different varieties \u2014 so why did it make the list? Ash trees are naturally brittle, which means they are very susceptible to damage in heavy winds. If you plant one of these, expect hurricane season to be extra nerve-wracking once it grows tall. You can kiss your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/low-maintenance-landscaping-ideas-for-houston\/\">low-maintenance Houston landscape<\/a> goodbye.<\/p>    <p>On top of the risk of damage, there\u2019s also the issue of the infamous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/ash-tree-diseases\/#emerald\">emerald ash borer<\/a>. This is a beetle, native to Asia, that is wreaking havoc on ash trees in this country. At the time of this article, it <a href=\"https:\/\/tfsweb.tamu.edu\/eab\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hasn\u2019t been spotted<\/a> in Houston yet. However, it has already moved into northeastern Texas, so it\u2019s just a matter of time.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Hardiness zones:<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/ekps.tamu.edu\/details?id=144\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">7-9<\/a><\/li>    <li><strong>Sun:<\/strong> Full sun to partial shade<\/li>    <li><strong>Soil:<\/strong> Prefers rocky, sandy, or clay soils<\/li>    <li><strong>Foliage:<\/strong> Deciduous<\/li>    <li><strong>Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Low<\/li>    <li><strong>Mature size:<\/strong> 35-45 feet tall, 30-40 feet wide<\/li> <\/ul>    <p><strong>Note: <\/strong>The above stats are for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildflower.org\/plants\/result.php?id_plant=fral3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Texas Ash<\/a>. These stats may change depending on the variety of ash tree.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-5-bradford-pear-pyrus-calleryana-\">5. Bradford Pear (<em>Pyrus calleryana<\/em>)<\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Pyrus_calleryana_callery_pear_blossom.jpg\" alt=\"Pyrus calleryana\" class=\"wp-image-68349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Pyrus_calleryana_callery_pear_blossom.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Pyrus_calleryana_callery_pear_blossom-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Pyrus_calleryana_callery_pear_blossom-646x430.jpg 646w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Pyrus_calleryana_callery_pear_blossom-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/800px-Pyrus_calleryana_callery_pear_blossom-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Pyrus_calleryana_callery_pear_blossom.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Matthew Field<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p>Granted, the Bradford pear is gorgeous to look at when it is in full bloom in the spring, but this once-popular Houston tree is now becoming an invasive menace. Those lovely flowers stink like rotting fish. If that\u2019s not bad enough, this tree\u2019s branch structure is weak.<\/p>    <p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pubs.ext.vt.edu\/content\/dam\/pubs_ext_vt_edu\/3010\/3010-1464\/3010-1464.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">B<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pubs.ext.vt.edu\/content\/dam\/pubs_ext_vt_edu\/3010\/3010-1464\/3010-1464.pdf\">radford pear\u2019s<\/a> main trunk tends to crack, and it leaves debris everywhere anytime there\u2019s a storm or hurricane. Plus, even the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/best-grass-types-houston-texas\/\">best grass types for Houston<\/a> don\u2019t grow very well under it, so expect a big pile of dirt in your yard underneath this tree.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 5-8<\/li>    <li><strong>Sun:<\/strong> Full sun<\/li>    <li><strong>Soil:<\/strong> Adapted to most soils except wet soils<\/li>    <li><strong>Foliage:<\/strong> Deciduous, leathery leaves<\/li>    <li><strong>Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Low<\/li>    <li><strong>Mature size:<\/strong> Around 35 feet tall, around 25 feet wide<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-6-mulberry-morus-alba-\">6. Mulberry (<em>Morus alba<\/em>)<\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20190610Morus_alba1.jpg\" alt=\"Morus_alba\" class=\"wp-image-68347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20190610Morus_alba1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20190610Morus_alba1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20190610Morus_alba1-646x485.jpg 646w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20190610Morus_alba1-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20190610Morus_alba1-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mulberry<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p>Houstonians have enough problems with allergies these days. And planting a <a href=\"https:\/\/plants.ces.ncsu.edu\/plants\/morus-alba\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">white mulberry<\/a> can make matters worse. The male trees produce so much pollen that you and your family will sneeze and wheeze for days or weeks come springtime.<\/p>    <p>Mulberry trees are also prone to insects and have tree roots so aggressive that you will see cracks eventually if it&#8217;s anywhere near your sidewalk or driveway. The fruit from Mulberry trees also has a tendency to stain patios, walkways, and driveways. Consider how much you like your sidewalk before adding this tree to your landscape.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 4-8<\/li>    <li><strong>Sun:<\/strong> Full sun<\/li>    <li><strong>Soil:<\/strong> Prefers clay, loam, and sandy soils<\/li>    <li><strong>Foliage:<\/strong> Deciduous<\/li>    <li><strong>Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Low<\/li>    <li><strong>Mature size:<\/strong> 30-60 feet tall, 20-40 feet wide<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-faq-about-houston-trees\">FAQ About Houston Trees<\/h2>    <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1667900370039\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What Makes a Tree Bad for Houston?<br\/><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The worst trees to plant in Houston are the ones that are either invasive or unfit for Texas\u2019s climate. The following trees are bad for Houston lawns in a few different ways:<br\/><br\/>\u25cf <strong>The root systems<\/strong> of some trees, like the hackberry and mulberry, grow so aggressively that they can halt the growth of other plants in your yard.<br\/><br\/><strong>\u25cf<\/strong> <strong>Stay clear of weak trees<\/strong> like ash. Despite being a popular choice, these trees do not hold up against the harsh weather often found in Houston during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/hurricane-resistant-landscaping-ideas\/\">hurricane season<\/a>.<br\/><br\/><strong>\u25cf<\/strong> <strong>Invasive species <\/strong>outcompete native species for resources. Don\u2019t be fooled by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/flowering-trees-to-transform-your-yard\/\">flowering trees<\/a> like the Bradford pear, which might look pretty, but are actually invasive to the area.<br\/><br\/>Homeowners should know what kind of conditions a tree needs before planting a species that may not be suited for their lawn or area.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1667900392763\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are the Best Trees to Plant in Houston?<br\/><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/6-best-trees-plant-houston\/\">best trees for Houston<\/a> are mostly the native species (with some exceptions) that thrive in that Texas heat:<br\/><br\/>\u25cf <strong>A Nuttall oak<\/strong> is a type of red oak tree that arborists consider one of the best large trees for the area. It\u2019s also one of the most popular native shade trees.<br\/><br\/>\u25cf <strong>The Southern magnolia<\/strong> is a common tree found in Houston lawns. Its fragrant white flowers are an instant eye-catcher for any front yard.<br\/><br\/>\u25cf <strong>Drake elms<\/strong> are known best for their fast-growing nature and ability to provide shade. They also stand up well against bad weather.<br\/><br\/><strong>Note:<\/strong> While live oaks are abundant in Houston, they are not recommended as one of the best trees. They give too much shade for grass to grow underneath.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1667900577158\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the Best Time to Plant Trees in Houston?<br\/><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The best time to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstontx.gov\/parks\/pdfs\/2015\/TreePlantingGuideBooklet_Eng.pdf#pg=4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">plant trees<\/a> in Houston is from mid-November to late February. This time frame allows new trees time to develop root systems and become established before the high moisture requirements of summer arrive.<br\/><br\/>If you plan on planting above ground in containers, you can do this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/how-to-plant-tree\/#when\">any time of the year<\/a>. The same is true for balled and burlap trees.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-call-in-the-professional-tree-planters\">Call in the Professional Tree Planters<\/h2>    <p>Choosing trees to plant in Houston doesn\u2019t need to be a big, scary decision. When you know what you want and what would work well in your yard, the only thing left to do is plant. Don\u2019t let fear keep you from realizing the tree-filled yard of your dreams. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/houston-tx-landscaping\">Call a Houston landscape expert<\/a> to help you select and plant the perfect tree without your having to lift a finger.<\/p>    <p>Main Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:20190610Morus_alba1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Morus_alba_%27Ho%27O%27.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Morus_alba_%27Ho%27O%27.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tortie tude<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC0 1.0<\/a> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Everyone has an idea about what kind of trees they want in their yard \u2014 and for different reasons. Some [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":68356,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[205,475,668],"tags":[1008],"class_list":["post-16231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-houston-tx","category-texas","category-tree-care","tag-houston-tx-landscaping"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg?wsr","author_info":{"display_name":"Abigail Evans","author_link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/author\/abigail-evans\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Not all beautiful trees are fit for Houston. When choosing a centerpiece for your yard, try to avoid these six worst trees to plant in Houston.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Not all beautiful trees are fit for Houston. When choosing a centerpiece for your yard, try to avoid these six worst trees to plant in Houston.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Lawnstarter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-01-03T20:02:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-04T18:40:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"970\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Abigail Evans\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Abigail Evans\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Abigail Evans\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7666860896925ef1443b38b692399cad\"},\"headline\":\"The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-01-03T20:02:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-04T18:40:18+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1611,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg?wsr\",\"keywords\":[\"Houston TX Landscaping\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Houston, TX\",\"Texas\",\"Tree care\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/\",\"name\":\"The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg?wsr\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-01-03T20:02:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-04T18:40:18+00:00\",\"description\":\"Not all beautiful trees are fit for Houston. When choosing a centerpiece for your yard, try to avoid these six worst trees to plant in Houston.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#faq-question-1667900370039\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#faq-question-1667900392763\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#faq-question-1667900577158\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg?wsr\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg?wsr\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":970,\"caption\":\"Morus alba\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Lawnstarter\",\"description\":\"The LawnStarter Blog\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Lawnstarter\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/10\\\/lawnstarter-logo.svg?wsr\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/10\\\/lawnstarter-logo.svg?wsr\",\"width\":198,\"height\":26,\"caption\":\"Lawnstarter\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7666860896925ef1443b38b692399cad\",\"name\":\"Abigail Evans\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/06\\\/abigail-150x150.jpg?wsr\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/06\\\/abigail-150x150.jpg?wsr\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/06\\\/abigail-150x150.jpg?wsr\",\"caption\":\"Abigail Evans\"},\"description\":\"Abigail Evans is a writer and outdoor enthusiast. When not nose-deep in a book, she can be found kayaking down the winding rivers of Pennsylvania.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/abigail-evans\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#faq-question-1667900370039\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#faq-question-1667900370039\",\"name\":\"What Makes a Tree Bad for Houston?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The worst trees to plant in Houston are the ones that are either invasive or unfit for Texas\u2019s climate. The following trees are bad for Houston lawns in a few different ways:<br\\\/><br\\\/>\u25cf <strong>The root systems<\\\/strong> of some trees, like the hackberry and mulberry, grow so aggressively that they can halt the growth of other plants in your yard.<br\\\/><br\\\/><strong>\u25cf<\\\/strong> <strong>Stay clear of weak trees<\\\/strong> like ash. Despite being a popular choice, these trees do not hold up against the harsh weather often found in Houston during <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/landscaping\\\/hurricane-resistant-landscaping-ideas\\\/\\\">hurricane season<\\\/a>.<br\\\/><br\\\/><strong>\u25cf<\\\/strong> <strong>Invasive species <\\\/strong>outcompete native species for resources. Don\u2019t be fooled by <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/landscaping\\\/flowering-trees-to-transform-your-yard\\\/\\\">flowering trees<\\\/a> like the Bradford pear, which might look pretty, but are actually invasive to the area.<br\\\/><br\\\/>Homeowners should know what kind of conditions a tree needs before planting a species that may not be suited for their lawn or area.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#faq-question-1667900392763\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#faq-question-1667900392763\",\"name\":\"What are the Best Trees to Plant in Houston?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/6-best-trees-plant-houston\\\/\\\">best trees for Houston<\\\/a> are mostly the native species (with some exceptions) that thrive in that Texas heat:<br\\\/><br\\\/>\u25cf <strong>A Nuttall oak<\\\/strong> is a type of red oak tree that arborists consider one of the best large trees for the area. It\u2019s also one of the most popular native shade trees.<br\\\/><br\\\/>\u25cf <strong>The Southern magnolia<\\\/strong> is a common tree found in Houston lawns. Its fragrant white flowers are an instant eye-catcher for any front yard.<br\\\/><br\\\/>\u25cf <strong>Drake elms<\\\/strong> are known best for their fast-growing nature and ability to provide shade. They also stand up well against bad weather.<br\\\/><br\\\/><strong>Note:<\\\/strong> While live oaks are abundant in Houston, they are not recommended as one of the best trees. They give too much shade for grass to grow underneath.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#faq-question-1667900577158\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/texas\\\/houston-tx\\\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\\\/#faq-question-1667900577158\",\"name\":\"What is the Best Time to Plant Trees in Houston?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The best time to <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.houstontx.gov\\\/parks\\\/pdfs\\\/2015\\\/TreePlantingGuideBooklet_Eng.pdf#pg=4\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">plant trees<\\\/a> in Houston is from mid-November to late February. This time frame allows new trees time to develop root systems and become established before the high moisture requirements of summer arrive.<br\\\/><br\\\/>If you plan on planting above ground in containers, you can do this <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/tree-care\\\/how-to-plant-tree\\\/#when\\\">any time of the year<\\\/a>. The same is true for balled and burlap trees.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston","description":"Not all beautiful trees are fit for Houston. When choosing a centerpiece for your yard, try to avoid these six worst trees to plant in Houston.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston","og_description":"Not all beautiful trees are fit for Houston. When choosing a centerpiece for your yard, try to avoid these six worst trees to plant in Houston.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/","og_site_name":"Lawnstarter","article_published_time":"2020-01-03T20:02:10+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-04T18:40:18+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":970,"url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Abigail Evans","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Abigail Evans","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/"},"author":{"name":"Abigail Evans","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/7666860896925ef1443b38b692399cad"},"headline":"The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston","datePublished":"2020-01-03T20:02:10+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-04T18:40:18+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/"},"wordCount":1611,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg?wsr","keywords":["Houston TX Landscaping"],"articleSection":["Houston, TX","Texas","Tree care"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/","name":"The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg?wsr","datePublished":"2020-01-03T20:02:10+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-04T18:40:18+00:00","description":"Not all beautiful trees are fit for Houston. When choosing a centerpiece for your yard, try to avoid these six worst trees to plant in Houston.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#faq-question-1667900370039"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#faq-question-1667900392763"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#faq-question-1667900577158"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg?wsr","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Morus_alba_HoO.jpg?wsr","width":1200,"height":970,"caption":"Morus alba"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The 6 Worst Trees to Plant in Houston"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/","name":"Lawnstarter","description":"The LawnStarter Blog","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Lawnstarter","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/lawnstarter-logo.svg?wsr","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/lawnstarter-logo.svg?wsr","width":198,"height":26,"caption":"Lawnstarter"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/7666860896925ef1443b38b692399cad","name":"Abigail Evans","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/abigail-150x150.jpg?wsr","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/abigail-150x150.jpg?wsr","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/abigail-150x150.jpg?wsr","caption":"Abigail Evans"},"description":"Abigail Evans is a writer and outdoor enthusiast. When not nose-deep in a book, she can be found kayaking down the winding rivers of Pennsylvania.","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/author\/abigail-evans\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#faq-question-1667900370039","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#faq-question-1667900370039","name":"What Makes a Tree Bad for Houston?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The worst trees to plant in Houston are the ones that are either invasive or unfit for Texas\u2019s climate. The following trees are bad for Houston lawns in a few different ways:<br\/><br\/>\u25cf <strong>The root systems<\/strong> of some trees, like the hackberry and mulberry, grow so aggressively that they can halt the growth of other plants in your yard.<br\/><br\/><strong>\u25cf<\/strong> <strong>Stay clear of weak trees<\/strong> like ash. Despite being a popular choice, these trees do not hold up against the harsh weather often found in Houston during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/hurricane-resistant-landscaping-ideas\/\">hurricane season<\/a>.<br\/><br\/><strong>\u25cf<\/strong> <strong>Invasive species <\/strong>outcompete native species for resources. Don\u2019t be fooled by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/flowering-trees-to-transform-your-yard\/\">flowering trees<\/a> like the Bradford pear, which might look pretty, but are actually invasive to the area.<br\/><br\/>Homeowners should know what kind of conditions a tree needs before planting a species that may not be suited for their lawn or area.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#faq-question-1667900392763","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#faq-question-1667900392763","name":"What are the Best Trees to Plant in Houston?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/6-best-trees-plant-houston\/\">best trees for Houston<\/a> are mostly the native species (with some exceptions) that thrive in that Texas heat:<br\/><br\/>\u25cf <strong>A Nuttall oak<\/strong> is a type of red oak tree that arborists consider one of the best large trees for the area. It\u2019s also one of the most popular native shade trees.<br\/><br\/>\u25cf <strong>The Southern magnolia<\/strong> is a common tree found in Houston lawns. Its fragrant white flowers are an instant eye-catcher for any front yard.<br\/><br\/>\u25cf <strong>Drake elms<\/strong> are known best for their fast-growing nature and ability to provide shade. They also stand up well against bad weather.<br\/><br\/><strong>Note:<\/strong> While live oaks are abundant in Houston, they are not recommended as one of the best trees. They give too much shade for grass to grow underneath.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#faq-question-1667900577158","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/texas\/houston-tx\/the-6-worst-trees-to-plant-in-houston\/#faq-question-1667900577158","name":"What is the Best Time to Plant Trees in Houston?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The best time to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstontx.gov\/parks\/pdfs\/2015\/TreePlantingGuideBooklet_Eng.pdf#pg=4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">plant trees<\/a> in Houston is from mid-November to late February. This time frame allows new trees time to develop root systems and become established before the high moisture requirements of summer arrive.<br\/><br\/>If you plan on planting above ground in containers, you can do this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/tree-care\/how-to-plant-tree\/#when\">any time of the year<\/a>. The same is true for balled and burlap trees.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/110"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16231"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16231\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}