January
29, 2004
ANN PARKS-HEDRICK
Victoria County Master Gardeners
If you have been following our articles on Texas Superstars, you are already
familiar with the main requirements for these plants to qualify for the Texas
Superstar distinction.
They are drought tolerant and disease and insect resistant. Also, these
plants and trees have undergone field testing throughout the state for at least
two to three years before receiving the Texas Superstar status. Thus, they are
proven specimens, ones that should do well for you in various landscape
settings.
You should plant Superstar trees in full sun any time from November through
February, at least 15 feet from your house. Please refer to the Sept. 11, 2003 "Gardeners'
Dirt" article, which was written by Master Gardener Mary Logan,
regarding pertinent tree planting information. It can be accessed through the
Master Gardener Web site: VCMGA Web Site
Lacey oak, the most recent addition to Texas Superstar trees, is a tough
little tree, maturing from 30 feet to 35 feet in height and spread. Smaller
than most oak trees, Lacey oak is a perfect candidate for shading those small
areas in an urban landscape.
The blue-green foliage, stout branches and gray bark are some of the
beautiful features this tree has to offer. Many game animals, such as
squirrels, turkey and deer savor the tiny acorns that drop in late summer and
fall. This, too, makes it a wonderful addition to a naturalized area.
Plant the Lacey oak in well-drained soil, as it does not like wet feet. Xeriscapes or low water use landscapes are perfect
conditions for growing Lacey oak. For a bit of the unusual, try growing it as a
specimen in large containers to accent courtyards or entryways to large
buildings. The picturesque growth habit of this species would also be
accentuated if it were used as a bonsai plant.
The Shantung maple tree, a native of northern
In late fall, the leaves turn red to orange. The tree is also known as 'purpleblow maple' because of the light purplish-bronze leaf
color.
When planted, the trunk needs to be wrapped for the first three growing
seasons to prevent sunscald. This is a good practice for any thin-barked tree
species.
Chinese pistache is regarded as one of the most
easily maintained, attractive trees for
This tress is capable of reaching 50 feet high at maturity, with a canopy
spread of 30 feet, an ideal size for any landscape.
The next two trees can be classified as small trees. The Winter
red deciduous holly is an outstanding small native tree that drops its leaves
in the fall to reveal showy red-orange berries on female plants. You will need
one male flowering tree to ensure all the hollies in your yard produce.
"Winter Red" requires either full sun or partial shade, and will
reach a height of 12 feet and a width of 8 feet. Powdery mildew and some leaf spots
are occasional problems with this holly.
When planting several hollies, 3 feet to 5 feet centers should be a rule of
thumb. These trees prefer a moist acidic soil with a high organic content, but
will grow in a variety of soils. A good fertilizer program will produce the
abundance of berries that last longer than other holly species.
Songbirds will be attracted to this plant.
Satsuma is another high quality Texas Superstar. It is the highest quality, most
cold tolerant citrus for
The Satsuma has attractive evergreen foliage and wonderfully fragrant white
flowers in the spring. This is one Texas Superstar from which you can
personally reap the benefits of both the fruit and fragrant flowers it bears.
Be watching for the next Texas Superstar article showcasing the beautiful hibiscus.