• South Central Texas is a very warm gardening region marked by dry, thin alkaline soils. Choosing landscaping plants such as ornamental flowering trees native or adapted to the region is important to save on landscape maintenance costs. There are several outstanding ornamental flowering trees available for South Central Texas that provide color and can survive the harsh climate.
  
  

Roughleaf Dogwood

• The deciduous roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) grows in the dry limestone soils of South Central Texas, but performs best where the soil is moist and well-drained. It grows to 16 feet tall in shady locations such as under a deciduous tree. The flowers are white and numerous in umbrella-shaped clusters. The blooming period is longer than other dogwood varieties. The rough leaves turn purple and red in autumn. It spreads by seed and suckers and is capable of forming thickets in the natural habitat. Birds are attracted to the white berries produced in the fall.
  
  

Texas Mountain Laurel

• The Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) is native to Central and South Central Texas. It has dark green evergreen foliage and an open growth habit. It grows to 30 feet tall under optimal conditions and survives in the dry shallow limestone soils of the region. In early spring, the Texas mountain laurel produces fragrant purple blooms that hang in clusters followed by large seed pods.
  
  

Mexican Buckeye

• The Mexican buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa) grows to 30 feet tall with foot-long compound leaves. The pink flowers cover the stems in the spring before the leaves appear. The flowers are followed by large seed pods each containing three marble-sized black shiny seeds that are very hard. The Mexican buckeye is native to South Central Texas and survives the hot dry summers. The leaves turn a bright yellow in the fall once cool weather arrives.
  
  

Mexican Redbud

• The Mexican redbud tree (Cercis canadensis var. mexicana) is a small deciduous tree to 25 feet. It is related to the eastern redbud, but unlike the eastern redbud it is tolerant of the bright sun and dry conditions of South Central Texas. The leaves are wavy and with a slight fuzzy surface. It is slower growing than other redbud species but considered a good choice for South Central Texas landscapes by the Texas Forest Service.
  
  

Vitex

• The vitex or chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a fast growing shrubby tree to 15 feet tall. It is tolerant of the soil and climate of South Central Texas. The outstanding feature is the purple flower spikes produced in the spring and sporadically throughout the growing season. Because of its multi-branching habit, it needs to be pruned to one trunk in order to grow into a tree-like structure. Deadheading, or removing spent blooms, increases bloom production.