As winter ebbs across Texas, plants—and plant lovers—spring to life. Our state is famous for the profusion of wildflowers covering landscapes and roadsides from the South Texas coastal prairies to the Panhandle grasslands. But these delicate denizens of the dirt aren’t the only plants capable of putting on a show. Throughout Texas, many types of trees flower as well, providing nectar and pollen for insects, fruit for animals, and striking blooms that add another level of color to the season. Some blooming trees, like dogwoods, sit quietly in the shade of sprawling forests in East Texas. Others, like Texas mountain laurels, make their own canopies in the central and western parts of the state, robust greenery sprouting from the limestone of the Edwards Plateau. Many of these trees might be familiar for their presence in the urban landscape, like the Texas redbud blooms that liven up city parkways and landscaping. All are just as worthy of appreciation as their smaller flowering friends.
Texas Redbud
Height: 10-20 feet
from Del Rio through Central Texas and up into the Dallas-Fort Worth area
