Red fall color for new home construction in Waco

[buwigby]

I see on Howard's tree picture page a "Red Maple" which I assume is Acer rubrum. Will this grow in the Waco area or do I need to verify a soil pH first? I see in the Highland Park area in the fall multiple red-leaved trees that I assume are red maples but could be sweet gums. I have a new construction home with an acre of land. I want fall color trees but am not excited about the "balls" that come with the Sweet Gum. Shumard Red Oak is possible but there is a great amount of oak wilt in the area and several old oaks have died. Thoughts on trees for central texas with red fall color or other thoughts?

[The Ent]

As long as you're using the natural approach to your overall property, you'll minimize any risks fo oat wilt. I'd plant a Shumard Red Oak with confidence therre myself. There are anumber of other red-fall-colour trees you can plant, among them:

Dogwood
Texas Ash
Chinese Tallow
Sweetgum
RustyBlackhow Viburnum
Japanese Maple
Pear
Some Crepe Myrtles

There are also a number with nice orange color that compliments the reds-

Big Tooth, Caddo and Chalk Maples.
Chinese Pistache
Texas ash (it gets a number of colours including red, orange, and occasionally purple.

[buwigby]

Thanks. But do you think that an Acer rubrum IRed Maple) tree will grow in Waco? I am having the soil pH tested.

[The Ent]

I'm not familiar with that one off the top of my head. I'll see what I can find.

Anyone else familiar with it, feel free to chime in.

[buwigby]

Thank you for any help. Red Maple is listed as an East Texas type tree but there is a picture of it on this web site that I think said was taken in Dallas. If so, could it not grow in Waco if the soil pH is adequate?

Thanks again.

[The Ent]

I've found that in a lot of sites, if there is adequate use of compst, the PH is mitigated and trees adapt (except in extreme cases)