Texas Arboretum: Trees for Utility Lines

Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place. Native trees that are appropriate for planting near overhead utility lines.


Scientific Name Common Name Duration Habit Sun Water
Bauhinia lunarioides Anacacho orchid tree, Anacacho bauhinia, Orchid tree, Texas plume Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Cercis canadensis var. texensis Texas redbud Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Chilopsis linearis Desert willow, Flowering willow, Willow-leaved catalpa, Trumpet flower Perennial Tree Sun Moist, Dry
Cornus drummondii Roughleaf dogwood, Drummond's dogwood, Rough-leaf dogwood Perennial Tree Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Diospyros texana Texas persimmon, Mexican persimmon, Black persimmon, Chapote, Chapote prieto Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Ilex decidua Possumhaw, Possumhaw Holly, Deciduous Holly, Winterberry, Deciduous yaupon Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Moist
Ilex vomitoria Yaupon, Yaupon holly, Cassina Perennial Shrub, Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Leucaena retusa Goldenball leadtree, Littleleaf leadtree Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Morella cerifera Wax myrtle, Southern bayberry, Candleberry Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Prunus mexicana Mexican plum, Bigtree plum Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Rhus lanceolata Prairie flameleaf sumac, Flame-leaf sumac, Prairie sumac, Lance-leaf sumac Perennial Tree Sun Dry
Rhus virens Evergreen sumac, Tobacco sumac Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Sophora secundiflora Texas mountain laurel, Mountain laurel, Mescal bean, Mescal bean sophora, Frijolillo, Frijolito Perennial Shrub, Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Styphnolobium affine Eve’s necklace, Eve's necklacepod, Texas sophora Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Ungnadia speciosa Mexican buckeye Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry