Okay so this is embarrassing. As someone who cares about the environment and also a Wiccan I’ve tried to plant a whole lot of trees in my backyard. Because of course I would, it’s part of my religion to honor the Earth, right? Guess how many have died? All but one. Something about the crazy climate and soil conditions here. We have: drought, heat, frost, crap soil, deluges of rain for weeks on end when it does arrive, mold, mildew, and very large bugs. So this list is gonna be a list of trees that in theory work here, and also a list of the (RIP) trees and shrubs that I planted with my husband. I’ll add to the list of potentially growable trees as I find some and any trees that do manage to make it here past a few years of life after we plant them. And moving forward I plan to use a lot more mulch, like 3 inches thick. It’s surprisingly hard to find this information because most of the resources about it are pretty unrealistic about how “easy” they are to grow here. Why? Who knows?
RIP: River birch, oak, elderberry cuttings, pear, osmanthus, peach, holly, mandarin orange
The Survivor: A mandarin orange tree, which we’re going to have to keep alive through the Winter somehow.
RIP (April 4, 2025): It died. Darn!
Didn’t plant but still grows here: Texas ash, mulberry, catalpa, crepe myrtle
In theory could work:
More Texas ash, mulberry, catalpa, crepe myrtle
Oak, just about any kind of oak
Albizzia
Pine, whatever will actually grow here
Attempting:
Holly bush. Planted
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