Central Texas can be a punishing environment for many plants, so selecting the appropriate cultivars can be the key to success. This guide will help you select the cultivars that can succeed in our region.
The current list is limited to fruit, nut, and berry cultivars--it may be expanded in the future to include vegetables.
The recommended cultivars are listed on the page for each specific type of fruit, nut, or berry. This list has been compiled from several sources (many of which are in the References), as well as from experience and hearsay.
A list of nurseries and other sources for the cultivars (local or regional, where possible) is listed under the specific type of fruit, nut, or berry.
The recommended cultivars are listed on the page for each fruit.
Gala was developed in New Zealand in the 1920s. Considered one of the top quality eating apples. It's usually smaller, an orange-red color with yellow or green vertical 'stripes'. It is a crisp apple, with flavor is like a spicier Golden Delicious (reflecting it's parentage 'Kidd's Orange Red' x 'Golden Delicious').
Royal Gala was developed from a sport of the Gala apple in the 1970s. It's similar to the Gala, except brighter red. Ripens late July to early August.
Recommended by mg, ns, ag
The Anna apple was developed in Israel. It's a low chill apple, and is generally recommended for South Texas, but should do fine in Central Texas. Anna is a heavy producer of medium-sized red blushed apples. They are crisp and good flavored. Plant with Dorsett Golden for pollination. Ripens early to mid June.
Recommended by ns, ag, tf
Ein Shemer is another apple developed in Israel to require low chilling hours and produce in a hot climate. The large fruit has yellow skin with crisp, tart flesh. It is good for fresh eating and cooking. The tree tends to bear apples at a young age, is very productive and is partially self-pollinating. Ripens late June. Zones 8-9.
Recommended by tf, jn
This is a comparatively new low-chilling apples for South (and Central) Texas. Dorsett Golden has crisp, yellow fruit with good flavor. Serves as a pollinator for Anna. Ripens early to mid June.
Recommended by ns, ag, tf
Red McIntosh-type apple with crisp texture and tart flavor. Ripens late June to early July.
Recommended by mg, og, ag
Red variety adapted to South Central Texas (area where other apples don't receive satisfactory chilling). Matures late July, early August. Fruit quality good. (ns) Red, excellent dessert quality, not Delicious-type although very similar in appearance and flavor. Good pollinator. Ripens early to mid August. (ag)
Recommended by mg, og, ns, ag
A Stark Brothers creation. One of the best Red Delicious types for Texas conditions. Ripens early September. Adapted northern half of state. Productive, with quality fruit. (Note: ns does not recommend for Central Texas zone 'E'). (ns) Red, excellent quality, Delicious-type, widely planted in this area. Ripens late August to early September. (ag)
Recommended by mg, og, ns, ag
Another offering from Stark Brothers. Good pollinator variety. Quality golden fruit ripens September. Adapted northern half of state. Good yields. (Note: ns does not recommend for Central Texas zone 'E'). (ns)
Recommended by og, ns
Green, excellent quality for dessert or cooking. Ripens late September to early October. (ag)
Recommended by mg, ag
Old established red variety for Texas. Ripens August. Adapted northern half of state. Good fresh or cooked. (Note: ns does not recommend for Central Texas zone 'E'). (ns)
Recommended by og, ns
Large fruit, sweet with distinctive taste. Ripens early to mid July. (ag)
Recommended by ag
Pinkish color with excellent quality for fresh or processing use. Ripens late September to early October. (ag)
Recommended by ag
Red, highly flavored with an even sugar to acid balance. A heavy cropper that will usually need thinning to maintain yearly cropping. Ripens late August to early September. (ag)
Recommended by ag
The early blooming habit of Apricots often causes a loss of fruit because of late freezes. (og)
Most consistent producer under Texas conditions. Good quality fruit, but highly susceptible to brown rot. Ripens early June. (Note: ns does not recommend for Central Texas zone 'E'.) (ns)
Recommended by og, ns
Recommended by og
Good quality fruit on a large, vigorous tree. Adapted to northern half of Texas. (Note: ns does not recommend for Central Texas zone 'E'.) (ns)
Recommended by og, ns
Recommended by og
Avocados are a border-line fruit for Central Texas, being very sensitive to frost.
Acorn Springs Farms, located in Hallsville, Texas, is a great source for citrus trees and for information on growing citrus in Texas. Note that due to agricultural restrictions you cannot import citrus from outside of Texas.
Figs produce fruit without pollination. (og) Low growing, highly branched shrub-like tree in southern part of state. Easy to grow and a common backyard crop. Subject to freeze kill but usually regrows. Soft pear-shaped fruit has rough texture but tender exterior and a delicious rose-colored flesh, great for fresh use or jams. Types include "wild turkey" (a land race) and "Alma". Grasshoppers love the foliage and fruit in some years. Diseases include root rot nematodes, rust, and fruit rots. (ag)
Medium-sized, cream-colored fig. Productive and very sweet. Somewhat cold-tender when young. (ns)
Recommended by mg, ns
Small, dark, high-quality fig that ripens in June. Vigorous and productive. Well-adapted to all Texas fig areas. Good preserved and fresh. (ns) Bears mostly on last year's growth.
Recommended by mg, ns, og
Medium-to-large fruit, good quality, ripening in late June and for a continuing period thereafter. The first crop, called Breba figs, is produced on the past season's growth. The figs will be larger, light-brown. Later figs, borne on the current seasons's wood, will be smaller and somewhat darker. Vigorous variety. (ns)
Recommended by mg, ns, og
Botanical Name: Eriobotrya japonica
The Loquat is a small evergreen tree native to Southeastern China, that is well-adapted to the climate in Central Texas. It produces a firm and juicy fruit that is excellent as preserves or in pies.
Botanical Name: Crataegus Opaca
From The Louisiana Mayhaw Association:
The mayhaw (crataegus opaca) is a fruit about 1/2" to 1" in diameter. Ripe from mid-April through early May, its fruit color varies from bright red to reddish yellow. It is not a desirable berry for eating raw.
The mayhaw is a Hawthorne native to the southeastern states that is normally a 20 - 30 foot tree at maturity. Usually found in low, wet, slightly acid areas, mayhaws produce best on good upland soils in full sun.
The mayhaw normally flowers in February and March. Ball-shaped at maturity, the mayhaw tree makes a beautiful ornamental.
Historically, Mayhaws have been harvested in backwoods sloughs, swamps, and river bottoms. Boats are sometimes utilized in the harvest of wild mayhaws. Limbs are shaken over the boat and nets are used to scoop them out of the water. Accessibility has dwindled over the years as developers have cleared the woodlands. Commercial and home orchards are now being created with grafted mayhaws.
Louisiana mayhaws are also being utilized by the Louisiana Department of Agricultrue and Forestry and the USDA for reforestation as a wildlife food.
The mayhaw is best known for the delicious, unique jelly that has been a southern favorite for generations. There are endless possibilities for processed mayhaws such as flavoring, butter, jam, sauces, pie filling, coffee cakes, ice cream, wine, etc.
From Aggie Horticulture - Texas Mayhaws:
Information and observations are very limited on some varieties. Most ripen over a 10 to 30 day harvest period, but some varieties may have 80% of the fruit ripe at one time. "Super Spur" and "Super Berry" seem to have the best yield and tree form. These varieties bloom early so they are best grown in central East Texas and Southeast Texas. The "Super Spur" has chilling problems during mild winters in the Beaumont area. "Big Red"' "Winnie Yellow", "Highway Red", "Highway Yellow", "T.O. Warren Superberry", Angelina, Harrison, Big Mama, and the #1 Big varieties usually bloom later and are better adapted to Northeast Texas. A potential grower in Northeast Texas should still plant "Super Spur" and "Super Berry" mayhaws due to the potential of these two selections when late freezes do not damage the crop. (ag)
From Mayhaw: A New Fruit Crop for the South:
About a dozen mayhaw selections have been collected from the wilds (river bottoms, lime sinks, swamps, sloughs) of Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas with attention given to size of fruit, harvest or ripening period and yield (Table 1), but information from field trials is very limited. Most ripen over a 30-day harvest period, but 'Lori' may have 80% of the fruit ripe at one time. Little comparative cultivar information is available at this time, 'Super Spur' appears to be the best from a yield and tree form standpoint. Yields of 30 kg/tree have been reported for 30-40 year old wild mayhaws in Georgia and 60 kg for a 15-year-old 'Super Spur' in Louisiana. Preliminary reports indicate that selected mayhaw clones are adaptable to USDA zones 8 and 9. Although some cultivars have a low chilling requirement and bloom early, other cultivars should be adapted to the piedmont of the southeast. C. aestivalis cultivars may bloom a few days later than C. opaca cultivars and may be better choices further north. Bloom occurs over an extended period of time and the fruit are reported to be fairly frost hardy once past the bloom period. Winter hardiness may be good. There are reports of mayhaws fruiting after -25°C (-13°F) (1981) and two year old trees survived -32°C (-25°F) (1985) without damage (Akin 1985).
Skin red & yellow, round; yellow flesh, Excellent production; spur-type tree; rust susceptible; fruit drops when ripe.
Mason's Super Berry (Texas Super Berry) skin red; round; reddish flesh; attractive fruit, early blooming; fruit hangs well on tree. T.O. Super Berry skin red; round; reddish flesh; attractive fruit. Highway Super Berry skin red; round; reddish flesh; thorny tree.
One of the best new Mayhaw varieties. Intense red berries 7/8"-1" in size. Fruit clusters with seven or more berries. A late blooming variety. Mayhaws are less care native small trees with showy white blossoms and good fall leaf color. Zones 6-8.
Available from Edible Landscaping.
Botanical Name: Prunus persica
Nectarines not recommend by because of high susceptibility to brown rot. (ns) Nectarines are not generally well adapted because the smooth-skinned fruit is especially vulnerable to diseases and wind-scarring. Currently the recommended variety list is small, but trials are underway by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service to evaluate new varieties.(ag)
Medium to large, cling, ripe date late May.
Recommended by ag, mg
Medium, freestone, ripe date mid-June.
Recommended by ag, mg
Botanical Name: Asimina triloba
The heart of the native range of the pawpaw is north of central Texas (in Kentucky and Arkansas) but certain varieties may do well here provide it can withstand the hotter, drier summers. It is recommended to have two trees from different genetic stock to successfully pollinate.
Botanical Name: Prunus persica
Central Texas is in the medium chilling area and requires 600-700 hrs of chilling.
Small fruit, cling type (700 hrs); average ripe date 5/20 - 5/30.
Recommended by ag, mg, og
Large, freestone of very high quality. Ripens with Redskin (750 hrs); average ripe date 7/14-7/30.
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
Medium to large freestone or semi-freestone, excellent quality, good commercial variety, disease resistant. Ripens late June. (750 hrs) average ripe date 6/15-6/25.
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
Large, yellow-fleshed cling, good production of quality fruit. Best variety for south-central Texas. (650 hours); average ripe date 5/22-6/03. Note: og recommends against this variety.
Recommended by ag, mg, ns
Large freestone, excellent quality, disease-resistant. Often caught by late frosts. (750 hrs); average ripe date 7/06-7/11.
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
Heavy crops of high-quality fruit. Freestone. Medium-sized peaches (700 hrs); average ripe date 7/01-7/10.
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
Freestone, good quality, productive. Ripens early July. Susceptible to bacterial spot. (ns says not for central Texas zone 'E') (850 hrs); average ripe date 7/01-7/10.
Recommended by ag, mg, og
Freestone, excellent quality, fine variety (750 hrs); average ripe date 7/13-7/20.
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
Large, semi-freestone, excellent quality, yields well. Increasingly popular. Escapes last freezes more often than other types. (800-850 hrs); average ripe date 6/3-6/14.
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
Cling, good production of small fruit, reasonable quality for early peach (700-750 hrs); average ripe date 5/15-5/20.
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
A release of LSU and recommended often for southern states since it has a low chill requirement. This freestone peach is medium to large and yellow with a red blush. The sweet flesh is good for all uses. A dependable cropper and widely adaptable. Zones 8-9a. (Johnson Nursery)
Recommended by tf
'Rio Grande' is suited to the warmer areas of the Southeast, California and Florida. A medium to large, freestone peach with a red blush on yellow skin. Firm, mild flavor, early bearing. Productive with showy flowers, does not have a high chill requirement. Fruit varies in size and surface texture. (www.backyardgardener.com)
Recommended by tf
Botanical Name: Pyrus spp.
High quality small fruit with few grit cells. Good fire blight resistence. Best adapted to northern two-thirds of state. Pollinator recommended. (ns) Excellent dessert quality, although not as good as Warren. Medium-sized fruit with a brown russet and red blush. Ripens in August. Highly resistant to fire blight. (ag)
Recommended by ag, mg, ns, og
Good dessert quality with medium to large, crisp textured, attractive fruit of a shape similar to Delicious apples. Ripens in August. Good to fair fire blight resistance. Often called apple-pear or pear-apple. (ag)
Recommended by ag, mg, og
Old popular variety. Fruit hard, of fair quality. Fruit requires after ripening (should be wrapped in paper and stored at room temperature for 2 to 4 weeks). Good fire blight resistence. Good in northern three-fourths of state. Pollinator recommended. (ns) Old standard of pears, coarse textured fruit that are poor to fair for dessert usage, but good for canning and baking. A consistent, heavy bearer that ripens late September to October, highly resistant to fire blight. (ag)
Recommended by mg, ns, og, tf
Very high quality fruit with excellent texture. Good fresh, also preserved. Quite susceptible to fire blight, so should be planted only in western part of Texas. Pollinator required. (ns) Good dessert quality, medium-sized, attractive fruit that ripens in August to early September. Fair fire blight resistance. Fan-Stil, a variety sold and propagated in the San Antonio area, appears to be a LeConte seedling with very similar quality and reported better fire blight resistance. (ag)
Recommended by mg, ns, og
Medium-sized fruit of good quality for fresh eating. Good fire blight resistence. Vigorous tree, recommend for northern half of Texas. Pollinator recommended. (ns) Very good dessert quality with medium to large, attractive fruit. Good to fair fire blight resistance. Ripens in August to early September. Reported to be the same pear as Starking Delicious. (ag)
Recommended by ag, mg, ns, og
Newer variety with good fire blight resistance. Fruit has good texture and flavor. Bears at early age. Self-fertile, also make good pollinator variety. (ns) Good dessert quality with medium to large fruit that ripens in August to early September. Good fire blight resistance. (ag)
Recommended by mg, ns, og
Highly resistant to fire blight. One of the best pears for Texas, large fruit of good quality. Reliable producer. Attractive landscape tree. Good in northern three-fourths of state. Pollinator recommended. (ns) Fair dessert quality, coarse textured, russeted, medium to large fruit. A consistent, heavy bearer that ripens late August to September. Highly resistant to fire blight. Used primarily for canning and baking. (ag)
Recommended by ag, mg, ns, og, tf
Excellent dessert quality with medium-sized fruit similar to Warren. Ripens in August. Highly resistant to fire blight. (ag)
Recommended by ag
Good dessert quality with large fruit that ripens in August to early September. Good fire blight resistance. Propagated and sold chiefly in the San Antonio area. (ag)
Recommended by ag, og
Recommended by mg
Recommended by ag, mg
Asian pears are relatively new to Texas and are suggested for trial only. Fire blight tolerance ranges from moderate to fair and Asian pears do not have proven adaptation in any part of Texas. They combine an apple-like texture with pear flavor. All are very juicy, but some varieties are proving to be a disappointment because of their rather bland flavor. Asian pears begin to mature two to four weeks earlier, usually around July in Central Texas, than the common Oriental hybrid varieties. Asian pears are not to be confused with Garber, one of the Oriental hybrids listed. Garber and the Asian pears are both sometimes called apple-pears or pear-apples because of their apple-like shape and texture. Suggested varieties are: Hosui, Twentieth Century (Nijisseiki), and Shinseiki. (ag) Recommended by ag, og
Recommended by ag
Recommended by ag
Recommended by ag
Medium-sized tomato-shaped red fruit. Small tree, self-fertile. Excellent-quality fruit, and a poular commercial variety. Most widely grown variety in Texas. (ns) A heavy producing, medium-sized, flat-shaped, red persimmon of extremely high fruit quality. The tree is relatively small and self-fruitful. The fruit contains seed; however, seedless fruit can be obtained. Eureka has proven to be the best commercial variety in Texas. (ag)
Recommended by ag, ns
Medium-sized flattened red fruit of good quality. Self-fertile and can be used, if desired, to pollinate all other varieties. Non-astringent. (ns) A medium-sized, non-astringent, self-fruitful persimmon. The fruit is rather flattened, red-colored, and of high quality. It is best planted in the milder areas of the state as it is susceptible to freeze damage. (ag)
Recommended by ag, mg, ns, tf
Large heart-shaped seedless orange-red type. Trees are upright and vigorous. Excellent landscape tree. (ns) A productive, large, cone-shaped, seedless persimmon with bright orange skin. The tree is vigorous and upright. Hachiya has been an outstanding Texas variety since as early as 1984. This variety makes an excellent dual purpose fruit-ornamental specimen. (ag)
Recommended by ag, ns
Large orange flattened fruit with ring constriction like a waistline. Most vigorous tree of all listed. Excellent landscape variety. (ns) A moderately productive, very large, orange, flat-shaped persimmon with a distinctive ring construction near the middle of the fruit. The tree is the most vigorous and upright of the varieties grown in Texas. (ag)
Recommended by ag, ns
Medium-sized heart-shaped seedless orange fruit. Tree is vigorous, upright. Good in landscapes. (ns) A moderately productive, cone-shaped, orange-colored persimmon. The tree is vigorous and upright. The fruit store extremely well on the tree and is seedless. Tane-nashi make an excellent landscape ornamental. (ag)
Recommended by ag, mg, ns
Recommended by mg
There are several varieties of plum, with origins in Europe, Japan, the Middle East (Purpleleaf Plums), as well as North America. The Texas climate is typically too extreme for the European cultivars--none of them are recommended for Central Texas. Plant at least two varieties to ensure pollination. The most recommended varieties are Japanese or Japanese-hybrid plum varieties. The large-fruited European-type plums that commonly reach the supermarkets are not as well adapted here because of greater disease susceptibility and lower production. (ag)
There are several plum varieties that are native to North America.
Prunus mexicana
The native plum of Texas. It is much easier to grow than the other varieties, but the fruit is not that good for eating. It's mostly good for making jams and jellies from the fall-maturing fruit. (og). It might also be good for making plum wine or brandy. Wildlife loves the fruit. (jjl) It is a single-trunk tree, growing to 25 feet, with striking pinkish-white flowers in very early spring. In late fall, you will be blessed with large, purple fruit, averaging about 1-1/4 inches in diameter. (tg)
Prunus gracilis
Prefers sandy soils of Texas. This type of plum forms a thicket. It can mature anywhere from 2 to 15 feet. (tg)
Prunus umbellata
Blooms in early spring like the Mexican Plum. And, like it, the Flatwoods Plum does not form a thicket opting to be a large shrub or a small tree, topping out at 20 feet. The fruit is on the smallish side, about 1/2 inch in diameter, but has an excellent taste and makes terrific jellies and preserves. (tg)
Prunus munsoniana
Is a thicket forming plant, growing to 25 feet in excellent conditions. The showy, white flowers are followed, in late summer, by a distinctive, thin-skinned, juicy plum better than anything you can buy at your favorite grocery store. (tg)
Prunus rivularis
One of the common plums, often found as thicket along creekbeds and fence rows. "It got it's name because even a hog wouldn't eat it." (tg)
The Japanese plums are those most familiar to most Americans, outside of the European plums, that don't fair well in the hot Texas summers.
Prunus salicina 'Bruce'
Large red plum, commonly used in commercial plantings. Productive variety used for fresh eating, and, especially, for jams. Requires variety Methley as a pollinator. Suited to northern three-fourths of Texas. Very early variety, ripening late May. (ns)
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
Prunus salicina 'Methley'
Medium-sized deep purple plum with red flesh. Excellent both fresh and in jams. Self-pollinating, can also be used to pollinate other varieties. Adapted to northern three-fourths of Texas. Ripens early season. (ns) A good choice as it will pollinate most other Japanese cultivars. (jjl)
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns, tf
Prunus salicina 'Morris'
Very large, bright red plum with red flesh throughout. Good flavor and high sugar content. Increasingly popular, an excellent variety. Cross pollination advisable. Adapted to northern half of state. Ripens late June to early July. (ns) Not recommended for zone 'E' Central Texas. (ns)
Recommended by ns, og
Prunus salicina 'Ozark Premier'
Large yellow and red fruit with yellow flesh. Excellent flavor. Tree is quite productive. Self-pollinating. Suited to northern half of state. Ripens late season. (ns) Juicy, yellow flesh; clingstone, small pit. Late summer. Burbank x Methley. Rather large. Precocious and consistently productive. (Cummins Nursery)
Recommended by ns, og
Prunus salicina 'Santa Rosa'
An early season plum, the Santa Rosa is a medium large, crimson to purplish red, lightly freckled plum with yellow flesh slightly suffused with pink especially near the pit. The fruit is firm, sweet, juicy, and aromatic. One of the most frequently planted of the Japanese plums. It is a self pollinating tree and thus can be planted in locations where pollination is not needed. It is excellent to use for home drying along with its fresh taste when ripe. Zones: 4-9. (Greenwood Nursery) Another Luther Burbank introduction, and still an important variety. Medium-large, bright red fruit, ripening midseason. Vigorous, precocious, productive tree. (Cummins Nursery)
Prunus cerasifera 'Allred'
Large dual-purpose plant, with attractive reddish purple foliage for the landscape, and red fruit of good quality. (ns) 'Allred' is a seedling of 'Pissardii' that arose in the U.S. (Amity, Arkansas) in 1939. It is still in the nursery trade. The leaves are red only in spring; by midsummer they are bronzy-green. The clone is valued for its fruit, not as an ornamental. (Arthur Lee Jacobson - Purpleleaf Plum Trees)
Recommended by ag, mg, ns, og
Botanical Name: Punica granatum
A white flowering selection. (og)
Recommended by og
The most common variety sold. (og)
Recommended by mg, ns, og
Nut trees in commercial production are almond, chestnut, hazelnut (filbert), pecan, pistachio, and Persian (English, Carpathian) walnut. Those that have not yet been commercially developed are black walnut, butternut, heartnut, hican, and hickory.
The almond is a close relative of the peach. It is generally not well-adapted to Central Texas. It has major problems with brown rot, and shows nutritional deficiencies of iron and zinc in alkaline soils. 1
Almonds are eaten as a nut, but the required cultural practices and tree appearance are essentially the same as peaches. Almonds are generally poorly adapted to Texas because they bloom too early in the spring and encounter freeze problems. No varieties are highly recommended because of general failure to set crops. 2
There is a native Texas Almond (Prunus minutiflora Engelm.) that might be worth some investigation.
Shagbark Hickory is not native to Central Texas. Shagbark Hickory is probably the primary species, after Pecan, with the potential for commercial nut production. The nuts have sweet kernels and fair cracking quality (which is often better in cultivars). 1
The pecan is one of the best growing native nut tree for Central Texas. It is recommended to have both an early-pollen-shedding and a late-pollen-shedding variety in your landscape for fertilization. 1
An early-pollen-shedding variety. Caddo has strong limbs, scab resistance, early ripening and attractive foliage. The nuts are small but of high quality. Trees bear in 5 to 6 years and bear well annually. 63 nuts/lb; 57 percent kernel. (ag)
Small pecan of excellent quality. Extremely good disease resistance. Productive at 6 years and regularly thereafter. (ns)
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
An early-pollen-shedding variety. Cheyenne is very productive, smaller tree which begins to bear a high quality nut in only 5 to 7 years. It is particularly susceptible to aphids. 51 nuts/lb; 57 percent kernel. (ag) Medium-sized pecans, trees productive at early age, generally after 5 years. Trees are comparatively small at maturity. Good disease resistance, but prone to aphids. Good kernel quality. (ns)
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
An early-pollen-shedding variety. Desirable is an outstanding variet for the humid areas of east and south Texas and also produces well in central Texas. The tree grows fast but requires at least 8 to 10 years to bear 15 pounds of pecans. It has weak "V" limb angles which require training and its foliage is light green rather than a more attractive dark color. Scab resistance is moderate and can be controlled with fungicide sprays. Desirable is not an exceptionally heavy bearer, but as an older tree it is the most regular producer of crops of high quality pecans. 39 Nuts/lb; 54 percent kernel. (ag) Very old commercial variety that still ranks high. Large pecans, of very good quality. Bears almost every year. Disease-resistant and somewhat weak-wooded in winds and ice. Foliage is medium green. (ns)
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
A late-pollen-shedding variety. Choctaw is a good yard tree because of its beautiful foliage, scab resistance and high yields of large, high quality pecans. Unfortunately, Choctaw requires the very best soil and management, otherwise it will fail. 38 nuts/lb; 59 percent kernel. (ag) Large pecans, outstanding quality. Tree is vigorous, dark green, and disease-resistant, making it a good landscape tree. Thin shell with attractive very high quality kernels. (ns)
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
A late-pollen-shedding variety. Kiowa is a newer variety that has good limb structure, attractive foliage and large nuts. It begins to bear at about 6 years of age and bears good crops, but nut quality has been inconsistent. 39 nuts/lb; 57 percent kernel. (ag) Large pecan, good quality. Attractive yard tree. Productive at early age, good disease resistance. (ns)
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
Botanical Name: Juglans nigra (Eastern Black Walnut)
Botanical Name: Juglans microcarpa (Texas Black Walnut)
From Wikipedia:
The extraction of the kernel from the fruit of the Black Walnut is difficult. The shell is covered by a thick husk that exudes a dark, staining, strong-smelling juice. The shell itself is so strong that it is sometimes used to strengthen car tires. The shell often protrudes into the meat, so whole kernels are often not obtainable.
The husk is best removed when green, as the nuts taste better if it is removed then. Rolling the nut underfoot on a hard surface such as a driveway is a common method; commercial huskers use a car tire rotating against a metal mesh. Some take a thick plywood board and drill a nut sized hole in it (from one to two inches in diameter) and smash the nut through using a hammer. The nut goes through and the husk remains behind. To keep the husk juices from splattering, a board or canvas scrap may be used to cover the nut before hammering.
Before eating or storage, the nuts should be cured in a dry place for at least two weeks. Before cracking, the unshelled nuts may be soaked in hot water for 24 hours in order to soften the shells, but with a proper cracker this is not necessary. While the flavor is prized, the difficulty in preparing the Black Walnut may account for the wider popularity and availability of the Persian Walnut (in the United States misnamed the English Walnut).
The Black Walnut is native to Central Texas.
From Texas Walnuts:
The need for an outstanding variety with "Walnut Blight" resistance has long been appreciated by Dr. Shreve. He traveled to Hungary and Romania in 1979 and collected several promising cultivars which were evaluated at the TAMU Center at Uvalde. The best cultivars to date are Reda, Geoagiu 86, Orastie, Germisara, and Geoagiu 3 X 4 X 453. Under Texas conditions, these cultivars appear to be superior to the standard commercial varieties Payne, Eureka, Hartley, and Broadview.
General walnut cultural practices are very similar to that of the pecan and it is recommended that they be followed. For specific information on walnut care contact Dr. Larry A. Stein, Extension Horticulturist, P.O. Box 1849, Uvalde, TX 78802-1849. (ag)
Berries
Blackberries (and their wild cousin, Dewberries) are the best berry for Central Texas. Fruit is produced on one year old canes (primocanes), remove canes after harvesting. Plant Blackberries in location with 10 hr sunlight/day.
From Aggie Horticulture - Blackberries:
Pruning is necessary to maintain an orderly planting and to control diseases. Long handled "loppers" are best for pruning blackberries. During the first year, growth is sprawling and does not need topping. Although blackberry roots are perennial, tops are biennial. Prima canes are produced the first year and produce rapid vegetative growth only. Cut prima canes back when they reach 36 to 48" to encourage branching, as illustrated in Figure 1. Floricanes are the second year of the biennial cycle and bloom in March. The fruit ripens in May. After fruiting, the floricanes will die and should be cut to the ground. To make picking easier, some growers hedge the rows to a 4' height and a 3' width while others train the prima canes onto a vertical three wire trellis. Every three years mature plants need to be mowed to the ground to remove diseased wood and rejuvenate growth. This usually reduces yield the following year. It should only be attempted where irrigation can stimulate prima cane growth by the end of the season.
A Texas A&M variety released in 1959, is an erect thorned blackberry and has been the standard in Texas for 35 years. Its healthy canes produce a high yield of large fruit. The acid-flavored fruit is usually recommended for cooking more than for the fresh market. Recommended by PlantAnswers.
Recommended by ag, og
Released by the University of Arkansas. Recommended by PlantAnswers.
A variety released by Texas A&M University in 1977, is an erect thorned blackberry and has large fruit which are sweeter than Brazos, and yields are often higher. It is the best early variety for East and South Central Texas. (ag)
Recommended by og
Released in 1977 by Texas A&M University, is an erect thorned blackberry and yields are similar to Rosborough, but fruit are smaller. It does best on deep, sandy soil. (ag)
Recommended by og
Released by the University of Arkansas, is an erect thorned blackberry and is a new variety which produces large fruit late in the season. Fruit is soft, so they do not ship nor store well. (ag)
Recommended by og
Also released by the University of Arkansas is an early, erect variety which produces medium-large soft fruit. Seed size is small. (ag)
Recommended by og
A variety released by Texas A&M University in 1977, is an erect thorned blackberry and has done better in south-central Texas and on black land clay soils. Fruit is very large and similar to Rosborough. (ag)
Recommended by og
Produces a medium sized, low acid, unusually sweet berry and is resistant to Double Blossom. Unfortunately, very few nurseries propagate Humble. (ag)
Recommended by og
Released in 1993 by the University of Arkansas, is an erect thornless variety that produces a medium sized, firm, high-quality fruit over a four-week season. Arapaho is very productive, has no thorns, and is resistant to both Double Blossom and Rust. No other variety offers this many positive characteristics; however, it is very new and with time, unknown problems could develop. (ag)
Released by the University of Arkansas in 1989, is an erect thornless variety which produces a firm, medium sized, sweet berry. It is difficult to establish from root cuttings, but produces a dense hedgerow after establishment. It ripens later than Arapaho, but yields are usually higher. (ag)
Recommended by og
Released by the USDA in 1981, is a semi-erect thornless plant with medium sized fruit that has an acid flavor if not fully ripened to a dull, black color. It is recommended as a garden variety in north and east Texas, because lack of winter chilling may limit its use in south Texas. (ag)
There are both Northern and Southern varieties of blueberries, make sure you select a southern variety for success. Rabbiteye types require another cultivar for pollination. Other types of blueberries are self-pollinating, but is recommended to have another variety for larger fruit.
Vaccinium ashei 'Tifblue'
Tifblue is a rabbiteye type blueberry. Pollinate with Climax.
Recommended by og
Vaccinium ashei 'Climax'
Climax is a rabbiteye type blueberry. Pollinate with Tifblue.
Recommended by og
Recommended by og
Recommended by og
Stark Brothers sells several blueberry varieties, and while not specifically for Texas, they do recommend the following varieties for the South: Climax, Tifblue, Jubilee, Misty, O'Neal, Ozarkblue, Southmoon. Stark Bro's recommends pollinating O'Neal and Ozarkblue with each other for larger fruit.
Perennial type. June-bearing.
Recommended by og
Perennial type.
Recommended by og
Perennial type. Mid-season.
Recommended by og
Perennial type. Mid-season.
Recommended by og
Annual type.
Recommended by og
Annual type.
Recommended by og
Annual type.
Recommended by og
Annual type.
Recommended by og
Annual type.
Recommended by og
Annual type.
Recommended by og
The following references provided much information on gardening and horticulture in Texas and the South, as well as specific information on recommended cultivars.
og - Garrett, J. Howard and C. Malcolm Beck. Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening. Lone Star Books, 1999. ISBN: 0884158551
mg - Garden Guide for Austin & Vicinity (Second Edition). Travis County Master Gardener Association, 2003. ISBN: 0970388306.
ns - Sperry, Neil. Neil Sperry's Complete Guide to Texas Gardening (Second Edition). Taylor Publishing Company, 1991. ISBN: 0878337997.
nt - Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski. Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (Second Edition). Gulf Publishing, 2002. ISBN: 0891230777.
jn - Johnson Nursery
tf - Treefolks
tg - Texas Gardener. September/October 1986, Vol. V, Number 6. "Enduring Native Fruits".
ag - The Texas A&M Aggie Horticulture Network has tons of information on fruit, nut, and berry horticulture for Texas. In particular, see these two sites: