9 Types of Trees in Louisiana for Your Native Garden

• Cypress trees can survive in all types of soil, even standing water that can stunt the growth of other trees.
• Many homeowners grow it for its beautiful knees or pneumatophores, which can be incorporated into any landscape design. 
• Provides shade and food to various native rabbit, bird, and deer species. 

• People call this tree bald because this deciduous conifer sheds all its needles in the fall.
• Represents an excellent all-year-round ornamental value to your land because of its delicate needles, cones, and beautiful bark. 
• Before falling off, the feathery jade needles turn to a beautiful shade of copper-gold. This tree measures between 50 and 70 feet tall. 

• Consider its future massive size, as it might disrupt the view from your patio or around your pool. It’s better to give it enough space to spread. 
• Amending the soil is essential, but if the soil is too poor, you might need to consider growing another tree on your land. 
• This tree can grow around water features and should be watered regularly in dry soil. In addition, it should receive full sun to stay in shape. 

• Periods of drought can cause chlorosis, which is the premature yellowing of the leaves. 
• The cypress beetle attacks this tree and can cause substantial damage. 

• The leaves and flowering buds treat headaches, stuffy noses, and asthma. 
• Provides shade or can be planted as a screen. 
• Fills your outer space with a nice and refreshing fragrance. 

• The leaves are dark green on the top and rusty on the underside. 
• Known as the bull bay tree, this one requires more maintenance to keep it in excellent health.

• These trees thrive in rich, fertile, well-draining soil and can tolerate various pH levels. 
• Mulching can keep the tree healthy, but ensure it doesn’t touch the bark. Too much or too little water can make the leaves turn yellow. 
• Needs regular mulching to protect the soil from erosion. The shallow root system needs plenty of space, and you should consider regular cleaning as the leaves drop regularly. 

• Bacterial infestations cause leaf spots and blight. 
• Regular pruning can limit the spread of cankers, which eventually kill the branches. 

• Provides shelter for squirrels and birds. 
• This tree increases your property’s curb appeal. 

• When mature, this tree can be between 40 and 80 feet tall, but its lateral branches can be twice as wide. This is why it’s one of the most popular Louisiana shade trees. 
• People usually grow it as a specimen tree or to create an allee on a formal garden or large property. 
• This particular species is confused with other oak trees, so people usually call it the southern live tree. 

• Despite being easy to grow, the tree’s massive size can cause some damage as it ruins nearby structures. You can grow it next to white oak or Quercus alba trees if there’s room. 
• Make sure you always have time to prune it regularly to maintain its shape. Some of these trees can live for up to 1000 years, so this explains the kind of commitment it represents. 
• This oak tree can survive in various conditions, including wet and highly alkaline soil. It will thrive in full sun but can tolerate some shade. 

• Oak leaf tiers and oak clearwing borers usually attack this tree. 
• Oak wilt is a fungal infection that can spread from infected to healthy trees. 

• If you don’t have space to grow massive red maple trees in your Louisiana garden, you can grow the  Cercis canadensis tree to add a pop of color. 
• It’s one of the first trees to flower on your land, and the pink flowers later turn into fruits that provide an all-season interest in your garden. The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. 
• This hardy tree can withstand the allelopathic black walnut or Juglans nigra tree. 

• Grows to be 30 feet tall and 30 feet wide. It has heart-shaped leaves and can be 5 inches across. 
• Pea-like blooms appear in late winter or early spring before other plants start to bloom. 
• Most homeowners will grow this tree when they don’t have space for massive flowering species like tulip poplar trees. It’s also a good companion tree for pink dogwood or flowering dogwood trees. 

• Can handle different soil types, including various pH levels. It doesn’t need fertilization as it can absorb nitrogen from the air.

• If you have massive trees on your property, you can grow the redbud tree in their shade. It pairs well with other native Louisiana trees like green ash.

• Also known as the American redbud or American Judas tree, this tree doesn’t handle transplanting well because the branches can easily break. 
• Botryosphaeria canker and dieback can affect this tree, but regular pruning can usually solve this issue. 
• Leaf spot is another cosmetic issue, and it’s usually controlled by spraying a fungicide that contains copper. 

• It’s usually grown as a specimen or landscape tree in dry soil where other plants will struggle to grow. 
• It provides the perfect home for native nesting birds and deer. This is why it’s the most common type of elm trees in Louisiana. It’s also the host for the question mark butterfly. 

• This small deciduous elm has a short, corky bark and a round canopy. 
• Grows double-serrated dark green leaves, and the foliage turns yellow in the fall. 
• The green-brown catkins later turn into reddish-winged samaras. The hairs on the samaras are shorter than the ones you can find on American elm or Ulmus americana. 

• Although this tree thrives in rich, moist, well-draining soil, it can survive in urban locations and dry soils. 
• Thrives in full sun but can handle some partial shade. Regular pruning is needed to remove sick branches before diseases spread. 

• Just like other elm trees, this one is prone to Dutch elm disease, which can quickly kill this beautiful tree. It can also suffer from powdery mildew and canker disease. 
• Elm bark beetles also attack this tree, carrying the spores of Dutch elm disease and feeding on the weakened limbs. 

• Provides shade and shelter for wildlife in the cold season. 
• The wood is sturdy and very hard, which explains why people call it the ironwood tree. Most people use this wood to make tools. 
• It’s usually grown as a focal point on your land, and you can pair it with white fringe trees. 

• The bark looks like muscle tissue, which explains its famous nickname. 
• The dark green foliage of this tree turns to a bright shade of orange in the fall. Once winter comes, the gray bark will contrast beautifully with the surrounding environment. 
• It reaches a height of 25 feet tall, so it’s a good choice if you don’t have space for big trees.

• This tree will thrive in well-draining, moist, and fertile soil and the root system will spread under the ground making it one of the sturdiest trees on your land.
• Can withstand some flooding and needs regular watering in hot climates. 
• If you have large trees on your land, you can grow the musclewood tree in their shade. 

• This tree is pretty resistant to most common diseases and pests. However, cankers can attack some weak limbs and branches. 
• Two-lined chestnut borers and maple mealybugs feed on the foliage, but they don’t affect the tree’s health in the long run. 

• The acorns provide food to ducks and squirrels, and it’s home to various butterflies, moths, and larvae that represent the primary food source for native birds and animals. 
• It can soak up the excess water in areas that are prone to flooding. 
• Adds about 24 inches to its height per year. This is why people grow it when they need to add a fast-growing specimen or shade tree to their property. 

• This tree reaches a maximum height of 80 feet tall in optimal conditions. 
• The fast growth rate makes it less resistant to different pests and diseases that might attack the bark. 

• According to the name, this tree will grow beautifully next to water features as it’s tolerant of wet soils. It’s one of the widespread types of trees in Louisiana swamps. 
• Thrives in different types of soil but prefers acidic soil. Once the tree grows, it can become drought-tolerant. 
• Grows in full sun and can’t tolerate any shade. 

• Oak wilt usually attacks this tree. Fungal injections can help with this infection. 
• Insects that attack this tree can hardly cause permanent damage, but they usually attack the way the leaves look. 

• Homeowners will plant this tree because it grows fast. 
• It’s resistant to urban pollution and acts as a carbon sink that amends the soil on your land.
• The tree is home to various native species like doves, quails, rabbits, and white-tail deer. 

• This is the second most widespread tree in the US and is by no means one of the rare trees in Louisiana. 
• It has 5 to 8-inch needles, which people usually use to make medicinal tea. However, the needles of the Pinus taeda can be toxic if consumed in large amounts.
• Due to the tree’s shape, it’s usually called rosemary pine. It grows to a massive size of 90 feet tall and about 35 feet wide. 

• This pine is tolerant of various soil conditions but thrives in loamy, acidic soil. 
• Can’t tolerate standing water, so you must adjust your watering schedule according to regional rainfall levels.

The needles can turn yellow if you attempt to change this tree’s location. High concentrations of salt in the soil can also cause this yellowing. 

• The nectar-rich flowers attract insects and pollinators. 
• Rabbits and voles eat the bark, while songbirds feed on the seeds. 

• The insects leave a sticky residue called honeydew on various surfaces. 
• Has deep green heart-shaped leaves that provide excellent shade on your property. 
• Grows spring or fragrant white or pale yellow flowers. 

• This tree is native to the lowlands of Louisiana and thrives in moderately well-draining soil.
• Doesn’t tolerate alkaline soil, but other varieties in the same family can be more tolerant of various pH levels. 
• Once established, this tree will survive off regular rainfall. However, it’s not drought-tolerant. It achieves the best flowering in full sun, but it can tolerate some shade. 

• Bark borers and basswood leaf miners usually attack this tree. 
• Leaf rust is the main reason why this tree might lose its attractive foliage. However, some cultivars are resistant to this disease.