Greenman,

During the drier summer months, does that boggy spot where you're going to plant the tree dry up or is it perpetually boggy? I'd recommend different trees depending on your answer to that question.

Dawn

Yes, it will dry out eventually. It's just the part of our yard that stays the wettest the longest after rains.

Then a tree-form crape myrtle probably would do just fine there. I'm linking the website of Crape Mytle Trails of McKinney (Texas) because they have photos and/or descriptions of many crape myrtle varieties.

There's not many crape myrtles that get 30 to 40' tall but I've seen a few in the deep south that I'm pretty sure exceeded 20' and likely were around 30'.

Redbuds can get that tall, are deciduous, and bloom in early spring, but they often have issues with foliar disease during periods of high humidity. The native ones seem to tolerate occasional standing water on our property as do the native persimmons. The persimmon flowers are not very showy but the fall foliage is lovely. Out here in the country, something often strips them of their foliage in spring so it is unsightly but grows back quickly.

I have no first-hand knowledge of the root systems of any of them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney

Thanks, Dawn! This is very helpful.
GM

GM, You're welcome. It is one of my favorite websites and Neil Sperry's involvement is one reason why.

Neil Sperry, who is a horticuluralist, radio show host, Texas gardening legend, author, magazine publisher, garden show producer, philathropist, community volunteer, photographer and all-around great guy, is heavily involved in The Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney project.. If Neil says something is true, then you can take it to the bank. I learned so much from him all those years I lived in Texas and listened to his radio show, and read his newspaper columns, magazine articles and books. I still learn from him too even though I seldom catch the radio show any more.

We drove through McKinney last year when some of the Crape Myrtles were in bloom and it was just spectacular. They have them everywhere and the heavy focus on planting all kinds of crape myrtles has turned an already beautiful city into a spectacularly gorgeous one.

Dawn