I'm west of Ft Worth, alkaline soil. My favorite shade trees for typical yards:

• Bur Oak. Wonderful shade tree, moderately fast growth, tough. I love the leaf shape. Con: does drop acorns.
• Red Oak (various). Same as above, with pretty Fall color.
• Lacebark Elm. Nice deep green color, moderate growth, interesting mottled trunk pattern.
• Shantung Maple. Wonderful Fall color, great maple for Texas. Hardy.
• Bald Cypress. I love the fern-like foliage and Fall color. Not messy. However, some can get "knees", mine don't. I'm not an expert on them, but have had them at two different houses, 25+ yrs, and they've done well. No more water requirements than my other trees. If you're interested, discuss with a trusted local nursery about your specific area to see if they're recommended or not.

I'd seen Bald Cypress reccomended, I'll have to look into those with your suggestion, then! I don't even know that I could identify one.

I agree that Magnolias are beautiful, but the leaf drop (all year long) can be a nightmare. My next door neighbor planted one ten yrs ago, and I pick up huge, browned, leathery leaves that blow into my yard daily. The mower doesn't cut them, and they take a while to break down. It looks like trash in my yard and in my beds. Our lots are 1/2 acres, so it might not be so bad on an acre lot, planted far away from a house, or neighbors.

I would have to nix the Magnolia. This tree causes me more work than all my others combined. The leaves, the blooms and then the cones keep me busy the entire year to try to keep it reasonably tidy around it. Since this debris does not easily decompose, I have to sack it and put it in the trash. It is, indeed, a beautiful tree, but I wish to not have all the work it demands. Just my two cents worth. Oh, and I also have bald cypress and they put up "knees" a long distance from the tree.................so, while beautiful (and my husband's favorite tree), they, too, are something I would not plant again.

I know what you mean about the magnolia. I grew up with 3, and my father always just raked the leaves under it in a tree-ring type look, and bagged them every so often... they sure are pretty trees, when mature, though.

The Montezuma cypress, taxodium mucronatum, doesn't grow knees the regular bald cypress, taxodium distichum, and it's other cousin the pond cypress, taxodium ascendens do. The Montezuma cypress is the best of the bunch. The largest and fastest and best habit. In the posters climate it will be semi evergreen or evergreen in mikd years. I agree magnolia make debris. Just a question as to.whether or not it's worth it to the property owner. Everything has its drawbacks.

I wonder why my Bald Cypress' don't get knees? I've had/have two, bought 11 yrs apart, from different very respected nurseries, and never a knee anywhere. There are several at The Ft Worth Water Gardens, with big knees everywhere, and I've seen them with knees at other locations. So strange. I keep forgetting to ask my nursery guy about it.

Is it possible, for once, I got lucky with something in my yard? :D

Part of it could be genetic, part could be how and where it is planted. Some people say they develop in response to low oxygen level associated with standing water or clay soil. Although there isn't any proof to that. I like the genetics theory. Hill country native bald cypress gets knees less often than the southeastern variety, and in extreme south texas and Mexico montezuma cypress doesn't get them at all

Another resource is your county extension office. they probably have a list of best trees for your area. somebody might even come visit and make suggestions. You might get lucky and a volunteer master gardener might come visit you and offer placement ideas, etc.

http://brazos.agrilife.org/contact/

Ginkgo give nice yellow (though brief) fall color in much of the state. Slow growing, but a tough, interesting tree. Many cultivars with some, such as 'Princeton Sentry', that are fairly narrow.

For understories, Dogwood if soil pH is low enough or Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum otherwise because of their excellent red fall color and spring interest.

Forgot... crape myrtles are nice for long spring-summer blooms, fall color, interesting bark, few pests (so far), and lots of options on size/color. All reasons they get overused in some areas.

Most of the oaks, elms, and cypresses mentioned earlier are also among my favorites. There's also the T. distichum/T. mucronatum. (cypress) hybrids trialed by SFA that may be worth a look; 'Banita' and others have been discussed elsewhere on GW.

I didn't even realize Ginkgo grew around here, I'll need to check out the trees you listed- I'm not familiar with any of them, and I have 2 spots for some very intersting trees. Brazos is in love with crepre mertyls... I get why, but I'm sick of looking at them, haha. I'm probably going to do vitex or moutain laurel instead in areas that need taller stuff, but not trees.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Eastern Redbud. Those and all the Bradford pears blooming are the first signs of spring around here.

Do you want any productive trees? Mexican plums are a native and make incredible plum jam. Peaches and pecans should do well too. Some citrus and avocados are hardy enough (though you may have temps at least 5, maybe 10 degrees warmer than where I am).

I forgot about Eastern Redbuds ... a shopping center here planted rows all around the parking areas, they put on such a show in Spring! I keep meaning to plant a couple.

Redbuds are great, but not as long-lived in Texas as many of the others mentioned. Not meaning to discourage their use - they are wonderful; just something to consider in placement as the longer lived ones tend to make better anchor trees. Neil Sperry's typical lifespan (in n. TX) of 25-35 years nailed the range they disappeared from our lot and neighborhood.

The smaller Texas (C. canadensis var. texensis) and Mexican (C. canadensis
var. mexicana) redbuds are also worth considering for their ability to get by with less water.

I actually have redbuds on my list, and I'm looking into fruit trees as well- with the kids, we are looking at what has the longest producing seasons with minimal care/needing to pick up the yard to mow. My husband HATES peaches, ugh!

The northern third of Brazos County is blackland prairie with elm, oak, pecan and mesquite predominating mostly along streams. The rest of the county is post oak savannah with loamy and sandy soils featuring post oaks, walnut and pecan. HERE is a list of many more trees found in the county. They are split into the seasons they are likely to bloom. Not all are native, and for whatever reason some vines (honeysuckle) are included with the tree lists. Post oaks will not grow in blackland soil; they can't take heavy soil or compacted soil. You should check with local nurseries and neighbors for advice on trees that will grow best in your soil.