In October 2025 I thought with the dry fall weather that we simply would not have many colorful leaves since the crepe myrtle and cedar elm leaves were falling. Then in early December we had a freeze that changed the scene. I don’t recall seeing the Spanish Red Oak trees as colorful as they were (some still are) this year.
Spanish Red Oak (Quercus falcata) is also called Southern Red Oak. It is a medium sized native tree that grows in dry limestone areas. Its acorns support native wildlife and at one time the Native Americans even used it as food.
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, all oaks can get Oak Wilt disease:
“Red oaks play a critical role in the spread of oak wilt through the formation of fungal mats. Sap-feeding beetles pick up spores from these fungal mats and carry them to fresh wounds on other oaks. This is how new disease centers are started. “
It is important to spray protection (latex paint is effective) on Oak trees after they are cut, especially during the times of year when the beetles are active.
January is a good tree planting month. The first couple of years even native plants such as Spanish Red Oaks need to be watered during drought periods. Once established the Spanish Red Oaks are considered drought tolerant.
Rosemary provides lovely bluish flowers in the winter months. In addition to the edible needle leaves, it can form an evergreen bush that the deer do not like. It will drape down a wall if positioned in dirt at the top of the wall. It too can get huge and take up a lot of space. I smile when I visit people up North and see their little rosemary plants in small containers. They don’t know that Rosemary has the Texas spirit and if given a chance will get BIG, like Texas things do.
Written by Jackie Mattice, Hays County Master Naturalist
