I am looking for a faster growing shade tree for my back yard. Seems like the local big box stores only carry Live Oaks and Chinese Pistache. Some one recommended a Texas Ash as a good option. Any other good tree variety recommendations

I would not recommend Texas ash. I had one in my backyard in Abilene, and it was horrible. Constantly breaking limbs. Also, they are soft woods.

Depending on what part of Texas you live in, I would suggest a burr oak or a Chinqupin oak. Red oaks will grow decently quickly as well.

Try a cedar elm instead. Monterrey oak is another solid option.

Avoid Ash and pecan. Red oaks grow fast. Also consider a bur oak.

The Monterrey Oak is a good option and more drought tolerant.

Cedar elm is an awesome tree. Small leaves to rake.

We have a Red Oak. It provides a lot of shade, and is a "pretty" tree. It is very tall and I am not good at estimating but it is a lot taller than the house. (Single story)

Drawback is acorns if you don't like them but it came through the drought with no problem.

I'd avoid Red Oak due to oak wilt issues.

Agree with Cedar Elm. You get some fall color and leaves are easy to mow- paper thin vs a waxy leaf like a live oak.

No experience with the *****apin oak, but it gets good pub for growing well in limestone soils. Plan on trying those this fall.

Secolobo said:

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Cedar elm is an awesome tree. Small leaves to rake.

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That and you can pretty much leave them alone.

Hackberry Tree is the ugliest tree I have ever seen (personal opinion). It also will outgrow any other. Provides great shade. Provides wonderful food source (berries) for wildlife. They can grow taller than a 2 story house, so give it plenty of growing room.

What do you have against Chinese Pistache? Faster grower, good color in the fall. Better than any ash.

Monterrey Oak is a great fast growing oak in the white oak family. Very drought tolerant and hardy.

The Chinese pistache is a good fast growing tree like a previous poster said. Comes from the cashew family. Also withstand harsh conditions as well

Ash trees are crap and cost and live a whopping 30 years

Took 2 down and unless you are an Irish Hurley maker the wood is worthless

aggieband 83 said:

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Hackberry Tree is the ugliest tree I have ever seen (personal opinion). It also will outgrow any other. Provides great shade. Provides wonderful food source (berries) for wildlife. They can grow taller than a 2 story house, so give it plenty of growing room.

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Assuming this is sarcasm? Anyone who would intentionally plant a hackberry should be shot.

BurnetAggie99 said:

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Monterrey Oak is a great fast growing oak in the white oak family. Very drought tolerant and hardy.

The Chinese pistache is a good fast growing tree like a previous poster said. Comes from the cashew family. Also withstand harsh conditions as well

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This. Don't do the ash tree. You will regret it when you have to trim the thing every few years.

BurnetAggie99 said:

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Monterrey Oak is a great fast growing oak in the white oak family. Very drought tolerant and hardy.

The Chinese pistache is a good fast growing tree like a previous poster said. Comes from the cashew family. Also withstand harsh conditions as well

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This. I have one that is 35 years old. Beautifully shaped tree, requires very little pruning. Doesn't drop limbs. Beautiful in the fall. Some have claimed they are 'invasive,' but I haven't seen that at all.

The Fife said:

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Secolobo said:

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Cedar elm is an awesome tree. Small leaves to rake.

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That and you can pretty much leave them alone.

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These are two guys that have never experienced 10 mature cedar elms and a pool. There is about a 3-4 week period where it requires daily maintenance so that your pump is getting water. They will fill both baskets to the point that water can't pass through.

Great trees if you are a mistletoe fan though.

You used the term "Texas Ash" which is a correct common name. Many subsequent posters just used "Ash" to say that they are horrible. This is not quite as descriptive as it should be and most posters are probably talking about Arizona Ash.

The older, landscape tree has a common name of Arizona Ash. These are the ones that are in many older neighborhoods.

Texas Ash vs Arizona Ash (you can Google this)

Texas Ash is much slower growing and quite a bit smaller than Arizona Ash. So although Texas Ash has way less problems, it is also not fast growing as Arizona Ash which may eliminate it for your reasons.

My own opinion is that you can make a live oak grow pretty fast and end up with a great tree. Yeah, you probably want a mature looking landscape in two years and you will not get that with live oak.

In my own yard the Chinese Pistache does not survive because of cotton root rot. I think I have had three tries on this in the past 20 years. It is a highly recommended tree but does not work in my yard.