are all the suckers attached to the trunk, perhaps from below ground ... and all green.. if so.. they must be removed ... you will need to learn how to prune this thing... to keep it in some form which you will prefer ... just removing dead stuff.. at height.. is not going to be good.. in the long run ... you have to have a vision ... and so some proactive pruning for the future ... to keep a will in check.. you will have to learn about rejuvenation pruning ... and then about growing a shrub on a standard [in a tree form].. combine said knowledge.. and then act accordingly ... without physically being.. there.. and being able to stick me head into the plant.. and see whats there.. i have no clue how to advise you here .. see link... flip to web side for name there is a woman in the area... and hers are magnificent ... and she cuts them back to near sticks every early spring ... i swear she is going to kill them every year ... and every year.. they are sublime ... just keep in mind.. its a willow ... it is extremely aggressive ... and you probably cant kill it thru pruning if you tried ... but for those green ones at the bottom.. if they are green.. it indicates the plant was grafted to a standard .... and you have some limitations as to how far you can cut back ... at the link... find the latin name.. and add to it.. PRUNING ... and then search and learn ... read up... and ask us to clarify anything that might need such .... welcome to GW .... good luck ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

the seed are called gumballs ... and when the tree ages enough.. to start dropping them.. you will not be able to walk barefoot in your yard ... glorious PARK trees.. you better think long and hard about whether your yard is big enough ... also.. known for surface roots ... and suckers.. if you cut a root ... now.. if you just gotta have one.. check out the link ... who cares about all the other problems.. lol apparently i am a bit bipolar on my opinion of these trees.. lol ... oh.. and i forgot to mention.. the heavenly.. aroma of a crushed leaf. but it is very ephemeral.. lasting only seconds ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: pay real money for a variegated one ...

Brachychiton

Whatever it is, a chunk of bark that big falling off to expose the yellowish cambium is NOT a good sign. Can you post a closeup of the foliage? Actually I just thought of something. Are these trees usually evergreen? There are forms of Chinese Lacebark Elm that are evergreen in mild climates, which Houston normally is. This tree could not only have been in leaf, but in a semi-state of growth, when it was blasted by the cold wave. The temps well below freezing could have caused a type of extreme scald damage to the trunk. It literally peeled off due to the formation of ice. If that is what happened... although it's a very tough species, I assume the tree will continue to slowly decline and should be replaced eventually.