If the proposed tree will be even partly over your drive, do not get a pecan! They drop leaves, limbs, catkins and pecans--not good for your vehicles. Pecans are a wonderful tree, but not for yard use. Not knowing your growing conditions (soil fertility, moist or dry, prevailing winds, closeness to paved area) I can suggest that you investigate the following trees: American elm, American sycamore, Chinese pistache, and Western soapberry. All are adaptable to differing conditions, fairly drought tolerant, and nice to look at.

I'm sorry to hear about your son's tree. I'd suggest something unique like Montezuma Cypress. Where are you located? If you are in Austin or SA, I can tell you where to get one at a great price.

I agree about pecan trees. Not so good tree for driveway or close to house. Been down the road when my dad planted them around the house. It has been nothing but mess and I had to convince my mom to cut them down for safety reason. Who wants leaky roof? Big limb crashing down on the car (it actually happened... on next door neighbor's car).

Mexican white oak is another tree that grows fast. I noticed at my Local Lowes, they seem to be selling correct shumard oak trees (based on the size of terminal bud that was at least 1/4 inches long) if you want to go down that road.

I can't think of a shade tree or a food tree that isn't messy in some way...

If I had to have a food tree, I'd get a pecan & site it as far from the roof as possible & put the car in the garage.

Pecans grow pretty fast, too.

If I didn't have to have a food tree, I might use Chinese tallow;
it grows pretty fast, & the leaves are pretty, sort of heart-shaped.
It does drop flowers or seeds or something.
I leave them alone & they return to the earth.

Oaks are nice, but it seems like they don't grow that fast.

If you can stretch "food" to include acorns (squirrel food?), you might try Bur Oak.

They're huge, & they're beautiful.

I second Sylvia's suggestions. Pecans are fabulous, but very messy, as will be any food tree. Pecans are the only food tree I can think of that get really big. Chinese Tallows are pretty - there's one in my neighbor's yard I benefit from - but they do have babies pop up in the spring. Not a big deal, but something to be aware of. Some of them have great fall color. They're also one of the only fast-growing trees that isn't weak-limbed.

Food trees are also susceptible to pests; pecans get webworms, fruit trees get fruit-eating insects. So be aware of that; they require spraying or there are organic methods (preferred, since you'll be eating them.)

A Shumard Red Oak would be a good alternative as well. Or, in a completely different direction, if you'd rather have food than shade you could put a vegetable garden.

This might help you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas tree link

Chinese Tallow can be very pretty in the fall but does have several challenges to it such as dieback and prone to borers. Plus the weed seed in the lawn and bed areas can be a pain.

Pecan as has been mentioned is best in large yard areas away from houses and driveway areas.

Monterrey (mexican white oak) and Montezuma cypress will make excellent long lived quality shade trees. These two of all mentioned would be high on my lists of possibles.
It is what I planted for my SIL 6 years ago (Monterrey) and hers is more than 20 feet tall and 15 wide. She is very happy. Monterrey is my next tree to be planted here in the Hill Country(want to do one this fall).

If you have deep soil and good moisture Burr Oaks can be nice but do have some fungal problems some years and the nuts are huge as are the leaves so next to a drive may give me some hesitation.

Cedar elm is a fairly quick grower, durable in less than great soils but seed sprouts can be a pest at times. It is long lived large and relatively pest free. I do enjoy the yellow leaves of fall with this one.

Just a few thoughts on the subject and as always...
Happy Growing David

This is great stuff. More information - It is in a full sun spot about 12' wide between 2 driveways. We do not have more than 2' of soil anywhere on our lot, then we hit white rock. So the roots stay fairly shallow on trees around here unless plants with dynamite in lieu of a shovel.

So far I've eliminated the pecan idea because of falling chunks, fruit idea because of the mess (and certain gripes from the mean old lady nextdoor), and a few others I was considering.

The Chinese Tallow is beautiful, but not right for this spot. I like the Mexican White Oak a lot.

Do any of you have experience with thornless honey locust? And do chinkapin oaks do okay in the Dallas area? The Cedar Elm is beautiful, but I'm reading that they sometimes get large surface roots - any experience with that? It's a concern, because we're putting it between the 2 driveways. The burr oak is another idea that might work.

My understanding is that chinkapin oak can grow in limestone as long as there is good drainage (of course, that goes for most oak trees). I have it as well. It seems to do fine.

you can try Texas Ash. I asked the owner of nursery which of Texas ash, monterrey oak and montezuma cypress is the fastest growing. He said Texas Ash like he was amazed with the growth. Next is montezuma cypress which is pretty fast and lastly Monterrey oak. I'm planting all three in limestone soil....

I was told that Bur oak can grow in limestone? I'm growing one right now and it grew over 3 feet this year (planted in October 2005)right into crushed limestone soil.

You could look at 'bosque' lacebark elm. Seems very fast growing in limestone soil. 'Bosque' looks better than others because it has dominant central leader unlike other cultivars and regular ones. I saw a pic of it and it looked nice. I couldn't find one at a nursery to buy one though. With regular ones, you never know what it will turn out. Some look ugly IMO.

My house was built in 1980. It has a large cedar elm about 2 feet from the driveway, and not a single crack in the concrete. My only complaint is the multitude of seedlings I have to pull each year.

Dennis

I'd recommend Texas Ash. They grow tall and straight. Not sure about solid limestone, but I think mine were in similar circumstances to that.

Isn't Chinese Tallow considered a noxious pest? Didn't Jolana tell me that once?

I'm concerned that you already had a nice native go bad in that spot. You may need to dynamite the limestone first and shovel in some compost.

I think Lou helped me figure out in another thread that it was a sick tree to begin with - it was after iron. The soil is really great in this spot and receives regular compost and mulch. I've never had trouble with any other plants or the other 2 trees here, so I really think it was just a problem with this tree.

Seedlings are no good, so I'll cross cedar elm off the list right now. I just googled Texas Ash, and it's beautiful! I also like the Montezuma Cypress, but we've got a pond cypress right across the yard, so I'd like to do something different.

Still interested to know about any experiences with honey locust. We're probably going to go tree shopping this weekend. Looks like we've whittled the list down to Texas Ash or one of the oaks. We're going to pull out the tree books tonight and see if there's anything else that looks interesting.

Missinformation,

I think my neighbor has it and it seems to provide light shade and sheds leaves a bit thoughout the summer. Nothing to write home about it. I could have sworn I saw dozens of seedlings all over the lawn. I can't tell if it was from seeds or roots? Perhaps someone can share on this.

Petal Pusher in Cedar Hill (if you live in DFW area) has Texas Ash, I think 10 gallons for 65 dollars. I don't think I've ever seen one anywhere else. You might want to call to make sure if it still has Texas Ash.

Have you ever looked at the size of terminal bud on red oak that I showed you the article about, you know big terminal buds for alkaline soil, small ones for acidic soil...

"... Chinese tallow trees are a scourge. In a scant 30 years, they can reduce an ecologically diverse prairie to a single-species forest. Recent studies, in areas including the Big Thicket National Preserve, indicate the invading tallow trees are just as successful at taking over native forests." Rice University

I took my son out looking the oaks and Texas ash, and he had just about made up his mind when he noticed the fig trees! I think he's so funny - he was insisting on a huge tree even though I knew he'd love a food tree and this is where he wound up. So we're looking into the various varieties of figs now. If one is less messy or a better grower than another, I'd love to know. Also, does anyone know of a nursery in the east Dallas/Mesquite area that might have a variety of figs?

I don't think fig trees get very tall at all - not even as big as a redbud. But if that's what he wants, here's a good link for fruit varieties.

If it's fruit he wants, he might also consider a plum tree. I think Methley is self pollinating, meaning it can be planted as a single tree without another to pollinate it.

Here is a link that might be useful: fruit trees for Texas

Pear trees do very well also, but I think most of them need pollinators.

When you look at this link be sure to scroll down and pick from varieties shown in your county. I had LaConte trees in Ellis County and they got fire blight real bad. In Tarrant county they are said to be fine. Just a bit of difference, but I guess it's important.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pear tree varieties

Our friend gave him some sort of brown turkey fig tree when we were at her nursery this morning. Mighty nice of her! I wish I knew which type of brown turkey, but free is free, right? It's covered in large fruit right now. Anyway, thanks for talking me through this. Looks like we won't get shade on the driveway, but food is a good trade, I think. My son is very excited about this!