Arizona Cypress and Italian Cypress along with Afghan Pines are some of the most successful trees planted out there. They should be able to survive on just the normal rainfall after 2-3 yrs. of supplemental watering to establish. Cedar Elm and Bur Oak (big leaves)are two deciduous trees that should do ok there. Of course Mesquite, Arizona Ash, and Hackberry should survive there, but are not normally considered desireable (but you may want to consider) Might look at what others have planted that have done well and perhaps see what the local nurseries are selling for that area.

They are originally from Western China and that is typically an arid area unless in tis in the foothills (not on the rain shadow) to the Himalayas and then it has moisture. I know they grow wild in Zilker Park in Austin or so the Park official arborist tole me. That is wetter than you and the dirt is river bottom rich clay with a lot of humus there. From a woodworkers eye on life, I have heard that this tree expands equally across the grain as it does lengthwise. MOST wood expands due to moisture across the grain but Not lengthwise. This makes this wood a very easy wood to build with making certain fancy joinery much easier to do without cracking when there is a crossgrain disagreement. The Japanese highly regard this wood for making boxes, musical instruments and other stuff.

Linda, Though I have grown more than 20 different blueberry (bb) varieties including both Rabbiteye (RE) and southern high bush (SHB) in Texas (about 3 hours down south from where you are), I do not have any of your RE or SHB variety so I can not comment or recommend on those varieties. However, as far as your area availability for one bb plant, if you can find, get a Sweet-Crisp variety, it is SHB type and it is the best tasting bb. It is very sweet, crisp like apple, and berry size is large. My other favorite SHB is Farthing. I have not tasted Brightwell RE variety but I have heard this is the best tasting RE variety. I like the taste of Vernon and Pink Lemonade in RE varieties. FYI, all RE and SHB tolerate Texas heat. As far as frost protection, the plant itself does not need to be protected from frost but if the plant is blooming prior to last frost, you will not get berries that year and that is why we chose late bloomers like Vernon (in February), Ka-bluey and OnSlow (both in March). The most productive varieties are Emerald, Jewel, and Farthing. I am growing all my bb plants in 15-25 gallon pots using 5-1-1 ratio of composted pine bark mulch (purple bag from Walmart)-peat moss-perlite. Nothing else in the medium. Blueberry is acid loving plant that has shallow root and therefore it likes its root moist but not forgiving for dry root nor like wet feet. Water pH is not the issue for bb plants as long as the water does not have high bicarbonate content. Our city water has high bicarbonate and I treat the water with sulfuric acid to lower the pH to 5 before watering when I run out of collected rain water. Probably your creek water does not have high bicarbonate. Rain water is the best way to water bb plants. Bb does not require high amount of fertilizer and very low dose of fertilizer is best for it. However, it does not do well with nitrate nitrogen and potassium chloride in its fertilizer, if chemical fertilizer is used. Organic fertilizer like Holly Tone or simple cotton seed meal and fish fertilizer are also great ones for bb. Good luck!

Glad you got a response on the Fruit & Orchids forum. Our native blackberries are the only fruit the squirrels don't totally decimate.... and the birds that do like them seem to know how to share. Starting to open a new area for some improved thornless cultivars - 'Natchez' and probably 'Ouachita' - but not enough experience yet to comment. Would be nice to know if the new primocanes can actually perform in north Texas - older varieties were usually not considered well suited. Though context is significantly further east than you, the Dallas Fruit and Vegetable blog has some good photos and posts about growing some of these in north Texas.