Overton
Park is distinctive in its huge bur oaks, cedar elms, American elms,
hackberries, and Texas ashes, the most common species of trees (photos of park).
Native oaks, hickories, and walnuts also are present here and
there. To see the magnificent,
thick-branched bur oaks, in particular, is worth the visit. Texas ash characteristically grows in drier,
often rocky habitats but the trees here in the “bottom” are unmistakably that
species. The Texas state champion (big
tree, as nominated) Texas ash is in the neighborhood immediately to the
east.
Many,
if not most, of these larger trees were part of the original, periodically
flooded woods in the area of the park itself and the neighborhood immediately
to the east (floods were relatively common in this area until completion
of Benbrook
dam in 1952). A recently cut cedar elm
(after the top blew off in a storm –– see park photos) proved to be about 102
years old, by ring count. The stump is 63 inches in
circumference at 3 feet above the ground.
The same measurements for the 10 cedar elms closest to the stump are 36,
47, 50, 51, 56, 58, 64, 70, 66, and 71 inches.
Assuming that these 11 have grown at about the same rate, the trees in
this group probably were established between about 60 and 130 years ago. Some of the larger bur oaks surely are much
older.
Smaller
and less abundant or less conspicuous native species in Overton Park, such as the
soapberry, gum bumelia, Berlandier’s
ash, ash-leaved maple, red mulberry, Mexican plum, and
Eve’s necklace, also are beautiful and interesting to see. Berlandier’s ash is at the northern end of
its geographic range in Tarrant and Dallas counties -- two large trees of it
stand side by side at the very northern end of the paved trail, where a marker
says “2.5 miles.” Others of the same
species are scattered along the drainages, especially at the north end of the park.
To see the greatest diversity of trees, walk along the
northern, east-trending spur of the trail (see map below), which closely
follows the south side of the deep, natural drainage. Eve’s necklace is particularly common here. In most of the rest of Overton Park, the
trail is divided and runs along both sides of the creek, passing close to many
species. In Foster Park, the trees have
been planted in the last 50 years, except for those immediately along one of
the small drainages, as all or most of the native ones were cut prior to 1954,
the last year when the area was part of a cattle ranch run by the Edwards
family.
Toward
the south end of Overton Park and particularly in Foster Park, one can see how
even the small bits of remaining native vegetation are being overwhelmed by
non-native invaders, particular the privets and Amur honeysuckle. These shrubs form nearly impenetrable
thickets. And because constant mowing
prevents natural replacement of the native tree species, except immediately
along the creeks, it’s interesting to consider how the appearance of the park
may continue to change. Some young bur
oaks have been planted but none of the other natives of this immediate area are
being replaced, not even the very common cedar elm. Many recent plantings at the north end of Overton Park have been
of chestnut oak, which is native mainly to eastern portions of the state, but
it occurs naturally in the Fort Worth Nature Preserve on the northwest side of
the city.
My
personal choices for replanting in Overton and Foster parks: Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm), Ulmus americana (American elm), Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak), Fraxinus texensis (Texas ash), Fraxinus berlandieriana (Berlandier’s ash), Quercus buckleyi (Texas oak), Bumelia
lanuginosa (bumelia), Prunus mexicana (Mexican plum), and Sapindus
drummondii (soapberry). Each of
these occurs natively in the parks, all of them grow into beautiful trees that
would retain the character of the parks, and all of them produce abundant
fruits and seeds that could easily be propagated for replanting. The conservation value of maintaining
natural, locally adapted populations of these species, which everywhere are
being pushed toward smaller and smaller numbers, is immeasurable.
End-to-end,
Overton and Foster parks form a narrow band that runs 2.5 miles in mostly a
north-south direction (map
of park6). A paved hike&bike trail (TH8 of the
Trinity Trail system) runs the whole distance and links to the main Trinity
River trail by a 0.8-mile connector (TH3), which crosses under South Hulen
Street. Along the main part of the
park, the trail runs along both sides of “Overton Creek” and is interconnected
at several points by bridges. At its
northern end, Overton Park (with the trail) turns sharply and runs eastward for
0.6 mile along a large, natural drainage that eventually flows into the Trinity
River. A small pond is near the south
end of Foster Park, and at the very end, Kellis Park is only slightly
discontinuous from Foster Park (across Granbury Road) –– bringing the total
length of all three parks to nearly 3 miles.
Acer barbatum Southern sugar maple Native to east Texas, planted here
Acer negundo Ash-leaf maple Native here, naturally occurring
Acer palmatum Japanese maple Non-native, planted
Ailanthus altissima Tree-of-heaven Non-native, naturalized
Albizia julibrissin Mimosa Non-native, naturalized
Bumelia lanuginosa Chittamwood, gum bumelia Native here, naturally occurring
Carya illinoiensis Pecan Native here, naturally occurring, some planted
Celtis laevigata Hackberry Native here, naturally occurring
Cercis canadensis Redbud Native here, naturally occurring
Cornus florida Dogwood Native to Texas, but not
this far west, planted here
Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian olive Non-native, planted
Firmiana simplex Parasol tree Non-native, naturalized
Fraxinus berlandieriana Berlandier ash Native here, naturally occurring
Fraxinus texensis Texas ash Native here, naturally occurring
Gleditsia triacanthos Honey locust Native here, naturally occurring
Juglans nigra Black walnut Native here, naturally occurring
Juniperus virginiana Eastern juniper Native here, naturally occurring
Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum Native to east Texas, planted here
Liriodendron tulipifera Tuliptree Native to eastern USA, planted here
Maclura pomifera Osage orange, bois d’arc Native here, naturally occurring
Magnolia grandiflora Southern magnolia Native to east Texas, planted here, also naturalizing
Magnolia soulangeana Japanese magnolia Non-native, planted
Melia azederach Chinaberry Non-native, naturalized
Morus alba White mulberry Non-native, naturalized
Morus rubra Red mulberry Native here, naturally occurring
Pistacia chinensis Chinese pistacio Non-native, planted
Populus deltoides Cottonwood Native here, naturally occurring
Prunus caroliniana Cherry laurel Native to east Texas,
naturalized here
Prunus mexicana Mexican plum Native here, naturally occurring
Prunus persica Peach
Non-native, planted
Prunus sp. Cherry Non-native, planted
Pyrus calleryana Bradford pear Non-native, planted
Pyrus communis Common pear Non-native, planted
Quercus buckleyi Buckley oak, Texas oak Native here, naturally occurring
Quercus muehlenbergii Chestnut oak, chinkapin oak Native to Texas, planted here
Quercus macrocarpa Bur oak Native here, naturally occurring
Quercus shumardii Shumard oak Native to east Texas, planted here
Salix nigra Black willow Native here, naturally occurring
Sapindus drummondii Soapberry Native here, naturally occurring
Triadica sebifera Chinese tallow Non-native, naturalized
Taxodium distichum Bald cypress Native to Texas, planted here
Ulmus americana American elm Native here, naturally occurring
Ulmus crassifolia Cedar elm Native here, naturally occurring
Ulmus parvifolia Chinese elm, lacebark elm Non-native, planted
Ulmus rubra Slippery elm Native here, naturally occurring
Abelia floribunda Abelia Non-native, planted
Buxus sempervirens Boxwood Non-native, planted
Caesalpinia gilliesii Poinciana Non-native, planted
Celastrus scandens Bittersweet Native to n USA, naturalized here
Chilopsis linearis Desert willow Native to south Texas, planted here
Cornus drummondii Rough-leaf dogwood Native here, naturally occurring
Euonymus fortunei Winter creeper Non-native, naturalized
Euonymus japonicus Euonymus Non-native, planted
Forestiera pubescens Elbow bush Native here, naturally occurring
Ilex decidua Deciduous holly Native here, naturally occurring
Ilex vomitoria Yaupon Native to east Texas, planted here
Juniperus sabina Tam juniper Non-native, planted
Lagerstroemia indica Crepe myrtle Non-native, planted
Leucophyllum frutescens Leucophyllum Native to south Texas, planted here
Ligustrum japonicum Japanese privet Non-native, planted
Ligustrum lucidum Glossy privet Non-native, naturalized
Ligustrum quihoui Quihoui privet Non-native, naturalized
Ligustrum sinense Chinese privet Non-native, naturalized
Lonicera maackii Amur honeysuckle Non-native, naturalized
Myrica cerifera Bayberry Native to east Texas, planted here
Nandina domestica Nandina Non-native, planted and naturalized
Photinia Xfraseri Fraser’s photinia Non-native, planted
Photinia serratifolia Chinese photinia Non-native, naturalized
Podocarpus macrophyllus Japanese yew Non-native, planted
Pyracantha koidzumii Fire-thorn Non-native, naturalized
Rhus glabra Smooth Sumac Native here, naturally occurring
Sambucus canadensis Elderberry Native here, naturally occurring
Sophora affinis Eve’s necklace Native here, naturally occurring
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Coralberry Native here, naturally occurring
Viburnum rufidulum Rusty black haw Native here, naturally occurring
Yucca flaccida Yucca Non-native, planted
Justicia americana American water willow Native here, naturally occurring
Ruellia strepens Ruellia Native here, naturally occurring
Alternanthera caracasana Mat chaff flower Non-native, naturalized
Narcissus pseudonarcissus Daffodil Non-native, planted, some perhaps naturalized
ANACARDIACEAE Sumac Family
Toxicodendron radicans Poison ivy Native here, naturally occurring
Hydrocotyle verticillata Whorled water pennywort Native here, naturally occurring
Torilis arvensis Hedge parsley Non-native, naturalized
Torilis nodosa Knotted hedge parsley Non-native, naturalized
Acmella oppositifolia var. repens Creeping spotflower Native here, naturally occurring
Ambrosia artemisiifolia Common ragweed Native here, naturally occurring
Ambrosia trifida Giant ragweed Native here, naturally occurring
Calyptocarpus vialis Horse herb Native here, naturally occurring
Cirsium texanum Texas thistle Native here, naturally occurring
Conyza canadensis Horseweed Native here, naturally occurring
Coreopsis wrightii Rock coreopsis Native here, naturally occurring
Engelmannia peristenia Cutleaf daisy Native here, naturally occurring
Evax verna Evax Native here, naturally occurring
Facelis retusa Facelis Non-native, naturalized
Gamochaeta pensylvanica Cudweed Native to e USA, naturalize here
Hedypnois cretica Hedypnois Non-native, naturalized
Lactuca serriola Prickly lettuce Non-native, naturalized
Pyrrhopappus carolinianus Carolina false dandelion Native here, naturally occurring
Sonchus asper Prickly sow thistle Non-native, naturalized
Symphyotrichum divaricatum Wireweed, slim aster Native here, naturally occurring
Symphyotrichum eulae Eula’s aster Native here, naturally occurring
Taraxacum laevigatum Red-fruit dandelion Non-native, naturalized
Taraxacum officinale Common dandelion Non-native, naturalized
Tragopogon dubius Goat’s beard Non-native, naturalized
Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd’s purse Non-native, naturalized
Lepidium virginicum Pepper grass Native here, naturally occurring
Nasturtium officinale Watercress Non-native, naturalized
Rapistrum rugosum Rapistrum Non-native, naturalized
Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle Non-native, naturalized
CARYOPHYLLACEAE Pink Family
Polycarpon tetraphyllum Four-leaf manyseed Non-native, naturalized
Stellaria media Chickweed Non-native, naturalized
CELASTRACEAE Bittersweet Family
Euonymus fortunei Creeping euonymus Non-native, naturalized
Chenopodium album Pigweed Non-native, naturalized
Chenopodium berlandieri Pit-seed goosefoot Native here, naturally occurring
Commelina communis Common dayflower Native here, naturally occurring
Convolvulus arvensis Bindweed Non-native, naturalized
Dichondra carolinensis Ponyfoot Native here, naturally occurring
Ipomoea cordatotriloba Morning glory, tievine Native here, naturally occurring
Ipomoea coccinea Scarlet creeper Native here, naturally occurring
Carex sp. Sedge Native here, naturally occurring
Carex sp. Sedge Native here, naturally occurring
Carex sp. Sedge Native here, naturally occurring
Chamaesyce maculata Spotted spurge Native here, naturally occurring
Ditaxis humilis Low wild mercury Native here, naturally occurring
Desmanthus leptolobus Prairie mimosa Native here, naturally occurring
Medicago lupulina Black Medic, hop clover Non-native, naturalized
Medicago minima Bur clover Non-native, naturalized
Sesbania herbacea Coffee bean sesbane Native here, naturally occurring
Trifolium repens White clover Non-native, naturalized
Vicia sativa Common vetch Non-native, naturalized
Erodium cicutarium Pin-clover, filaree Non-native, naturalized
Geranium dissectum European crane’s-bill Non-native, naturalized
Lamium amplexicaule Henbit Non-native, naturalized
Lamium purpureum Purple dead-nettle Non-native, naturalized
Salvia greggii Gregg’s sage Native to s, c, and w Texas, planted here
Allium canadense Wild onion, Canada garlic Native here, naturally occurring
Liriope muscari Lilyturf, small monkey-grass Non-native, naturalized?
Nothoscordum bivalve Crow lily Native here, naturally occurring
Ophiopogon japonicus Monkey-grass Non-native, naturalized?
Smilax bona-nox Catbrier, saw greenbrier Native here, naturally occurring
Modiola caroliniana Carolina modiola Native here, naturally occurring
Cocculus carolina Coralvine, coralbead Native here, naturally occurring
Gaura drummondii Sweet gaura Native here, naturally occurring
Oenothera speciosa Buttercup Native here, naturally occurring
Oxalis dillenii Dillen’s woodsorrel Native here, naturally occurring
Argemone polyanthemos White prickly poppy Native here, naturally occurring
Passiflora lutea Yellow passionflower Native here, naturally occurring
Plantago lanceolata English plantain Non-native, naturalized
Plantago rhodosperma Red-seed plantain Native here, naturally occurring
Avena fatua Wild oats Non-native, naturalized
Avena sativa Cultivated oats Non-native, naturalized
Bothriochloa ischaemum King Ranch bluestem Non-native, naturalized
Bromus catharticus Rescue grass Non-native, naturalized
Bromus japonicus Japanese brome Non-native, naturalized
Bromus secalinus Rye brome Non-native, naturalized
Buchloe dactyloides Buffalo grass Native here, naturally occurring
Chasmanthium latifolium Wild oats Native here, naturally occurring
Chloris verticillata Windmill grass Native here, naturally occurring
Cynodon dactylon Bermuda grass Non-native, naturalized
Elymus virginicus Virginia wild rye Native here, naturally occurring
Lolium perenne Italian ryegrass Non-native, naturalized
Paspalum dilatatum Dallis grass Non-native, naturalized
Poa annua Annual bluegrass Non-native, naturalized
Phyllostachys aurea Golden bamboo Non-native, naturalized
Sorghum halepense Johnson grass Non-native, naturalized
Polygonum aviculare Prostrate knotweed Non-native, naturalized
Rumex crispus Curly dock Non-native, naturalized
Clematis ternifolia Sweet autumn clematis Non-native, naturalized
Ranunculus ficaria Lesser celandine Non-native, naturalized
Ranunculus muricatus Rough-seed buttercup Non-native, naturalized
Geum canadense White avens Native here, naturally occurring
Galium aparine Bedstraw Non-native, naturalized
Sherardia arvensis Field madder Non-native, naturalized
Veronica hederifolia Common speedwell Non-native, naturalized
Glandularia bipinnatifida Prairie verbena Native here, naturally occurring
Phyla nodiflora Common frogfruit Native here, naturally occurring
Viola sororia Bayou violet Native here, naturally occurring
VISCACEAE
Phoradendron leucarpum Mistletoe Native here, naturally occurring
Cissus incisa Cowitch Native here, naturally occurring
Vitis mustangensis Mustang grape Native here, naturally occurring
Vitis vulpina Fox grape Native here, naturally occurring
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Guy Nesom, www.guynesom.com
Last update 5 Jan 2010