Oklahoma City Tree Species We Care For

Central Oklahoma supports a fascinating mix of trees. From the post oaks and blackjack oaks native to the region’s historic Cross Timbers forests to the elms, maples, and ornamental species commonly planted throughout Oklahoma City suburbs, trees play a major role in the beauty, shade, and livability of local properties.

To help you better understand the trees growing on your property or choose species that will perform well over the long-term, we’ll detail some of the most important native and exotic trees found throughout the Oklahoma City area below.

Trees Native to Central Oklahoma

Central Oklahoma sits at the intersection of eastern forests and western plains, creating a unique environment capable of supporting a surprisingly diverse range of tree species. Native trees in the Oklahoma City area must tolerate intense summer heat, periodic drought, strong winds, clay-heavy soils, and occasional ice storms.

Native Oklahoma Conifers

Conifers reproduce by producing seed-bearing cones and typically feature needle-like or scale-like foliage. While there are a few conifers native to the State of Oklahoma, only one is actually native to Oklahoma City.

1. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) 

Native Oklahoma Broadleaf Trees

Broadleaf trees produce wide leaves and reproduce through nuts, seeds, or fruits. Most native hardwoods in Oklahoma are deciduous and capable of handling substantial seasonal temperature swings and varying moisture availability.

1. Post Oak (Quercus stellata) 
2. Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica) 
3. Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) 
4. Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii) 
5. Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) 
6. Black Oak (Quercus velutina) 
7. American Elm (Ulmus americana) 
8. Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia) 
9. Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) 
10. Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) 
11. Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) 
12. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) 
13. Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) 
14. Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) 
15. American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) 
16. River Birch (Betula nigra) 
17. Boxelder (Acer negundo) 
18. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) 
19. Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) 
20. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) 
21. Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) 
22. Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) 
23. Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) 
24. Western Soapberry (Sapindus drummondii) 

Non-Native Trees Commonly Planted in Oklahoma City

Many of the ornamental and shade trees planted throughout the Oklahoma City metro area originate from Asia, Europe, or other parts of North America. Some perform exceptionally well in Oklahoma landscapes, while others struggle with drought stress, poor structure, ice damage, or alkaline soil conditions as they mature.

Non-Native Conifers Commonly Planted in Oklahoma

Several non-native conifers are widely used throughout central Oklahoma City for screening, wind protection, or ornamental value, including a few that are native to other portions of the state.  

1. Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) 
2. Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) 
3. Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) 
4. Pond Cypress (Taxodium ascendens) 
5. Leyland Cypress (× Cuprocyparis leylandii) 
6. Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) 
7. Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) 
8. Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica) 
9. Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra) 
10. Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris) 
11. Norway Spruce (Picea abies) 
12. Arborvitae (Thuja spp.) 

Non-Native Broadleaf Trees Commonly Planted in Oklahoma

In addition to non-native conifers, the Oklahoma City area supports a broad range of ornamental broadleaf trees. Many of those listed below are commonly planted in residential neighborhoods, parks, commercial landscapes, and new developments.

Just note that a few of these — such as the empress tree and mimosa, among others — are invasive and should generally be avoided. 

1. Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata) 
2. Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) 
3. Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica) 
4. Red Maple (Acer rubrum) 
5. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) 
6. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 
7. American Basswood (Tilia americana) 
8. Mulberry (Morus spp.) 
9. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 
10. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) 
11. Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana) 
12. Yoshino Cherry (Prunus × yedoensis) 
13. Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis) 
14. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) 
15. Lacebark Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) 
16. Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’) 
17. Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) 
18. Goldenrain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) 
19. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) 
20. Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) 
21. Littleleaf Linden (Tilia cordata) 
22. European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) 
23. Chinese Fringe Tree (Chionanthus retusus) 
24. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) 
25. Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) 
26. Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata) 

Choosing Trees for Your Oklahoma City Property: Important Considerations

The Oklahoma City region presents a unique set of environmental challenges for homeowners selecting trees. For the best chance of success, you’ll need to balance your aesthetic tastes with the site conditions of your yard and the drought tolerance, structural integrity, and maintenance requirements of the trees.

• Choose species capable of tolerating Oklahoma’s climate extremes. Trees in central Oklahoma must handle prolonged summer heat, periodic drought, strong winds, and occasional severe winter weather.
• Consider soil conditions carefully. Much of the Oklahoma City area features dense clay soils that compact easily and drain slowly after heavy rain events.
• Think about wind and ice resistance. Oklahoma storms regularly cause problems for trees with weak branch structure, included bark unions, and poorly attached limbs.
• Avoid invasive or short-lived species. Historically popular trees like Bradford pear, mimosa, empress tree, and tree of heaven often create long-term maintenance or ecological problems.
• Evaluate mature size realistically. Trees planted too close to foundations, driveways, fences, overhead utilities, or septic systems frequently become expensive liabilities later on.
• Plan for ongoing maintenance. Some fast-growing species require significant amounts of pruning, monitoring, and risk management as they mature.

As you can see, choosing the right trees for an Oklahoma property requires more than simply picking species that look attractive at the nursery. Long-term success depends on selecting trees appropriate for the site, climate, and intended use. That’s why it’s always a good idea to discuss your choices with a professional arborist before planting new trees or redesigning an existing landscape.

Elion Landscaping & Tree Service: Helping Oklahoma City Trees Thrive

Whether your property features mature native oaks, large pecans, ornamental landscape trees, or newly planted shade trees, proper care plays a major role in preserving the long-term health, safety, and beauty of your landscape.

The team at Elion Landscaping & Tree Service provides professional arboricultural assistance across central Oklahoma, including in Nichols Hills, Norman, Yukon, Talavera, Oklahoma City, Mustang, Moore, Edmond, Choctaw, and Valley Brook. Whether you need pruning, removals, or any other tree-care service, our experienced team helps homeowners manage trees proactively and responsibly.

Contact us today to schedule your free estimate.