Should downtown Houston make itself into a sub-tropical city as some neighborhoods do and the gorgeous Aquarium does? (Humble: beaches, oil)

[10Acious]

Originally Posted by Gunion Powder

Those look like sabal minor, which is native to the region.

None of those are sabal minor. The middle view is sabal palmetto, while the first and last views are escaped Washingtonia (albeit not fully grown).

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by 10Acious

None of those are sabal minor. The middle view is sabal palmetto, while the first and last views are escaped Washingtonia (albeit not fully grown).

Hmm, you're probably right. I'm no palm expert afterall.

But Washingtonias are ugly trees.

[10Acious]

Originally Posted by Gunion Powder

Hmm, you're probably right. I'm no palm expert afterall.

But Washingtonias are ugly trees.

I've never understood why they are used to much in Houston; sabals, biskarmias, queens, and livistonias all are more suitable the humid climates.

Washingtonias filifera can look quite unattractive with the "skirt" of dead fronds:


Washingtonia robusta is the more attractive of the two, as it grows much taller, and is more slender/graceful in appearance. They are the tall palms that grace the LA landscape:

[Zoo2000]

I think that the old large oaks are very 'Houston'--to me a street lined with old oaks is very Southern--think St Charles in New Orleans or parts of Inner Loop Houston. Add in some azaleas too. I think that too much 'tropical' foliage looks kitschy if it's not native to the area. Palms look great in Cozumel but don't fit in what I think Houston is. In fact, as Houston grows larger and becomes more and more of a world-class city, I think that it should play-up it's Texas-ness. When I think of Texas, I think of Hill Country. I personally would prefer if Houston looked more like Austin--lots of cedar and Texas Oaks. Of course, we're too wet and too flat and our soil is different...but...just sayin'

[NickelsTX]

I'd be happy with streets that resemble a third world country first.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by Zoo2000

I think that the old large oaks are very 'Houston'--to me a street lined with old oaks is very Southern--think St Charles in New Orleans or parts of Inner Loop Houston. Add in some azaleas too. I think that too much 'tropical' foliage looks kitschy if it's not native to the area. Palms look great in Cozumel but don't fit in what I think Houston is. In fact, as Houston grows larger and becomes more and more of a world-class city, I think that it should play-up it's Texas-ness. When I think of Texas, I think of Hill Country. I personally would prefer if Houston looked more like Austin--lots of cedar and Texas Oaks. Of course, we're too wet and too flat and our soil is different...but...just sayin'

There are palms that are as native to Houston as those cedars are. Houston is a coastal city that has never been like the rest of Texas, so why does it need to look like Austin?

Live oaks are standard in just about every Lower South city. What you don't see a lot of is magnolia species. To me, they are the ultimate Houston tree and would definitely make the city stand out.

[Double L]

Build palm trees in the coastal areas and oak trees on the more inland areas.

[Samurai_Key]

Originally Posted by Gunion Powder

There are palms that are as native to Houston as those cedars are. Houston is a coastal city that has never been like the rest of Texas, so why does it need to look like Austin?

Live oaks are standard in just about every Lower South city. What you don't see a lot of is magnolia species. To me, they are the ultimate Houston tree and would definitely make the city stand out.

On top of that, the cedar you will see in Houston is of a coastal variety found only elsewhere in the SE US (in red):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_virginiana

[Samurai_Key]

Originally Posted by Double L

Build palm trees in the coastal areas and oak trees on the more inland areas.

Many of Houston's oaks (especially the Southern Live Oaks) are, naturally, coastal trees. Palm trees can grow inland provided the climate is suitable.

[Samurai_Key]

The answer, in the end, is a resounding yes. Who wouldn't want this in downtown Houston?
https://www.google.com/maps/@-27.597...7i13312!8i6656