PLANTS OF OVERTON PARK AND FOSTER PARK, FORT WORTH

Overton Park is distinctive in its huge bur oaks, cedar elms, American elms, hackberries, pecans, Texas oaks, green ashes, and Texas ashes, the most common tree species (PHOTOS OF PARK). To see the magnificent, thick-branched bur oaks, in particular, is worth the visit. Texas ash characteristically grows in drier, upland habitats (visit Oakmont Park, for example) but the trees native here in the Trinity River "bottomland” are unmistakably that species. The Texas state champion Texas ash (big tree, to be nominated) is in the neighborhood immediately to the east.

Also beautiful and interesting to see in Overton Park are smaller and less abundant (or less conspicuous) native species, such as the soapberry, gum bumelia, Berlandier’s ash, ash-leaved maple, red mulberry, Mexican plum, and Eve’s necklace. Berlandier’s ash is at the northern end of its geographic range in Tarrant and Dallas counties -- most of the few I've encountered are relatively small trees scattered along the drainages, especially at the north end of the park.

Native shrubs in the parks are almost completely restricted to the narrow band along the creek that is not mowed or otherwise "maintained." Most of these species are not abundant or conspicuous and perhaps are overlooked by most who are familiar with the park, but they add an element (like a sparkle) that make the parks much more interesting. Especially nice are these: Cornus drummondii (rough-leaf dogwood), Forestiera pubescens (elbow bush), Ilex decidua (deciduous holly), Sophora affinis (Eve's necklace), Rhus glabra (smooth sumac), Sambucus canadensis (elderberry), and Viburnum rufidulum (rusty black haw).

To see the greatest diversity of trees, walk along the northern, east-trending spur of the trail (see MAP OF PARK), 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 50-60 years, except for those immediately along one of the small drainages, as all or most of the native ones apparently were cut prior to 1954, the last year when the area was part of a cattle ranch run by the Edwards family (see Tanglewood History).

Old trees

Overton Park has lots of "originals." The top of a cedar elm beside the bball court blew off in a 2010 storm (see park photos) and the rest of the trunk was cut down by the city. The stump was 63 inches in circumference at 3 feet above the ground, and by a count of its rings, the tree proved to be about 102 years old. Circumferences of the 10 cedar elms closest to the stump were 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, surely an indication of their gradual and natural replacement in those original woods.

Some of the Overton Park bur oaks are real multicentenarians. In 'remnant' sites in the Midwest, bur oaks commonly are 300 to 400 years old, reaching a known maximum of 440 years, and it surely would not be surprising if some of the huge Overton Park trees proved to be that old. See [Huntsville Trees, Chapter 1] for general comments on tree ages.

Invasives

Toward the south end of Overton Park and particularly in Foster Park, one can see how even the small bits of remaining native vegetation (non-tree) are being overwhelmed by non-native shrubs, particular the Quihoui privet, glossy privet, and Amur honeysuckle. The Quihoui privet, particularly (here and in other FW parks as well), forms nearly impenetrable thickets. Removal of these and other invasive species, especially the woody ones, would open up many spaces and allow natives to grow.

The future

Without removal of these invasives, and because constant mowing and maintenance prevents natural replacement of native species, it’s interesting to consider how the appearance of these parks may continue to change. Few if any native species are being replaced. Some young bur oaks have been planted, but they may not have come from Texas, much less the Fort Worth area. There are about three young (planted) trees near the north end of Overton Park that are either cedar elm or winged elm (Ulmus alata, not known natively from the park), but their identity won't be known until they're old enough to flower. A few pecans have been planted near the creek, but I'm guessing that the origin of these is horticultural, since native pecans of Overton Park produce tiny, hard-shelled nuts and are hardly likely to be used for propagation in most places. A few young oaks, probably Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii), have been planted -- this species occurs natively in Texas, but only east of the Dallas area; our beautiful native oaks (with leaves deeply cut and sharp-pointed lobes) seems to be almost all Texas oak (Quercus buckleyi). Many chinquapin oaks (Quercus muehlenbergii) were planted in the last 15 years mostly along Overton Park East –– this species is native to north-central Texas but it is rare in this region and I've not seen a single native individual of it in any of the Fort Worth parks. If the reason these were planted is simply because they were available, there are better reasons.

Many other non-native species of trees and shrubs have been planted in Overton and Foster parks and all are interesting to see. But there's a choice to be made, even if not explicitly, between creating an arboretum and maintaining a 'woods' closer to the original appearance and biology. Keeping the native species is more of a challenge, but the effort seems worthwhile. The conservation value of maintaining natural, locally adapted populations of these species, which everywhere are being pushed toward smaller and smaller numbers, is immeasurable. It's a wonderful opportunity for our own species to be able to maintain populations of these others –– and in the same area that we can enjoy as parks.

My personal choices for replanting trees in Overton and Foster parks: Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm), Ulmus americana (American elm), Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak), Fraxinus albicans (Texas 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. Fraxinus berlandieriana (Berlandier’s ash) and Morus rubra (red mulberry), and Sophora affinis (Eve's necklace) are mostly understory trees and could be maintained along the creek, where they now grow. And, of course, since none of the native plants, unless they grow practically in the water or on the steepest slopes, have a chance of regenerating naturally, all of the trees will have to be replanted if they are to remain part of the parks –– this includes Fraxinus pensylvanica (green ash), Acer negundo (ash-leaved maple), Juglans nigra (black walnut), Carya illinoiensis (pecan), Celtis laevigata (hackberry), Salix nigra (black willow), Populus deltoides (cottonwood), and others.

All of the native trees and shrubs of the parks produce abundant fruits and seeds that could easily be propagated for replanting. With only a small, distributed effort by people from surrounding neighborhoods, and perhaps a little guidance in finding seed sources of some of them, all of the tree and shrub species could be regenerated from plants already growing in the parks!

Layout of the parks

Most or all of the larger trees in the parks and in the neighborhoods immediately to the east were part of the original, periodically flooded woods in the area. Floods were relatively common in this low area until completion of Benbrook dam in 1952. As noted in the general comments on FW parks, Overton Park is in the Trinity River floodplain (and immediate tributaries) and is a quintessential example of a linear park, with remnant flora stretched along recently flooded areas where commerce and residences have not been built. Other "floodplain" parks in the city have similar vegetation –– Trinity Park and the FW Botanic Garden are essentially an extension of the same linear system and have the same trees (see Trinity Park).

End-to-end, Overton and Foster parks form a narrow band that runs 2.5 miles in mostly a north-south direction (MAP OF PARK). 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.

PLANTS OF OVERTON AND FOSTER PARKS

(this survey begun 2008, updated as new species encountered)

TREES

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 pensylvanica Green ash Native here, naturally occurring

Fraxinus albicans 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, chinquapin 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

SHRUBS

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 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

NON-WOODY PLANTS

ACANTHACEAE Wild Petunia Family

Justicia americana American water willow Native here, naturally occurring

Ruellia strepens Ruellia Native here, naturally occurring

AMARANTHACEAE Amaranth Family

Alternanthera caracasana Mat chaff flower Non-native, naturalized

AMARYLLIDACEAE Amaryllis Family

Narcissus pseudonarcissus Daffodil Non-native, planted, some perhaps naturalized

ANACARDIACEAE Sumac Family

Toxicodendron radicans Poison ivy Native here, naturally occurring

APIACEAE Carrot Family

Hydrocotyle verticillata Whorled water pennywort Native here, naturally occurring

Torilis arvensis Hedge parsley Non-native, naturalized

Torilis nodosa Knotted hedge parsley Non-native, naturalized

ASTERACEAE Sunflower Family

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

BRASSICACEAE Mustard Family

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

Rorippa palustris Bog yellowcress Native

CAPRIFOLIACEAE Honeysuckle Family

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

CHENOPODIACEAE Goosefoot Family

Chenopodium album Pigweed Non-native, naturalized

Chenopodium berlandieri Pit-seed goosefoot Native here, naturally occurring

COMMELINACEAE Spiderwort Family

Commelina communis Common dayflower Native here, naturally occurring

CONVOLVULACEAE Morning Glory Family

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

CYPERACEAE Sedge Family

Carex sp. Sedge Native here, naturally occurring

Carex sp. Sedge Native here, naturally occurring

Carex sp. Sedge Native here, naturally occurring

EUPHORBIA Spurge Family

Chamaesyce maculata Spotted spurge Native here, naturally occurring

Ditaxis humilis Low wild mercury Native here, naturally occurring

FABACEAE Bean Family

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

GERANIACEAE Geranium Family

Erodium cicutarium Pin-clover, filaree Non-native, naturalized

Geranium dissectum European crane’s-bill Non-native, naturalized

LAMIACEAE Mint Family

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

LILIACEAE Lily Family

Allium canadense Wild onion, Canada garlic Native here, naturally occurring

Allium drummondii Prairie onion Native here, naturally occurring

Liriope spicata Lilyturf, small monkey-grass Non-native, naturalized

Muscari racemosum Grape hyacinth 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

MALVACEAE Mallow Family

Modiola caroliniana Carolina modiola Native here, naturally occurring

MENISPERMACEAE Moonseed Family

Cocculus carolina Coralvine, coralbead Native here, naturally occurring

ONAGRACEAE Evening Primrose Family

Gaura drummondii Sweet gaura Native here, naturally occurring

Oenothera speciosa Buttercup Native here, naturally occurring

OXALIDACEAE Oxalis Family

Oxalis dillenii Dillen’s woodsorrel Native here, naturally occurring

PAPAVERACEAE Poppy Family

Argemone polyanthemos White prickly poppy Native here, naturally occurring

PASSIFLORACEAE Passionflower Family

Passiflora lutea Yellow passionflower Native here, naturally occurring

PLANTAGINACEAE Plantain Family

Plantago lanceolata English plantain Non-native, naturalized

Plantago rhodosperma Red-seed plantain Native here, naturally occurring

POACEAE Grass Family

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

POLYGONACEAE Knotweed Family

Polygonum aviculare Prostrate knotweed Non-native, naturalized

Rumex crispus Curly dock Non-native, naturalized

RANUNCULACEAE Buttercup Family

Clematis ternifolia Sweet autumn clematis Non-native, naturalized

Ranunculus ficaria Lesser celandine Non-native, naturalized

Ranunculus muricatus Rough-seed buttercup Non-native, naturalized

ROSACEAE Rose Family

Geum canadense White avens Native here, naturally occurring

RUBIACEAE Madder Family

Galium aparine Bedstraw Non-native, naturalized

Sherardia arvensis Field madder Non-native, naturalized

SCROPHULARIACEAE Figwort Family

Veronica arvensis Common speedwell Non-native, naturalized

Veronica anagallis-aquatica Water speedwell Non-native, naturalized

Veronkica persica Persian speedwell Non-native, naturalized

VERBENACEAE Verbena Family

Glandularia bipinnatifida Prairie verbena Native here, naturally occurring

Phyla nodiflora Common frogfruit Native here, naturally occurring

VIOLACEAE Violet Family

Viola sororia Bayou violet Native here, naturally occurring

VISCACEAE

Phoradendron leucarpum Mistletoe Native here, naturally occurring

VITACEAE Grape Family

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 20 November 2013