• Pecan trees can grow all over Texas.Natural Selection/Creatas/Getty Images
  
  The climate and geography of west Texas can be unforgiving. Hotter, drier and with considerably more rugged terrain than the eastern half of the state, west Texas requires trees that are hardy and drought tolerant. Fortunately, many trees are well-suited to growing in this part of the state. Just be sure to consult a hardiness zone map before you do any planting, and talk to a local expert to help you decide which trees are best for your specific area.
  
  

Pecan

• The pecan is the state tree of Texas, and it can grow in conditions all over the state. The tree is deciduous, shedding its leaves in fall, and bears nuts that are widely eaten by people and wildlife alike. The fastest growing tree in the hickory family, the pecan can reach 90 feet, and has a deep taproot that makes it both resistant to drought and difficult to transplant. It is also tolerant of salty or alkaline soils. It grows best in full sun, and its dense canopy provides ample shade; plant it with plenty of room to spread.
  
  

Bur Oak

• A Texas native, the Bur Oak typically grows to about 75 feet in west Texas, and produces some of the largest acorns in the oak family: up to 2 inches long and partly enclosed in a fuzzy cap. The leaves are equally impressive, measuring as much as 12 inches long. The bur oak has a long taproot that makes it drought tolerant, and it will tolerate a wide range of soils and conditions, though moist, well-drained soil is ideal. Its foliage casts deep shade when mature, and it thrives in full sun and withstands high heat very well.
  
  

Mexican Pinyon

• This evergreen pine tree is a native of the southern Trans-Pecos region of west Texas. It can reach 70 feet tall, but trees in the 20- to 30-foot range are more common. It grows in a generally pyramidal formation and sports stiff, blue-green needles that grow in bundles of two or three. Its pinecones are red-brown, rounded, and contain edible pine nuts. Though highly adaptable, the Mexican pinyon grows best in rocky, dry soil with little water. It typically grows in higher altitudes in the wild, and has a medium heat tolerance. It is very drought tolerant, but does not respond well to excessive water.