Including my back yard full of palm trees that actually require way more attention than any of my other trees, plus, those flying tree roaches LOVE them. They may not require as much attention as you think.

My live oak is nearly 100 years old, and is a traditional Southern tree. Can increase the value of your home here. But I also have crepe myrtles, a couple of silver leaf maples, 2 large sycamores, and a half dozen sago palms around the pool. Just in case you're keeping score.

Crepe myrtles and sagos, you say? Well, those species, unlike the palms I mentioned in my OP, aren't even native to the States. And even then, they still can be used, since they grow well in Houston's climate (as can many palms).

Live Oaks are great trees and look magnificent when grown, but there are plenty of other evergreens that could really see more usage in the city. Especially the magnolia species I mentioned (sweetbay, southern, etc).

You also assume that planting palms and hardwood trees are mutually exclusive. No; both can indeed be grown together and, in fact, look better that way (instead of just a monospecific grouping).

Let me guess. You are from California, and you want Texas to look like California, although we are a completely different climate and have been doing just fine until you got here to take charge of the tree situation.

You've guessed wrong.