What’s your favourite tree that does well in Houston weather? My oleander died in the freeze and considering my options.

So my oleander died from the ground up during the Texas freeze.

Gave it all the time in the world to come back but it hasn't.

There's tons of shoots coming from the roots, about 3 ft tall now, that are now struggling because of the dead tree limbs that are barren stopping them from climbing higher.

I have cut down all the dead limbs, they were most definitely dead… No green that was under the bark as before.

Plus I had a reason to break out a chainsaw and pretend to be ash from evil dead which is always fun.

So, doing some research I have found out that oleanders are shrubs?

My oleander was a big tree, with many, many, thick limbs (about 3-8" in diameter).

I'm not sure if it's going to regrow as a shrub or a tree.

It's in the corner of my back yard and I really liked having a tree there. It's behind my plant beds and other shrubs so it needs to be taller.

So I considering diggin the whole thing out and planting a new tree from a nursery.

Maybe I should get a tree that wont be a little bitch when the temperature dips below 0c, and maybe one that also won't try to kill me when I trim the limbs? (Oleanders are toxic and can give you heart attacks).

So, what's your favourite tree that thrives in Houston?

I already have a gorgeous Texas Live oak in the front yard, which tempts me, But kind of want something with some color.

Anyway thanks for any advice!