Humble in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Petrified Wood

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 17, 2026

1. Petrified Wood Marker

Inscription.
Fossil Information
Imagine a tree or woody shrub falling here millions of years ago. Before it decomposes, mud, silt, ash, and other wet material bury it. Protected from oxygen and micro-organisms, the tree does not decay. Minerals like iron, silica, and magnesium eventually replace the woody material and crystallize over millions of years. The fallen tree slowly changes into stone, eventually becoming a petrified wood fossil.

State Stone of Texas
Can you name the official stone of Texas? If you said "petrified palmwood," you're correct. Forests in East Texas, including those around Mercer Botanic Gardens, are known to contain small pieces of petrified palmwood that may be 40 million to 50 million years old.

Despite its name, palmwood is not considered wood. Palm trunks contain a fibrous material surrounding hollow, straw-like tubes known as xylem and phloem the plant's vascular system. When cross sectioned, palmwood features a unique dotted pattern made by these tubelike structures.

[Caption beneath photo on the right middle:]
Petrified wood reveals details of an ancient plant's shape, texture, and even microscopic

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cell structures.

[Caption beneath photo on left bottom:]
Petrified palmwood was adopted as the State Stone of Texas on March 26, 1969.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical date for this entry is March 26, 1969.

Location. 30° 2.361′ N, 95° 22.834′ W. Marker is in Humble, Texas, in Harris County. It is on Aldine Westfield Road half a mile north of Treaschwig Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker is in Mercer Botanic Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble TX 77338, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 17, 2026

2. Petrified Wood Marker

walking distance of this marker: If Tree Facts Give You a Headache.... (within shouting distance of this marker); Prehistoric Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Texas Wetlands (within shouting distance of this marker); The Healing Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Endangered Species (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Endangered Species (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Don't Bag It — Compost It! (about 300 feet away); Rain Gardens in Texas (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Humble.

Petrified Wood image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 17, 2026

3. Petrified Wood

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 17, 2026

4. Petrified Wood Marker

Small sign near the marker:
PETRIFIED WOOD
Fossilized wood from millions of years ago.
From south Texas.
Donated by Donna Villareal

Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.