Shade Trees

River Birch

Height: 40'-50'

Spread: 30'-40'

Fall Color: Yellow

Other notes: This river bottom native also does well on upland soils. Likes moist location.  Nice yellow fall color, and attractive cinnamon-brown exfoliating bark for an interesting winter effect.

** Photo Courtesy J Frank Schmidt

Birch (Betula)

Western / Northern Catalpa

Height:40'-50'

Spread: 20'-25'

Flowers: Creamy white blooms, in late spring/early summer, are orchid-like in appearance. Followed by long green-bean looking seed pods.

Fall Color: Briefly Yellow

Other notes: Leaves are very large and heart shaped.  Broad rounded habit with age.

** Photo Courtesy J Frank Schmidt

Catalpa

Common Hackberry

Height: 40'-50'

Spread: 35'-40'

Fall Color: Yellow

Other Notes: A hardy, drought resistant tree. Light green foliage and corky ridges on bark. Rounded vase-shape.

Hackberry (Celtis)

Sunburst Honeylocust

Height:35'

Spread: 30'-35'

Fall Color: Golden Yellow

Other Notes: Seedless and thornless. Light green fern-like foliage is tipped with golden bursts of new growth. Open, spreading branches create dappled shade.

** Photo Courtesy J Frank Schmidt

Honeylocust (Gleditsia)

Kentucky Coffee Tree 'Espresso'

Height: 50'

Spread: 35'

Fall Color: Yellow

Other Notes: Oval to vase shaped with upright arching branches. The huge doubly compound leaves give this tree a tropical feel, and the arching branches present an elm-like form. This is a seedless selection. Good tolerance of heat, drought, and cold. Zone 4.

** Photo Courtesy J Frank Schmidt

Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus)

Littleleaf Greenspire Linden

Height: 40'-50'

Spread: 30'-35'

Flowers: Creamy-yellow fragrant flowers in early summer.

Fall Color: Yellow

Other Notes: Heart-shaped green leaves. Pyramidal to oval growth habit.

** Photo Courtesy J Frank Schmidt

Linden (Tilia)

Autumn Blaze Maple

Height:50'-60'

Spread: 40'

Fall Color: YES! Orange-red.

Other Notes: Dense, oval shape. A cross between a silver and a red maple.

** Photo Courtesy J Frank Schmidt

Maple (Acer)

Height: 35'

Spread:   35'

Flowers:  Small maroon and yellow in Spring followed by 2" seeds (samaras)

Fall Color:   Maroon all season

Other Notes:  The dense foliage of this slow growing shade tree remains an excellent maroon-red all season long. This cultivar is known for its straight trunk and well-shaped head. Zone 4.

** Photo Courtesy J Frank Schmidt

Crimson King Norway Maple

Height:40'-60'

Spread: 40'-60'

Fall Color: Reddish-purple spring leaves turn dark bronze-green in summer and bronze-yellow in fall.

Other Notes: Dense, broad oval shape. (Acer platanoides--Norway Maple)

Deborah Norway Maple

Height: up to -80’

Spread: 40’-50’

Fall Color: Showy - Yellow Orange Red

Other Notes: Huge, beautiful shade tree for a large landscape. Winged seeds produced are a draw for wildlife. Sweet sap is harvested for maple syrup. Zone 3

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

Height: up to 80’ but likely much smaller in our area

Spread: up to 80’ but likely much smaller in our area

Fall Color: Not notable. Yellow-brown

Other Notes: A type of white oak. Huge and long-lived tree that provides wonderful shade at maturity. Rounded tree that is slow growing, less than 12” per year- which gives its wood strength in our wind. Acorns are a source of food for wildlife. Leaves brown after their Fall show and persist in Winter. Hardy to Zone 2. Tolerant of many types of soils, drought tolerant.

Height: 50'-60'

Spread: 35'-40'

Fall Color: Bright Orange to Red

Other Notes: Rounded-Pyramid Shape. Relatively fast growing.

** Photo Courtesy J Frank Schmidt

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Height: up to 60’

Spread: up to 50’

Fall Color: Copper-Bronze

Other Notes: Glossy green leaves in season are ‘bi-color’ with a silvery underside - thus its botanical name. A tall, spreading, open and broad oak. It is found in lower, moist areas naturally and thus, prefers more acidic soil. As with most oaks, it is also a shelter and food source for wildlife. Zone 4

Height: 50’-80’

Spread: 50’-80’

Fall Color: Showy russet to red tones

Other Notes: Pyramid shape when young developing to a wide spreading irregular crown. Slow growing, less than 12” per year- which gives its wood strength in our wind. White oak is valued in the lumber trade. Acorns are a source of food for wildlife. Hardy to Zone 3. Long-lived, can live over 500+ years.