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Which Tree Is Best for Shade?
Which Tree Is Best for Shade?. Selecting the right shade tree should not be done hastily. Trees are long-term investments. Make the wrong choice, and you'll either have a lifetime of regret or the hassle of having to cut down your first choice and start over with a new tree. Plant the right tree and you'll have something that you, your children and...
Selecting the right shade tree should not be done hastily. Trees are long-term investments. Make the wrong choice, and you'll either have a lifetime of regret or the hassle of having to cut down your first choice and start over with a new tree. Plant the right tree and you'll have something that you, your children and your grandchildren will all enjoy.
Disease and Pest Resistant Shade Trees
One way to ensure your shade tree will last is to plant a variety that has an excellent disease and pest resistance. The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is one such tree that adapts to almost any soil condition, even very wet soils. It grows about 75 to 100 feet tall in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. The Yellowwood (Cladrastis lutea or kentukea) grows about 45 feet tall and will tolerate soils with high pH and dry conditions. The Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) has no known insect or disease pests and tolerates almost any soil type except wet. It grows up to 70 feet tall in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 9.
Urban-Tolerant Shade Trees
Trees that are urban-tolerant must be able to endure harsh growing conditions including air pollution, compact soils and salt. Any one of the linden (Tilia spp.) trees would make an excellent shade tree for the city. Lindens have early summer flowers and are very fragrant although not very showy. They grow about 60 to 70 feet tall in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 2 through 7, depending on the variety. The lacebark elm is resistant to Dutch elm disease and the elm leaf beetle and urban tolerant. It grows about 50 feet in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. For a smaller option, the Amur maple (Acer ginnala) is a hardy tree that grows about 20 feet in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 8.
Fast-Growing Shade Trees
People desperate for a break from the sun often want a shade tree that is fast-growing. The red maple (Acer rubrum) and the silver maple (Acer saccharinum) are two varieties that will tolerate a wide range of soils. The silver maple can reach heights of 70 feet and is tolerant of urban conditions, drought and seasonal flooding. The red maple grows only about 50 feet tall. Both are hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 9. The river birch (Betula nigra) grows as tall as the silver maple in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. For a hardy option, the green ash tree (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is able to endure drought, wind and salt and will grow about 50 feet tall in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 2 through 9.
Oak Trees
No matter what type of shade tree you are looking for, there is an oak tree (Quercus spp.) that is well-suited. The red oak (Q. rubra or Q. borealis) is a fast-growing oak with an attractive red fall color. It is hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4 through 8. The white oak (Q. alba) is very resistant to disease and pests and will grow up to 100 feet tall. It is hardy to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 3. The bur oak (Q. borealis) does well in urban conditions and grows up to 60 feet tall. It is hardy to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 2.
