Shade Trees Genus
Acer
Species
negundo
Common Name
Boxelder
Type
Deciduous canopy tree
Mature size (WxH)
40X50
Minimum Spacing (Ft.) Growth Rate Along streets
Fast
Light
Street Tree
Pollution Resistant
rubrum
Red maple
Deciduous canopy tree
40x35
20 Fast
Asimina
triloba
Pawpaw
Deciduous medium tree
35x35
Slow
Carpinus Carya Carya Carya
betulus cordiformes glabra ovata
European hornbeam Bitternut hickory Pignut hickory Shagbark hickory
Deciduous medium tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree
40x20 30x50 30x50 25x60
15 Slow 20 Slow Slow 20 Slow
Carya
tomentosa
Mockernut hickory
Deciduous canopy tree
30x50
Slow
Powerline Compatible
Full to partial sun √
Acer
Limit Use
X
Native to region
Visual Attraction
Wildlife value
Shade Tree
√
Striking fall color
Moderate
√
√
Partial sun to shade Full sun Full sun to shade Full sun
√
√
√
Full sun
speciosa
Catalpa
Deciduous canopy tree
60x40
fast
Full to partial sun
Cedrus Cedrus Cedrus Celtis Celtis Cercidiphyllum
atlantica deodara libani laevigata occidentalis japonicum
Blue atlas cedar Deodar cedar Cedar of lebanon Sugar hackberry Common hackberry Katsuratree
Evergreen canopy tree Evergreen canopy tree Evergreen canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous medium tree
30x40 30x40 30x40 40x50 40x50 40x35
Slow Medium Medium 25 Fast 25 Fast 15 Medium
Full sun Full sun Full sun Full to partial sun Full to partial sun Full sun to shade
√
√
Large leaves, red flowers, large fruit
High
√
Attractive bark
None
√
√ √ √
Large fruit Large fruit Large fruit
High High High
√ √ √
Limit use outside of formal landscapes, due to low heat tolerance Must be transplanted at very young age and size Must be transplanted at very young age and size Must be transplanted at very young age and size
√
Large fruit
High
√
Must be transplanted at very young age and size
White flowers, large heart-shaped leaves
Low
√
Chamaecyparis Cladastris
thyoides kentukea
Atlantic whitecedar American yellowwood
Evergreen canopy tree Deciduous medium tree
20X50 40x30
Medium Medium
Partial sun to shade Full sun
Cryptomeria
japonica
Cryptomeria
Evergreen canopy tree
15x50
Slow
Full sun to shade
√
√ √ √
√ √
√ √ √
√ Diospyros
virginiana
Common persimmon
Deciduous medium tree
20x30
Medium
Full sun to shade
Fagus
grandifolia
American beech
Deciduous canopy tree
40x50
Medium
Full to partial sun
Ginkgo
biloba
Ginkgo
Deciduous canopy tree
50x50
20 Slow
Full sun
√ √
Gleditsia Gymnocladus
triacanthos dioicus
Honeylocust Kentucky coffeetree
Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree
30x35 40x50
20 Fast 20 Medium
Ilex
Opaca
American holly
Evergreen medium tree
15x40
Slow
Juglans
nigra
Black Walnut
Deciduous canopy tree
60x60
Medium
Full sun Full sun
√
Full to partial sun
Brandywine, October Glory, Red Can have issues with girdling roots. Prefers a wet environment. Limit use due to Sunset, Bowhall overplanting
Moderate
√ Catalpa
Susceptible to limb breakage. Use for restoration or open areas. Great for stream restoration
Striking fall color
X
√
Evergreen with blue needles Evergreen Evergreen Attractive bark Attractive bark Year-round color
Edible fruit. Must be pollinated from a different tree to bear fruit Fastigiata
Use for specimen tree. Can be somewhat messy. None
√
None None High High None
√ √ √ √ √
Evergreen, blue fruit Moderate
√
Yellow flowers Evergreen, unusual needles
Low
√
None
√
Must be transplanted at very young age and size
Susceptible to leaf blight in north-facing areas
√
Attractive Fruit and creamy whiteflowers
High
√
√
Attractive smooth bark
High
√
Striking fall color
None
√
Autumn Gold, Princeton Sentry
Moderate
√
Inermis
√ √ √
White clustered flowers. Large seedpods Attractive bark Attractive winter berries
Needs very well-drained, uncompacted soils
None
√
Moderate
√
√
√
√
Large fruit
High
√
√
Striking fall color
Moderate (Low if fruitless)
√
Single-trunked for street trees, multi-trunk in large plantings Will kill some plants beneath it. Specimen tree use only. Susceptible to Thousand canker disease. Must be transplanted at very young age and size.
Full sun
Liquidambar
styraciflua
Sweetgum
Deciduous canopy tree
60x50
20 Medium
Full to partial sun
Liriodendron Maclura Magnolia Magnolia Metasequoia
tulipifera pomifera acuminata grandiflora glyptostroboides
Tuliptree Osage orange Cucumbertree Southern magnolia Dawn redwood
Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Evergreen canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree
25x80 30X30 50x60 30x70 60x25
Medium Fast Fast Medium Fast
Full to partial sun Full to partial sun Full sun Full to partial sun Full sun
Morus Nyssa
rubra sylvatica
Red mulberry Black tupelo
Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree
30x35 30x25
Medium 20 Slow
Full to partial sun Full to partial sun
Ostrya
virginiana
Eastern hophornbeam
Deciduous canopy tree
25x25
20 Slow
Partial sun to shade
Picea Pinus Pinus Pinus Pinus Pinus
pungens bungeana echinata rigida taeda virginiana
Colorado blue spruce Lacebark pine Shortleaf pine Pitch pine Loblolly pine Virginia pine
Evergreen canopy tree Evergreen canopy tree Evergreen canopy tree Evergreen canopy tree Evergreen canopy tree Evergreen canopy tree
10x30 20x30 35x50 25x50 30x60 20x30
Slow Slow Slow Medium Fast Medium
Full to partial sun Full sun Full sun Full sun Full sun Full sun
Platanus
occidentalis
American sycamore
Deciduous canopy tree
70x70
Fast
Full sun
Platanus
x acerifolia
London planetree
Deciduous canopy tree
70x70
25 Fast
Full sun
Prunus
serotina
Black cherry
Deciduous canopy tree
30X50
Fast
Full sun
X
√
√ √ √ √ √
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√ √ √
√ √ √ √
√
√
√
X √
Tulip-shaped flowers High and leaves Large yellow fruit Low White flowers Moderate White flowers Low Deciduous conifer None White flowers and Moderate edible fruit Striking fall color High Hop-shaped fruit
Moderate
Evergreen with blue None needles Evergreen None Evergreen Low Evergreen High Evergreen High Evergreen High Large leaves, Moderate interesting seeds Large leaves, Low interesting seeds White flowers
Male only
Vulnerable to nectria canker
√
√
Notes for use/Disease susceptibility
√
Full to partial sun Full sun
Suggested Cultivars
High
Use only fruitless varieties as street tree. Roots may be aggressive √
Provide significant root space for this tree. Limit use due to hazard issues. Large fruit can be a nuisance. Plant in large open spaces.
√ √ √ √
'Little Gem' can be used under power lines
√
Do not confuse with Morus alba (White mulberry), which is an invasive plant
√ √ √
Susceptible to cytospora canker
√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Susceptible to anthracnose Columbia, Liberty
Limit use due to overplanting Susceptible to limb breakage. Use for restoration or open areas. Edible fruit
Shade Trees Genus
Species
Common Name
Type
Mature size (WxH)
Minimum Spacing (Ft.) Growth Rate Along streets
Light
Quercus
alba
White oak
Deciduous canopy tree
60x60
Slow
Full to partial sun
Quercus Quercus Quercus
bicolor coccinea falcata
Swamp white oak Scarlet oak Southern red oak
Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree
60x50 60x45 70x60
25 Medium 25 Medium 25 Medium
Full to partial sun Full sun Full sun
Quercus Quercus
hemisphaerica imbricaria
Darlington oak Shingle oak
Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree
70x50 50X60
25 Medium 25 Medium
Full sun Full sun
Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus
macrocarpa marilandica michauxii montana nigra pagoda
Bur oak Blackjack oak Swamp chestnut oak Chestnut oak Water oak Cherrybark oak
Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree
70x70 35x35 80x90 60x70 60x50 70x60
25 Medium Slow Medium Medium Fast Fast
Full sun Partial shade Full sun Full sun Full to partial sun Full sun
Quercus
palustris
Pin oak
Deciduous canopy tree
60x35
25 Medium
Full sun
Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus
phellos robur rubra shumardii
Willow oak English oak Northern Red oak Shumard Oak
Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree
60x40 40x40 60x50 60x40
25 15 25 25
Fast Medium Fast Fast
Full sun Full sun Full sun Full sun
Quercus Quercus
stellata velutina
Post oak Black oak
Deciduous canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree
35x35 75x75
20 Medium Medium
Full sun Full sun
Rhus
typhina
Staghorn sumac
Deciduous medium tree
20x35
Medium
Full sun
Robinia
pseudoacacia
Black locust
Deciduous medium tree
20X40
20 Fast
Salix
nigra
Black willow
Deciduous medium tree
30X40
Fast
Street Tree
Pollution Resistant
Limit Use
√
√
√
√
√ √
√ √
√ √
√ √
√ √ √
√ √ √
√
albidum distichum
Sassafras Baldcypress
Deciduous medium tree Deciduous canopy tree
25x30 60x25
Medium 20 Fast
Full to partial sun Full sun
Tilia
americana
American Linden
Deciduous canopy tree
50x35
Full sun
Tilia Tsuga Ulmus
cordata canadensis americana
Littleleaf Linden Eastern hemlock American elm
Deciduous medium tree Evergreen canopy tree Deciduous canopy tree
60x35 30x50 80x60
25 Medium Full to partial 25 sun Slow 25 Fast
Ulmus
rubra
Slippery elm
Deciduous canopy tree
60x60
Medium
√
Full to partial sun Partial shade Full sun
√
Partial sun to shade
High
√
Moderate
√
High High High Moderate Moderate
√ √ √ √ √
High
√
Moderate
√
None High High
√ √ √
√
High
√
Slender leaves
High
√
High
√
Low
√
High
√
Green
Low
√
√ √
Evergreen Attractive bark
High High
√ √
√
Attractive bark
High
√
X √
√
High
√
X
Low
√
√
√
√ √
High
√
√
High Low
Striking fall color Striking fall color, large colored flower spikes Large clusters of white flowers
√
√
√
√
√
√
High
√
√
√
√
√
High
√ X
High
Cross-shaped leaves
√ √ √ √
√
Shade Tree
√
√
√
Wildlife value
√ √
√
√
Visual Attraction
silver-white bark Attractive peeling bark Striking fall color Striking fall color Thin, sun-filtering leaves Semi-evergreen Attractive leaves and fruit Blocky bark Interesting leaves Silver-grey bark Evergreen Cherry-like bark Even form, small acorns Thin, sun-filtering leaves Striking fall color Striking fall color Striking fall color
√
Full to partial sun
Sassafras Taxodium
Native to region
√
√
Full sun
Powerline Compatible
Striking fall color, variegated leaves Deciduous conifer White flowers, striking fall color
Suggested Cultivars
Notes for use/Disease susceptibility
Provide significant root space for this tree.
Limit use due to overplanting Q. bicolor x robur may be an appropriate variant
Spreads readily, excellent for slope control along roads. Single stem only for street tree. Requires structural pruning. Susceptible to limb breakage. Use for restoration or open areas. Great for stream restoration
Avoid "Greenspire", due to girdling tendencies Susceptible to Hemlock woolly adelgid Plant Dutch elm disease resistant cultivars only
Notes: A list of trees likely to grow to a size where it will cast significant shade on the surrounding environment, reducing energy costs and urban heat island effect. These trees provide the greatest benefit to our community and your energy savings. Consider planting these trees if space allows for it. These trees are not compatible with overhead powerlines. Plant these trees a significant distance away from powerlines. Please consult Dominion Virginia Power's guide on planting near power lines: https://www.dom.com/dominion-virginia-power/customer-service/your-service/pdf/tree_planting_guidelines.pdf This list contains species that do well in Arlington County, and have been screened to exclude fragile, often hazardous species, as well as ecologically threatening invasive species.
Glossary on next page
Shade Trees Genus
Species
Common Name
Type
Mature size (WxH)
Minimum Spacing (Ft.) Growth Rate Along streets
Light
Street Tree
Pollution Resistant
Limit Use
Powerline Compatible
Native to region
Visual Attraction
Wildlife value
Shade Tree
Suggested Cultivars
Glossary: Genus Species Common Name Mature Height Growth Rate Light Street Tree Pollution Resistant Limit Use Powerline Compatible Native to Region Visual Attraction Wildlife Value Shade tree Suggested Cultivars
A group of plants marked by common characteristics, like Quercus (Oaks), Acer (Maples), or Cornus (Dogwoods) An individual type of plant, capable of interbreeding within its designation, like Quercus stellata (Post oak), or Tilia americana (American linden) The common description of a plant, like American Holly, or Tuliptree. A tree can have several common names, which is why latin names are often preferred. The height a tree of a species can reach, in an ideal environment, usually within 20 years The speed at which a species grows to its mature size. Keep in mind a fast-growing small tree may grow fast for its species, but due to genetic limitations, may not reach the size of a slow-growing large tree The light requirements for a tree to grow optimally. Trees preferring full sun should be in full sun for at least 6 hours a day, while trees preferring shade can live with less than 3 hours of sunlight a day Trees well suited for planting along roads, or in tree pits. Street trees should be limbed up to a safe height, and not obstruct view for traffic. Trees well suited for planting in tough areas with high pollution from both the air, as well as salt spray from the road. These species are often also well-suited for stormwater control facilities. Restrict the use of these species to less than 10% of your planting list. They have been overplanted, have a disease risk , or have a potential to become invasive Species that may be acceptable to be planted below powerlines, due to size or stature. These species have not been reviewed by Dominion Virginia Power, and utility companies maintain the right to prune or trim any trees or vegetation away from their lines. Trees native to the Mid-Atlantic. Refer to the Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping guide by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for more information Interest from the tree that sets it apart from other trees, from an aesthetic perspective. Value in the form of edible fruits, foliage, or bark, for our native insects. Wildlife value should not be confused with attracting large amounts of insects or wildlife, but should be seen as a benefit to our ecosystem. A tree likely to grow to a size where it will cast significant shade on the surrounding environment, reducing energy costs and urban heat island effect. Cultivars of the species that have shown promise in our landscape and provide added aesthetic value
Contact the County Urban Forester at
[email protected] for questions 12/29/2016
Notes for use/Disease susceptibility