Best Trees for City Living
This guide provides suggestions on infrastructure-friendly trees for your property. Additional options may be available at local nurseries. Here are some important questions to ask when picking a tree for your yard:
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How much sunlight does the tree need?
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How tall with the tree grow?
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How wide is the root system?
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How much space do I need from sewer, water or electrical lines?
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What about sidewalks?
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Does the tree have seeds or fruit that will drop?
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What color does it turn in the fall?
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Does it flower in the spring?
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Is this tree prone to disease or inspects?
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How fast will the tree grow?
Tree Lawn Approved
For between the road and sidewalk, on the non-electric line side of the street only. *Must have a minimum of 4' width of tree lawn to plant!*
Sugar Tyme Crabapple Malus 'Sutyzam' - Mature Height 15' Beautiful, compact tree for all seasons. Plink buds open to white blossoms in the spring, with small red crabapples 1/2" in diameter in the fall. Needs fun sun. Excellent for street use. |
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Centurion Crabapple
Malus 'Centzam' - Mature Height 25' A disease tolerant tree with a strong upright branching form. In the spring, rose-red blossoms with dark green foliage. Glossy cherry red fruit from September - December. Excellent for street use. |
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Ivory Silk Lilac
Syringa 'Ivory Silk' - Mature Height 25' A hardy, compact growing, small flowering tree. Begins flowering at a young age, blooming in early July. Ideal for uniform street tree planning. |
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Valley Forge Elm
Ulmus American 'Valley Forge' - Mature Height 60+' U.S. National Arboretum's Dutch elm, disease tolerant tree. Tolerant to air pollution & urban conditions. Extremely vigorous classic American street tree. NO OVERHEAD LINES. |
Front Yard Friendly
For personal property with electric lines, sidewalks and other utilities to consider
Trident Maple Acer 'Buergerianum' - Mature Height 25' A very attractive small to medium-sized maple, usually used as a lawn specimen or patio tree. Flaky bark with fall foliage varying reds & oranges. Full sun is ideal condition. |
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Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida - Mature Height 15-20' Beautiful native flowering tree that blooms early spring. Many varieties of white & pink dogwoods to choose from. Red foliage in fall. Likes partial shade. Attracts birds & butterflies. |
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Snow Goose Cherry
Prunus x 'Snow Goose' - Mature Height 20-25' Beautiful accent tree with robust white flowers. Very hardy & disease/insect resistant. Highly tolerant of urban pollution. Bright green foliage in season with yellow foliage in fall. |
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Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry Amelanchier x grandiflora - Mature Ht. 20-25' Small tree prized for its brilliant orange-red fall color & clusters of fragrant white flowers in the spring. Disease resistant. Single stem or multi stem tree. Full sun to partial shade. |
Front Yard Shade Trees
For personal property with room for a large shade tree and space to grow.
Celebration Maple Acer x freemanii 'Celzam' - Mature Height 45' A disease resistant tree, tolerant of urban pollution & seedless! Small red flowers in early spring & crisp green foliage in spring/summer. Beautiful fall foliage of red to gold. |
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Princeton Sentry Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba 'Princeton Sentry' - Mature Height 40-50' A ginkgo cultivar that is pest free & narrow frame. Chartreuse, fan shaped leaves flutter in the breeze & turn vivid yellow in the fall. Prefers sun. |
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Red Oak
Quercus rubra - Mature Height 60-70' A broadleaf tree, rounded, ascending, usually with massive branches. New leaves reddish in the spring, green in the summer, fall foliage from yellow-brown to russet-red. Fast growing. |
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Greenspire Linden Tilia cordata 'Greenspire' - Mature Height 50' A magnificent dense shade tree with clusters of fragrant yellow flowers in early summer, dark green foliage throughout the season & an outstanding yellow-gold in fall. Low maintenance, needs full sunlight. |
Additional options may be available at the local nurseries. Please remember, the property owner is responsible for tree root impact on city sidewalks and infrastructure.