Large Trees Large trees in the landscape are primarily selected for shade purposes. The ideal tree does not exist. A tall tree may have beautiful flowers which may be followed by objectionable fruit or seed pod. A fast growing tree may be brittle and short lived. The first consideration in selecting a tree is to know the tree's characteristics, its growing habits, size, and requirements. Determine the characteristics which best fit the landscape need, and choose the tree accordingly.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Size | Features | Problems |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum | 60 ft. x 45 ft. | -deciduous -red flowers in spring -winged red fruit following flowers -will grow in wet or moist conditions -red, orange and yellow fall color -general neat appearance | . |
| Silver Maple | Acer saccharinum | 60 ft. x 40 ft. | -deciduous -yellow-orange, red fall color -clean in appearance -easy culture -fast growth | -brittle branches -susceptible to insects and fungus diseases |
| Box Elder | Acer negundo | 40-60 ft. | -deciduous -fast growth -yellow fall color -easy culture | -brittle branches -short lived -susceptible to diseases |
| Catalpa | Catalpa bignonioides | 60 ft. | -deciduous -easy culture -clusters of white flowers in early summer -seed pod in winter -large coarse textured leaves | . |
| Ginkgo | Ginkgo biloba | 80 ft. | -deciduous -long lived -very clean -yellow fall color -good street tree -easy culture | -may be difficult to obtain -slow rate of growth -must choose the male tree for planting as female has objectionable fruit |
| Pecan | Carya varieties | 60-80 ft. | -deciduous -early to lose leaves and late to make foliage in spring -nuts -good shade | -common pecan insects and diseases -root system may be damaging |
| Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua | 60-80 ft. | -deciduous -fall color -easy culture -upright, neat form | -difficult to transplant -seed balls |
| Southern Magnolia | Magnolia grandiflora | 60-80 ft. | -long lived -glossy, evergreen coarse textured foliage -large white, fragrant blooms beginning in early summer -attractive seed pod | -relatively slow growth -susceptible to scale insects and leaf diseases -prefers acid, loose organic soil |
| Sycamore | Platanus occidentalis | 80-100 ft. | -deciduous -fast growth -attractive trunks and limbs -easy culture | -messy leaf and seed-ball droppage -susceptible to leaf diseases -root system can be damaging |
| Loblolly Pine | Pinus taeda | 60-80 ft. | -relative fast growth -evergreen--fine textured to allow filtered shade -easy culture if within native growth area | -susceptible to typical pine insects and diseases -pollen at bloom may be objectionable |
| Shortleaf Pine | Pinus echinata | 40-60 ft. | -evergreen -makes low branched, screening tree -fast growth | -prefers sandy soils -susceptible to common pine insects and diseases |
| Longleaf Pine | Pinus palustris. | 60-80 ft. | -evergreen -long graceful needles--open character -ideal specimen tree -relatively disease free | -slow growth as young tree |
| Water Oak | Quercus nigra | 60-80 ft. | -deciduous -fast growth -relatively clean -slow to shed its foliage in winter | -gets heart rot -dead branches occur |
| Willow Oak | Quercus phellos | 60-80 ft. | -deciduous -long lived -shiny, green foliage | . |
| Live Oak | Quercus virginiana | 40 ft. x 80 ft. | -evergreen -easy culture -long lived | -vigorous root system may be damaging -medium-slow rate of growth |
| Post Oak | Quercus stellata | 60-80 ft. | -deciduous -large stately tree -easy culture -long lived | . |
| Shumard Red Oak | Quercus shumardi | 60-80 ft. | -deciduous -good red fall color -long lived -very clean in appearance -easy culture | . |
| Weeping Willow | Salix babylonica | 50 ft. x 50 ft. | -deciduous -fast growth -fine textured--graceful form -excellent accent tree -yellow fall color | -best in moist conditions -short lived -weak wooded -fiberous root system may be damaging -because of spread, must allow large growing area |
| American Elm | Ulmus americana | 60-80 ft. | -deciduous -yellow fall color -good street tree -easy culture | -fiberous roots may be damaging |
| Tulip Tree, Yellow Popular | Liriodendron tulipifera | 60-80 ft. x 40 ft. | -deciduous -upright form -clean and neat in appearance -yellow fall color -attractive flowers | -somewhat temperamental in culture -demands moisture |
| Bald Cypress | Taxodium distichum | 60-80 ft. | -deciduous (conifer) -beautiful new foliage in spring -will grow in wet conditions -fine textured foliage -conical form (not a good shade tree -easy culture--prefers sun | . |
| Deodara Cedar | Cedrus deodara | 60-80 ft. | -evergreen -conical form -fine textured--graceful branching -blue-green foliage -excellent specimen tree | -terminal may die which often mars the beauty of the tree form -slow rate of growth -low branched, thus not a good shade tree |
| Hackberry | Celtis laevigata | 50-70 ft. | -deciduous -easy culture -relatively fast growth | -weak wooded -berries which birds distribute |
| Blackgum, Black Tupelo | Nyssa sylvatica | 60-80 ft. | -deciduous -upright form--horizontal branching -vivid red fall color -neat in appearance | -difficult to transplant -likes moisture and may be temperamental in culture |
| Arizona Ash | Fraxinus berlandieriana | 40-60 ft. | -deciduous -rich green foliage -fast growth -easy culture -attractive seed pod | -remains in weak condition several years after planting, thus susceptible to borers |