by J.E. Klett and E. Hammond* (10/17)
Quick Facts…
- Trees provide shade, beauty and protection from harsh winter winds.
- Trees help moderate temperature extremes and offset poor air quality.
- Plant trees on the basis of space available, soil conditions, proximity to irrigation lines and water requirements.
- Plant trees prone to storm breakage away from buildings, walks, and driveways.
Everyone enjoys the beauty a shade tree provides. Trees also reduce harsh winds, moderate temperature extremes, and offset poor air quality.
How to Select a Tree
To select a tree, consider the following factors.
Available space. The location you choose for each tree should have enough space to allow for growth without severe pruning. Check for obstructions of buildings, overhead utility lines and tall fences. If lateral space is limited, select a tree that has a narrow, upright growth habit. Refer to height, branch spread and shape in the tree list shown in Table 1. If overhead lines are near, you may want to choose small trees. (See fact sheet 7.418, Small Deciduous Trees.)
Soil conditions. Most trees perform best in well-drained soil. Dig a saucer-shaped hole that is 2 to 3 times the width of the ball. Remove soil from the top of the root ball to expose the root flare if not visible. When planting, make sure first root is at or one to two inches above grade.
Irrigation lines. If you have an underground irrigation system, plant trees to allow for the tree trunk and basal root flare to expand without encroaching on an irrigation pipe. Otherwise, tree roots may eventually compress the pipe and shut off the irrigation line.
Growth rates vs. brittleness. As a general rule, fast-growing trees tend to be brittle and can be damaged by limb breakage in storms. Plant these trees away from buildings, sidewalks, driveways and utility lines.
Water requirements. Trees vary in water requirements. Do not plant trees that have low water needs in heavily irrigated lawn areas or at the bottom of slopes. Plant trees with high water requirements in locations where supplemental watering is possible and desired. In dry years, fall and winter watering is critical to the health of trees. Trees under drought stress are more susceptible to insect and diseases. For details, see 7.211, Fall and Winter Watering.
Large Trees for Shade
Table 1 includes trees that will exceed 30 feet in height when fully grown. These trees should not be placed under or near power lines or other overhead structures. Use one-half of branch spread (diameter) indicated below to determine minimum distance from structures. Greater distance from structures may be desirable.
Description of Tree Shapes
The following tree shapes describe the general outline of the trees in the accompanying tree list. Use this chart in combination with height and branch spread to determine proper location of trees and ensure adequate clearance from obstacles.
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Figure 1: Columnar. Sides more or less parallel, much more tall than broad. |  |
Figure 4: Conical. Cone-shaped. Broad at base, tapering to a narrow top. |  |
Figure 6: Upright spreading. A narrow vase shape. |
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Figure 2. Weeping. Branches tend to weep downward. |  |
Figure 5: Broad spreading. A wide vase shape. |  |
Figure 7: Elliptical. More tall than broad, widest branching at or near the middle. |
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Figure 3: Round or globe. About as broad as tall. | ||||
| Table 1: Large deciduous trees for shade. | ||||||
| Plant Name | Mature Size (H x W) |
Tree Shape |
Growth Rate1 |
Soil Moisture2 |
Aesthetic Value and Cultural Hints |
|
| Acer x freemanii | 45 x 35 | rounded | m-f | M | Hybrid of Silver and Red maple. | |
| Freeman maple Autum Blaze® |
45 x 35 | rounded | m-f | M | Orange-red fall color. Avoid very alkaline soils. | |
| Celebration® | 45 x 25 | columnar | m-f | M | Red to gold fall color. Similar iron chlorois problems to silver maple. | |
| Acer negundo ‘Sensation’ |
45 x 35 | rounded | f | L-M | Red fall color, male Tolerant of alkaline soils and harsh sites. | |
| Acer plantanoides Norway maple |
50 x 40 | rounded | m | M | Dark green, dense foliage. Yellow fall color,subject to leaf scorch in dry conditions and limited rooting situations. | |
| ‘Columnare’ | 50 x 20 | columnar | m-f | M | Good for tight, narrow locations. Street tree. | |
| ‘Crimson Sentry’ | 30 x 20 | columnar | m | M | Compact, upright growth. Purple foliage year round. | |
| ‘Deborah’ | 50 x 40 | rounded | m | M | Red foliage changes to green in summer. Straight leader. | |
| ‘Emerald Queen’ | 50 x 40 | rounded | m | M | Dark green foliage with dense branching habit. | |
| ‘Royal Red’ | 40 x 30 | rounded | m | M | Dark, glossy red foliage all summer. Similar to Crimson King but more cold hardy. | |
| Acer rubrum Red maple |
45 x 40 | conical | f | H | Red flowers in early spring. Red fall color. Avoid very alkaline soils. | |
| Red Pointe® | 45 x 30 | pyramidal | m-f | H | Red flowers in early spring. Superior red fall foliage. Avoid very alkaline soils. | |
| ‘Red Sunset’ | 45 x 40 | broad, conical |
f | H | Red flowers in early spring. Red fall color. Avoid very alkaline soils. | |
| Acer saccharinum Silver maple |
65 x 50 | variable | f | H | Bright green foliage with silvery undersides. Tends to be brittle. Yellow fall color. Avoid very alkaline soils. |
|
| Acer saccharum Sugar maple |
40 x 35 | oval | s | H | Red-orange fall color. Prefers improved well-drained soils. | |
| ‘Green Mountain’ | 40 x 35 | oval | s-m | H | Thick waxy leaves resist scorch and retain summer color. Tolerates dry soils. Red-orange fall color. | |
| ‘John Pair’ | 35 x 35 | rounded | s | L-M | More toleratant of alkaline soil. Excellent fall color. | |
| Fall Fiesta® | 45 x 35 | rounded | m | H | Fast growing, more heat tolerant. Red-orange fall color. | |
| Aesculus glabra Ohio buckeye |
35 x 20 | broad, rounded |
m | M | Red-orange-yellow fall color. Cream colored flowers in terminal clusters in spring. Nut-like fruit. | |
| Aesculus hippocastanum Horsechestnut |
60 x 45 | broad, conical |
s | M | Large clusters of white flowers in late spring. Spiny fruit. Best used in large open lawn areas. | |
| Betula pendula ‘Gracilis’ Cutleaf weeping birch |
50 x 30 | elliptical | m | H | Yellow fall color. Plant where soil stays cool and moist. Avoid south and west exposures. White bark. Fall and winter watering important. | |
| Betula nigra Heritage® |
40 x 30 | rounded | m | H | Exfoliating bark, yellow fall color. Fall and winter watering important. | |
| Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’ |
35 x 25 | narrow, columnar |
s | H | Dark green foliage much like elm. Plant where soil stays cool. Avoid south or west exposures. Muscle-like trunk. Air pollution tolerant. | |
| Columnar hornbeam ‘Frans Fontaine’ |
35 x 15 | narrow, columnar |
s | H | Narrow form maintained into maturity. | |
| Catalpa speciosa Northern catalpa |
50 x 25 | narrow, upright |
s | M | Showy, white, orchid-like flowers in early summer. Bean-like pods often remain on trees all winter. Large heart-shaped leaves. | |
| Celtis occidentalis Common hackberry |
55 x 50 | broad, spreading |
m | L | Adapts to most soils. Yellow fall color. Warty bark. Drought and wind tolerant. Small red to purple fruit. | |
| Cladrastris kentukea (lutea) American yellowwood |
35 x 35 | round | m | M | Fragrant white flowers in late spring followed by 4 inch seed pods. Tolerant of most soils. | |
| *Fraxinus americana American Ash |
60 x 50 | elliptical | m | M | Yellow to purple fall color. | |
| ‘Autumn purple’ | 50 x 50 | round | m | M | Yellow/red-purple fall color. Seedless. | |
| *Fraxinus mandshurica ‘Mancana’ |
45 x 25 | oval | m | M | Pointed, dark brown buds. Yellow fall color. Seedless. | |
| *Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green ash |
50 x 30 | round | m | M | Yellow fall color. Adapts to wide range of soils. May have seeds. | |
| Marshalls Seedless | 50 x 35 | elliptical | m | M | Yellow fall color. Street tree. Seedless. | |
| ‘Patmore’ | 50 x 30 | elliptical | m | M | One of the hardiest. Seedless. | |
| ‘Summit’ | 50 x 25 | upright | m | M | Female will produce seed. Yellow fall color. | |
| Fraxinus nigra ‘Fall Gold’ Black ash |
45 x 20 | upright | m | M | Hardy, seedless, golden yellow fall color. | |
| Gleditsia triacanthos inermis Thornless honeylocust |
65 x 40 | variable | m | M | Seedling selection. Not always thornless. | |
| ‘Imperial’ | 40 x 40 | rounded | m | M | Foliage is fern-like and bright green. Thornless. May produce pods. | |
| ‘Shademaster’ | 50 x 40 | broad, spreading |
m | M | Dark green, ferny foliage. Podless and thornless. Upright branches. | |
| ‘Skyline’ | 45 x 40 | broad, conical |
m | M | Dark green foliage. Uniform upright branching. Thornless and essentially podless. | |
| ‘Sunburst’ | 35 x 35 | variable | m | M | Yellow-tipped foliage. May be more prone to diseases. Podless and thornless. | |
| Gymnocladus dioica Kentucky Coffeetree |
50 x 40 | variable | s | L | May be male or female. Female has leathery seed pods. Interesting winter form. Yellow fall color. | |
| ‘Espresso’ | 50 x 35 | variable | m | L | Seedless male cultivar. | |
| Phellodendron amurense Amur corktree |
35 x 30 | rounded | m | M | Corky fissured bark. Male trees avoid fruit odor. Tolerates pollution and drought. | |
| Populus x acuminata Lanceleaf cottonwood |
50 x 40 | elliptical | f | H | Yellow fall color. Shiny, spear-shaped leaves. | |
| Populus alba Silver (white) poplar |
75 x 60 | broad, spreading |
f | H | Leaves green above and silvery white below. Greenish-white bark. Suckers from roots. | |
| ‘Pyramidalis’ Bolleana (white) poplar |
45 x 15 | narrow, columnar |
f | H | Good for fast screen planting. Short-lived due to diseases. Silvery, lobed, maple-like leaves. | |
| Populus angustifolia Narrowleaf cottonwood |
55 x 40 | columnar | f | H | Yellow fall color. Root suckers, thus should be used where it can spread in groves. | |
| Populus deltoides ‘Siouxland’ ‘Siouxland’ Cottonwood |
75 x 40 | elliptical | f | H | Cottonless. Easily transplanted. | |
| Populus nigra ‘Italica’ Lombardy poplar |
60 x 15 | narrow, columnar |
f | H | Use as temporary screen planting. Due to diseases, shorter lived than Upright European aspen. | |
| Populus sargentii Plains cottonwood |
80 x 50 | rounded | f | H | Native of the plains along rivers. Cottonless (male) selections available. Triangular leaves. | |
| Populus tremula ‘Erecta’ Upright European aspen |
40 x 15 | upright | f | H | Use as screen planting. More disease resistant and long-lived than Lombardy. Yellow/orange-red fall color. | |
| Quercus bicolor Swamp white oak |
50 x 45 | upright, spreading |
m | M | Adapts to clay soils and irrigated lawns. Fall color usually yellow. | |
| Quercus buckleyi Texas Red Oak |
45 x 40 | conical | m | L | Red fall color, tolerates alkaline soils. Need cold-hardy seed source. | |
| Quercus x ‘Crimschmidt’ Crimson Spire® Oak |
45 x 15 | columnar | m | M | Nrrow form adapted to tight spaces. Red fall color. | |
| Quercus x ‘Long’ Regal Prince® Oak |
45 x 15 | columnar | m | M | Narrow form adapted to tight spaces.Dark glossy green leaf, yellow fall color. | |
| Quercus macrocarpa Bur oak |
60 x 50 | broad, spreading |
s | L | Tolerates alkaline soils and drought. Flaky bark. Corky ridged twigs. Fringed cap on acorn. | |
| Quercus muehlenbergii Chinquapin oak |
40 x 40 | broad, spreading |
m | L | Alkaline soil tolerant. Sharp-toothed leaves that are green above and white below. | |
| Quercus robur English oak |
50 x 40 | rounded | m | M | Broad, stout, spreading branches. Glossy, dark green, leaves that turn brown and persist into winter. | |
| ‘Fastigata’ | 45 x 15 | columnar | m | M | Narrow form for small spaces. Brown fall color. | |
| Quercus rubra Red oak |
40 x 50 | broad | m | M | Often broader than tall. Fall color usually maroon-red. Avoid very alkaline soils. | |
| Quercus shumardii Shumard oak |
50 x 40 | rounded spreading |
m | M | Red fall color. Need more cold-hardy seed source. Avoid very alkaline soils. | |
| Salix alba ‘Tristis‘ Niobe weeping willow |
50 x 50 | rounded, weeping |
f | H | Yellow fall color, brittle twigs. Best sited near water. | |
| Salix alba vitellina Russian golden willow |
40 x 40 | rounded | f | H | Yellow twigs, yellow fall color, brittle twigs. | |
| Salix matsudana ‘Navajo’ Navajo globe willow |
35 x 35 | globe | f | H | Formal globe shape. Brilliant green foliage in spring. May suffer freeze injury in some area. Widely used on Western slope. | |
| Sophora japonica (syn. Styphnolobium japonicum) Japanese pagodatree |
50 x 40 | rounded | m | M | Creamy flowers in midsummer. Pinched, pea-like pods in fall. Olive green twigs. | |
| Tilla americana American linden |
60 x 50 | broad, conical |
m | M | Large heart-shaped leaves. Fragrant flowers in early summer. Yellow fall color. May sucker near base. | |
| American Sentry® Linden |
40 x 25 | conical | m | M | Narrow, straight trunked form for small spaces. Full sun. | |
| ‘Redmond’ Redmond linden |
45 x 25 | conical | m-f | M | Striking reddish buds/twigs in winter. | |
| Tilla cordata Littleleaf linden |
45 x 30 | conical | m-f | M | Dense foliage. May sucker near base. Creamy-yellow fragrant flowers. Attracts bees. | |
| ‘Greenspire’ | 45 x 25 | conical to oval | m | M | Neat formal appearance. Glossy, dark green leaves. Cinnamon colored bark. Yellow fall color. | |
| ‘Glenleven’ | 45 x 30 | open conical | m | M | Vigorus, open habit. | |
| Tilia tomentosa Sterling Silver® Sterling linden |
40 x 30 | conical | m | M | Dark green leaves with silver undersides, creamy yelllow fragrant flowers. attracts bees. | |
| Ulmus Americana American Elm |
60 x 50 | upright spreading |
m | M | Yellow fall color, vase-shaped, succeptible to Dutch elm disease. | |
| ‘Valley Forge’ | 60 x 45 | upright spreading |
m | M | Yellow fall color. Dutch elm disease resistant. | |
| Ulmus x ‘Frontier’ Frontier Elm |
35 x 25 | elliptical | m | M | Small stature with red fall color. Dutch elm disease tolerant. | |
| Ulmus x ‘Triumph’™ Triumph Elm |
50 x 40 | elliptical | m | M | Glossy, dark green leaves have yellow fall color. | |
| Ulmus x hybrida Hybrid elms |
50 x 40 | elliptical | m | M | Glossy dark green leaves have yellow fall color. | |
| Many hybrid elms are being introduced in recent years. Many are Dutch Elm disease resistant. Various growth habits and other ornamental features. | ||||||
| 1Growth rate: s = slow m = moderate f = fast |
2Soil moisture: H = heavy water needs; more than normal lawn watering. M = moderate water needs; normal lawn watering. L = low-water needs; can withstand drought. |
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*Emerald Ash Borer was discovered in September, 2013 in Colorado. Colorado State University Extension currently does not recommend planting any ash trees along Colorado’s Front Range.For more information, see www.eabcolorado.com.
*J.E. Klett, Colorado State University Extension landscape horticulturist and professor, horticulture and landscape architecture; E. Hammond, Extension horticulture agent, Adams County. C. Wilson, retired Extension horticulture agent, Denver County, contributed to original content of fact sheet. 1/00. Revised 10/17.
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