Trees

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid to nearly neutral
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Soft, aromatic foliage; pyramidal form; for specimen, screens
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round
FAVORITES: Eastern white pine, western white pine, and their cullivars
QUIRKS: Grows slowly for several years after planting, then swiftly gains size
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Dogwood, rhododendron, serviceberry, star magnolia, witch hazel
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Well-drained soil in sun to partial shade
LONGEVITY: Lives 100 years or more
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: White pine aphids; grows poorly in soggy soil
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 90-150 ft (27-45 m) tall and 40 ft (12.2 m) wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to alkaline
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: While or pink flowers, yellow fall foliage; for specimen
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall
FAVORITES: C. lutea and pink-flowered 'Rosea', C. platycarpa, C. sinensis
QUIRKS: Doesn't bloom every year; flowers in droughts
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Japanese maple, lacebark pine, redosier dogwood, pine, false cypress
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Average, well-drained soil, either in sun or partial shade
LONGEVITY: Lives more than 50 years
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Can develop weak branches that break during ice storms
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 40-50 ft (12.2-15.2 m) tall, about 30 ft (9.1 m) wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Well-drained, fertile, organic
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Bell-shaped flowers in pink or white; for specimens, woodlands
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall
FAVORITES: H. tetraptera, H. monticola, H. diptera
QUIRKS: Bark begins to flake on older trees
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Azalea, rhododendron, mountain laurel, viburnum, witch hazel
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: In moist, well-drained soil in partial shade
LONGEVITY: Usually lives more than 40 years
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Ice damage to small limbs
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 30 ft (9.1 m) tall and 20 ft (6.1 m) wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist to average
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Spring flowers, colorful berries, showy fall foliage; for borders
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall
FAVORITES: A. laevis, A. x grandiflora, A. lamarckii, A. canadensis, A. alnifolia
QUIRKS: Grows poorly in wet soil or during severe drought
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Dogwood, mountain laurel, pine, redbud, winterberry holly, witch hazel
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Fertile garden soil with good drainage
LONGEVITY: Lives many years
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Foliar fungal diseases in warm humid weather; borers
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: To 30-35 ft (9.1-10.7m) tall and to 20 ft (6 m) wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist, sandy soil
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
ATTRIBUTES: Attractive bark, open canopy; for specimens, foundation plantings
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round
FAVORITES: B. nigra 'Heritage', 'Little King'; B. papyrifera; B. pendula
QUIRKS: Drops small twigs and leaves that require raking
GOOD NEIGHBORS: False cypress, pines, red-osier dogwood, winterberry holly, viburnums
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Moist soil and full sun
LONGEVITY: Lives many years
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Aphids, borers; leaves turn yellow when trees are grown in alkaline soil
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 40-70 ft (12.2-21 m) tall and to 30 ft (9.1 m) wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Widely adaptable
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist, fertile, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Pink flowers in spring, yellow leaves in fall; for specimens, woodlands
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring through fall
FAVORITES: C. canadensis and cultivars; C. reniformis 'Oklahoma'; C. siliquastrum
QUIRKS: Tends to lean toward the sun as it grows older
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Dogwood, azalea, serviceberry, silverbell, spring bulbs
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Moist, fertile soil in partial shade
LONGEVITY: Lives 10-20 years
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Trunk canker, verticillium wilt, heartwood rot
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 15-20 ft (4.6-6.1 m) tall and wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 6 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Well-drained, otherwise adaptable
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Glossy leaves, fragrant flowers, conelike fruits; for specimens
SEASON OF INTEREST: Evergreens year-round; deciduous spring to fall
FAVORITES: M. grandiflora, M. virginiana, M. x soulangeana and cultivars
QUIRKS: Shallow roots are easily damaged by tilling
GOOD NEIGHBORS: River birch, hollies, pines
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Sun to partial shade; large leaves need protection from wind
LONGEVITY: Lives 100 years or more
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Splintered limbs and crowns from ice storms
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 15-80 ft (4.6-25 m) tall, to 40 ft (12.2 m) wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid to neutral
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average
PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade
FUNDAMENTAL FACTS
ATTRIBUTES: Early spring foliage, red flowers in late spring; for woodland gardens
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring through summer
FAVORITES: A. pavia and 'Atrosanguinea', A. californica, A. flava
QUIRKS: Leaves drop in late summer; leaves and fruits are toxic if eaten
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Parrotia, stewartia, white pine, witch hazel
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Average to wet conditions in partial shade
LONGEVITY: Lives several decades
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Susceptible to drought stress and fungal rust leaf disease
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: To 25 ft (7.6 m) tall and equally wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL PH: Acid to slightly alkaline
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
ATTRIBUTES: Peeling bark, multi-stemmed trunk; for screens, specimens
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round
FAVORITES: Lacebark pine is sold by species name
QUIRKS: Grows very slowly
GOOD NEIGHBORS: River birch, serviceberry, and other trees with ornamental bark
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: n a site with sun and well-drained soil
LONGEVITY: Lives 100 years or more
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: European pine shoot moth larvae
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: To 40 ft (12.2 m) tall and equally wide; needles to 4 in (10.2 cm)

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid to near neutral
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Vibrant fall color, peeling bark, spring blossoms; for specimens
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round
FAVORITES: Parrotia persica and 'Pendula'; Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana
QUIRKS: Fall color progresses from top to bottom of tree
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Lace bark pine, red buckeye, stewartia, witch hazel
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Average soil in sun or partial shade
LONGEVITY: Lives at least 50 years
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Japanese beetles
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: To 40 ft (12.2 m) tall and wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile
PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Deciduous trees with graceful form and leaves; for specimens, beds
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round
FAVORITES: 'Ornatum', 'Bloodgood', 'Atropurpureum', 'Sango Kaku', 'Butterfly'
QUIRKS: Branches on some varieties form attractive contorted shapes
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Birches and other, taller trees; bulbs; perennials; groundcovers
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Organically rich soil in partial shade
LONGEVITY: Lives many decades
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Rare; con suffer in prolonged droughts
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 6-25 ft (1.8-7.6 m) tall and equally wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist to well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to shade
ATTRIBUTES: Deciduous tree with attractive bark; for specimens, foundations
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall; C. caroliniana blooms in spring, O. virginiana in summer
FAVORITES: C. caroliniana, C. betulus and 'Fastigiata', O. virginiana
QUIRKS: Plants hove very tough wood and are difficult to transplant
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Blends well with many trees and shrubs
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: C. caroliniana in moist soil, O. virginiana in well-drained soil
LONGEVITY: Lives up to 150 years
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Gypsy moths
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: To 30 ft (9.1 m) tall and wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 7
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Well-drained, fertile, organic
PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: White flowers, colorful fall foliage, flaking bark; for specimens
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round
FAVORITES: All species; select by size, hardiness, flower size, and fall leaf color
QUIRKS: Thrives only in preferred growing conditions
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Azalea, viburnum, ferns, groundcovers
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: In fertile, organic soil and afternoon shade
LONGEVITY: Lives at least 40 years when properly sited
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Quickly shows stress if grown in infertile, dry, or soggy soil
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 15-60 ft (4.6-18.3 m) tall, to 30 ft (9.1 m) wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, moist, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun or light shade
ATTRIBUTES: Starlike while or pink flowers, shrubby habit; for specimen, borders
SEASON OF INTEREST: Early spring to foil
FAVORITES: M. stellata 'Royal Star', 'Centennial', "Waterlily', 'Dawn', 'Rose King'
QUIRKS: Flowers appear early in spring and may be damaged by frost
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Broadleaf and needle evergreens, spring bulbs, other small magnolias
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Fertile, well-drained, acid soil in a site protected from wind
LONGEVITY: Lives many years
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Decay following winter damaged or wind-lorn branches
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: To 15 ft (4.6 m) tall and wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Evergreen foliage and abundant red fruits; for specimens
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round; berries in winter
FAVORITES: 'Cardinal', 'Merry Christmas', 'Old Heavyberry' for berry production
QUIRKS: Female trees need a male pollinator to set berries
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Clethra, hydrangea, pine, rhododendron, witch hazel
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Sun or open shade in well-drained, acid soil
LONGEVITY: Lives for centuries
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Leaf browning from winter exposure; leaf miners, holly midges
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: To 50 ft (15.2 m) tall and 25 ft (7.6 m) wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid to alkaline
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE. Adaptable, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Deciduous tree with yellow flowers, decorative seedpods; for specimens
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall
FAVORITES: K. paniculata
QUIRKS: Trees planted in fall may fail in cold climates
GOOD NEIGHBORS: False cypress, lacebark pine, star magnolia, bulbs, groundcovers
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Sunny site with well-drained soil
LONGEVITY: Lives for many years; becomes more attractive with age
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: If unpruned, limbs may suffer wind damage
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 40-60 ft (12.2-18.3 m} tall and equally wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 lo 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, moist
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
ATTRIBUTES: Graceful coniferous evergreens with colorful foliage; for accents
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round
FAVORITES: Nootka, Lawson's, Sawara, Hinoki false cypress
QUIRKS: Leaves mature from a narrow, pointed wedge to a flat, scaly spray
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Red-osier dogwood, river birch, serviceberry, winterberry holly
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Moist sites in climates with a cool summer
LONGEVITY: Can live more than 1000 years
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Spider mites
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 6-100 ft (1.8-30.5 m) tall and wide, depending on species or cultivar

Fundamental Facts:

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: White or pink Rowers, fall color, red fruits; for woodlands, specimens
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring and fall
FAVORITES: Flowering dogwood, Kousa dogwood. Pacific dogwood, and cultivars
QUIRKS: Young trees are slow to develop and flower
GOOD NEIGHBORS : Azalea, hellebore, redbud, serviceberry, spring-flowering bulbs
WHERE IT GROWS BEST : In slightly acidic soil and partial shade with good air circulation
LONGEVITY: Lives 100 years or more
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Anthracnose, dogwood borers
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 30 to 50 ft (9.1-15.2m) tall, to 30 ft (9.1 m) wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 7
PREFERRED SOIL pH. Neutral to slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, moist, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
ATTRIBUTES: White or pink spring flowers, fall foliage, attractive bark; for specimens
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall
FAVORITE5: Sargent cherry, Higan cherry, Yoshino cherry and cultivars
QUIRKS: Many ornamental cherry trees are short lived
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Spring-flowering bulbs and perennials, azalea, hydrangea, lilac
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Average garden conditions in sun
LONGEVITY: Lives 20 to 50 years
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Trunk borers can attack drought-stressed trees
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: Sargent cherry, 12 to 50 ft (3.7-15.2 m) tall, to 30 ft (9.1 m) wide

Trees are undoubtedly the largest and most long-lived plants in the landscape. Everything in your garden, including you and your family are affected by the height of trees, the shade they cast, and even the area of your yard that is bordered by their spreading branches. Choosing just the right tree, and placing it carefully, will reward you year after year as the tree grows to maturity. While smaller plants are adaptable enough to allow you to dig and move them to find the best site, trees are deeply rooted in place. Because of this basic fact of tree life, before planting, you must look to the future, imagining how the tree and your garden will appear years from now.