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What are the Top Trees for Tough Urban Conditions?

29 Jun, 2020 86
What are the Top Trees for Tough Urban Conditions?

Do you have an area in your yard, parkway, or near your business (think parking lot islands or busy sidewalk areas) that is more susceptible to exposure of uncontrollable elements? 

Crimson Spire Oak

- Crimson Spire™ Oak pictured above. -

Not to worry, the best trees for tough urban conditions are right here, on this expertly curated list! The trees on this list are tailored to meet modern sustainability needs. Each has shown exceptional adaptability, disease resistance, heat and drought tolerance, low-maintenance, and are proven performers for tough urban conditions. 


 

01 STATE STREET™ MAPLE 

This tree was particularly bred for urban tolerance, the State Street™ Maple makes a spectacular street tree. State Street™ Maple has an interesting, textured bark that is complimented by a unique leaf pattern. Even better, this tree stands out in the fall when it bursts with vibrant yellow fall color!

State Street Maple on Parkway

02 AMERICAN HOPHORNBEAM

American Hophornbeam is pest-resistant and its hardwood weathers damage from ice and snow. This tree is the perfect adornment for any yard or landscape. It will perform well in urban settings and city parks. 

American Hophornbeam with Yellow Fall Color

03 AFTERBURNER® BLACK TUPELO

Afterburner® Black Tupelo features rich green glossy foliage which ignites with brilliant fall color, ranging from scarlet to maroon, yellow, and orange. This tree is adaptable to urban conditions including compacted, poorly drained soils, and even occasional drought.

Afterburner Black Tupelo in Nursery with Person Standing

04 CELEBRATION® MAPLE 

Something worth celebrating! Celebration® Maple has an open branch structure with sturdy branching angels and strong wood that resist storm and ice damage. This tough tree is tolerant of urban soils. Its magnificent fall colors will light up your yard come autumn. 

Celebration Maple Nursery Row with Varying Fall Color

05 DAKOTA PINNACLE® BIRCH

Dakota Pinnacle® Birch is the perfect selection if you're looking for an attractive, reasonably sized, narrow tree. This tree is very cold hardy making it a great option for Northern Illinois landscapes and is resistant to the Japanese Beetle. 

Dakota Pinnacle Birch in Front Landscape

06 NATIVE HACKBERRY

Native Hackberry is tolerant of harsh weather conditions- it's tough as nails when it comes to urban conditions. Its rough corky bark is a unique feature but also provides an exterior that protects the tree from damage.

Native Hackberry

07 CRIMSON SPIRE OAK

Crimson Spire™ Oak is a fast-growing, cold-hardy tree. A perfect fit for tough urban areas due to its drought tolerance and disease resistance. This tree adapts to a variety of soils. Crimson Spire has rich, dark green leaves in summer that will stay bright even through the hot summer! Its foliage will turn a rusty red to bright red come autumn. 

Low branched Mature Crimson Spire Oak with Bright Fall Color

08 HERITAGE® OAK

Heritage® Oak has handsome dark green leaves, a broad/pyramidal mature form. It's mildew resistance and mature shape make this an excellent choice for planting on the parkway or simply placing it anywhere in the open landscape as a shade tree. It's Bur Oak heritage is an incomparable cold-hardy benefit of this oak tree variety.

Heritage Oak

09 EMERALD SUNSHINE® ELM

Emerald Sunshine® Elm is the epitome of "where form meets function," as its beautiful leaves cast a cool dense shade, and it's heat and drought-resistant to boot! Consider this tree for it's superb resistance to disease, insect attacks, and adaptability to a variety of growing conditions. Emerald Sunshine will thrive in tough urban settings. 

Emerald Sunshine Elm with Sunshine Yellow Fall Color

10 SHAWNEE BRAVE® BALD CYPRESS 

Shawnee Brave® Bald Cypress has proven to be widely adaptable in urban conditions as it will flourish in standing water or well-drained soils. This trees' plumy foliage offers a distinctive look and dense shade. In fall it will show off with a handsome rusty orange color, then will drop its needles. 

Mature Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress

11 REGAL PRINCE® OAK

Regal Prince® Oak is on the list because of its mildew resistance and is a relatively clean tree. Its glossy summer leaves shine with a bright green color that will be sure to catch any passerby's eye. This hybrid is loved for its remarkable columnar form.

Regal Prince

12 NEW HORIZON ELM

Choose New Horizon Elm for its superior disease tolerance to Dutch Elm Disease and Phloem Necrosis. Also notably, cold tolerant. This hybrid elm was developed in a disease resistance program at the University of Wisconsin. Growers and homeowners alike have reported that it's easy to grow, starting with a straight to symmetrical form, becoming a perfectly rugged street tree.

New Horizon Elm

13 EXCLAMATION!® LONDON PLANETREE

Exclamation® London Planetree has a strong central leader, which our customers appreciate and an upright to pyramidal mature form. This tree has proven well in the nursery and in urban conditions. A great tough tree option due to its anthracnose and powdery mildew resistance. London Planetree also offers a unique look, with its peeling bark.

Exclamation London Planetree 

14 FIREBIRD CRABAPPLE

Firebird Crabapple is a wonderful selection for a focal point in any landscape. Its stout form makes it suitable for gardens, massed or grouped, and even trained as an espalier against a fence or building. It does well in urban areas, tolerating air pollution. It can be planted under power lines. 

Firebird Crabapple in bloom, in landscape bed

15 CANADA RED CHOKECHERRY

Canada Red Chokecherry is a cold-hardy tree. Its unique foliage is a guaranteed eye-catcher. It goes from green in the Spring to dark purple as the weather warms, then intensifies to reddish in the Fall. You can't forget about its beautiful small white flower clusters in the Spring. This is an all-around fantastic tree. From its hardiness to its beauty. 

Canada Red Chokecherry


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Urban Trees for a New Century: Tough Trees Worth Noting

Each product has a website and a Facebook page where you can find photos, testimonials, and performance feedback.

Variety Website Facebook Page
Redpointe® Red Maple https://www.jfschmidt.com/redpointe/ https://www.facebook.com/redpointe
Crimson Sunset® Maple https://www.jfschmidt.com/crimsonsunset/ https://www.facebook.com/CrimsonSunsetMaple/
Royal Raindrops® Crabapple https://www.jfschmidt.com/royalraindrops/ https://www.facebook.com/royalraindrops