Tree Species Recommendations

This list is provided as a guide to the most appropriate species for parkways in urban situations.  There is no single perfect tree; the most successful course is to match the planting site limitations with the right tree for that spot.  Each site must be evaluated and possible restrictions of tree species noted.  These restrictions include rooting space, soil texture, soil pH, drainage, exposure, overhead wires and surrounding building surfaces.

The trees appearing on this list have different requirements and tolerances.  All of these species should do well in the urban forest environment of Avon Lake.  Before selecting any particular species or variety, further research should be done to ensure that the site would satisfy the specific requirements of the plant.

Some of the species or cultivars listed here may not be readily available at local nurseries, particularly in calipers large enough for planting in high traffic areas.  Tree shelters and staking may provide limited protection.  In some cases, it may be necessary to care for them in a City nursery for several years until they reach an appropriate size for establishment in the tree lawns.

SMALL TREES with narrow crowns:

Suitable for tree lawns 3 to 5 feet wide and under wires.

Amelanchier arborea – Shadblow Serviceberry

Amelanchier laevis – Allegheny Serviceberry

Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’ – Pyramidal European Hornbeam

Cornus mas ‘Golden Glory’ – Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Crataegus laevigata – English Hawthorn

Crataegus phaenopyrum – Washington Hawthorn

Koelreuteria paniculata – Golden-Rain Tree

Laburnum x watereri – Golden-Chain Tree

Malus spp.1 – Crabapple (Limited Use)

Sorbus aucuparia – European Mountain Ash

Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’ – Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac

SMALL TREES with broad crowns:

Suitable for tree lawns at least 8 feet wide and under wires.

Acer campestre – Hedge Maple1

Acer ginnala – Amur Maple1

Acer tartarian – Tartarian Maple1

Amelanchier laevis ‘Cumulus’ – Cumulus Serviceberry

Amelanchier x grandifloria – Apple Serviceberry

Carpinus caroliniana – American Hornbeam

Cercis canadensis – Redbud

Chionanthus virginicus – Fringetree

Cladrastis kentukea (lutea) – Yellowwood

SMALL TREES with broad crowns (continued):

Cornus alternifolia – Pagoda Dogwood

Crataegus crus-galli – Cockspur Hawthorn

Crataegus punctata ‘Ohio Pioneer’ – Ohio Pioneer Hawthorn

Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ – Winter King Hawthorn

Halesia carolina – Silverbell

Malus spp.1 – Crabapple (Limited Use)

Sophora japonica – Japanese Pagoda Tree

Prunus sargentii - Sargent Cherry

Prunus virginiana ‘Shubert’ – Shubert Chokecherry

Syringa reticulata – Japanese Tree Lilac

MEDIUM TREES:

Suitable for tree lawns 6 to 8 feet wide but not under wires.

Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ – Autumn Blaze Red Maple1

Acer x freemanii ‘Celebration’ – Celebration Maple

Aesculus glabra – Ohio Buckeye

Betula nigra ‘Heritage’ – Heritage River Birch

Carpinus betulus – European Hornbeam

Celtis occidentalis ‘Prairie Pride’ – Prairie Pride Hackberry

Cercidiphyllum japonicum – Katsura Tree

Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyckii’ – Dawyck European Beech

Koelreuteria paniculata – Golden-Rain Tree

Nyssa sylvatica – Sourgum

Ostrya virginiana – Hophornbeam

Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’ – Pyramidal English Oak

Quercus robur ‘Wandell’ – Attention English Oak

Tilia cordata ‘Chancellor’ – Chancellor Linden

Tilia cordata ‘Corzam’ – Corinthian Littleleaf Linden

Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’ – Greenspire Littleleaf Linden

Ulmus ‘Homestead’ – Homestead Elm

Zelkova serrata ‘Green Vase’ – Green Vase Zelkova

LARGE TREES:

Suitable for tree lawns at least 8 feet wide and not under wires.

Acer platanoides ‘Cleveland’ – Cleveland Norway Maple1

Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’ – Royal Red Norway Maple

Acer platanoides ‘Superform’ – Superform Norway Maple1

Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’ – October Glory Red Maple1

Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ – Red Sunset Red Maple1

Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ – Autumn Blaze Freeman Maple1

Aesculus x carnea ‘Briotii’ – Rubyred Horse Chestnut

Fagus grandifloria – American Beech

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech

Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Applause’ – Autumn Applause White Ash1,2

Fraxinus americana ‘Biltmore’ – Biltmore White Ash1,2

Fraxinus pennsyulvanica ‘Cimmzam’ – Cimmzam Ash

Ginkgo biloba – Ginkgo (male only)

Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Morraine’ – Morraine Sweetgum2

Liriodendron tulipifera – Tuliptree

Magnolia acuminata – Cucumber Magnolia

Platanus x acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’ – Bloodgood London Plane

Platanus x acerifolia ‘Columbia’ – Columbia London Plane

Platanus x acerifolia ‘Liberty’ – Liberty London Plane

Quercus alba – White Oak

Quercus bicolor – Swamp White Oak

Quercus coccinea – Scarlet Oak

Quercus ellipsoidalis – Northern Pin Oak

Quercus marocarpa – Bur Oak

Quercus robur – English Oak

Quercus rubra – Northern Red Oak

Taxodium distichum – Bald Cypress

Tilia americana ‘Redmond’ – Redmond Linden

Tilia euchlora - Crimean Linden

Tilia plarphyllos – Bigleaf Linden

Tilia tomentosa – Silver Linden

Tilia x europaea – European Linden

Ulmus parvifolia ‘Elmer II’ – Chinese/Lacebark Elm

Ulmus ‘Pioneer’ – Pioneer Elm

Ulmus ‘Regal’ – Regal Elm

Undesireable Street Parkway Trees	Comments:
Acer negundo – Boxelder	Aggressive, Shallow roots, Weak wood
Acer saccharinum – Silver Maple	Aggressive, Shallow roots, Weak wood
Ailanthus altissima – Tree of Heaven	Seeds, Suckers, Weak wood
Elaeagnus angustifolia – Russian Olive	Form, Disease
Fraxinus velutina glabra – Modesto Ash	Sidewalk Problems
Ginkgo biloba (Female) – Female Ginkgo	Fruits
Gleditsia tricanthos 'Inermis' – Thornless Honeylocust	Over-Planted Species
Morus species – Mulberry	Fruits, Shallow roots
Populus alba – White Poplar	Suckers, Shallow roots, Weak Wood
Populus dectoides – Cottonwood	Seeds, Shallow roots, Weak Wood
Populus nigra 'Italica' – Lombardy Poplar	Insects, Disease, Short-lived
Salix species – Willow	Shallow roots, Weak Wood
Ulmus americana – American Elm	Insects, Disease
Ulmus pumila – Siberian Elm	Seeds, Weak Wood