Hardy shade trees are medium-sized to large trees whose primary purpose is to sustain local climate conditions and to provide shade with their spreading canopy and crown. They may not only provide privacy but also give shelter from sunlight and harmful UV rays in the heat of the summer. Shade is an important aspect in any garden as it provides also cooling and keeps moisture in balance with other plants. Fast growing shade trees can grow up to 25 inches in height per year.
Mayday Tree (Prunus padus)
Commonly called birdcherry, the mayday is a is a large-growing ornamental cherry tree native to Northern Europe. Pure white, almond-scented blossom makes the mayday tree a superb display in spring and oval green leaves turn attractive shades of bronze and yellow in fall. The tree is tough, hardy, and easy to grow in most soils. Its size measures about 50×50 feet high and wide at maturity.
Mayday Tree Specifications:
Scientific Name: Prunus padus – European bird cherry – Family Name: Rosaceae – Habit: Spreading, Upright – Form: Round – Growing Size: 50×50 feet high and wide – Growth Rate: Slow – Origin: Central / West Asia, Europe, S.E. Asia / Japan / China – Hardiness Rating: Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C) – Exposure: Full sun – Soil: Well-drained – Water Use: Moderate, Low – Landscape Uses: Attract beneficial insects.
Maidenhair (Ginkgo biloba)
One of the best known examples of a living fossil, the ginkgo tree has existed unchanged for 500 millions of years. It’s curious fan-shaped leaves which turn yellow in autumn make it an attractive tree n any garden. The tree grows best in well-drained soil in full sun. It rarely suffers disease problems and is attacked by few insects, making it an excellent urban street tree.
Maidenhair Specifications:
Scientific Name: Ginkgo biloba – Common Name: maidenhair tree, ginkgo – Family Name: Ginkgoaceae – Habit: Horizontal, Open, Spreading – Form: Irregular, Oval – vertical, Pyramidal – widely – Texture: Medium – Growing Size: 100×30 feet tall and wide – Growth Rate: Moderate – Origin: S.E. Asia / Japan / China (southern China) – Hardiness Rating: Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C) – Exposure: Full sun – Soil: Well-drained – Water Use: Moderate, Low – Landscape Uses: Accent plant, Cut flower or foliage, Fall interest, Shade tree, Specimen plant, Street (boulevard tree).
European Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
A native to Europe and Asia widely planted in North America. With narrow, upright-oval crown and flat medium green leaves that turn yellow to reddish-purple in fall. Clusters of orange-red berries in late summer. When turned deep red the following spring the berries are an important food for many arriving spring birds, such as the cedar wax wing.
European Mountain Ash Specifications:
Scientific Name: Sorbus aucuparia – Common Name: European mountain ash – Family Name: Rosaceae – Habit: Stiffly upright – Form: Oval – vertical – Texture: Medium-coarse – Growing Size: 50×25 feet tall and wide – Growth Rate: Moderate – Hardiness Rating: Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C) – Exposure: Full sun – Soil: Acidic, Well-drained – Water Use: Moderate, Low – Landscape Uses: Attract birds, Fall interest, Medicinal plant, Specimen plant.
Amur Maple (Acer tataricum)
The amur maple also called tatarian maple, is originally from central and southeastern Europe, parts of Asia and Russia. It is a medium-sized tree which also exist as shrub form. It’s known for its red-winged seed cases which contrast beautifully with its fresh green foliage.
The acer tataricum ‘Hot Wings’ maple is a variety of the same family and origin. It features masses of deep, scarlet red-winged seed cases, which look like stunning summer blooms. Clusters of pale yellow flowers cover the tree just after it comes into leaf in spring and in autumn its foliage turns glowing shades of orange, red and yellow. This tree can grow in moist, well-drained soil in in full sun to partial shade.
Amur Maple Specifications:
Scientific Name: Acer tataricum ginnala – Common Name: Amur maple, Tatarian maple – Family Name: Sapindaceae – Habit: Arching, Upright – Form: Round – Texture: Medium – Growing Size: 20×20 feet high and wide – Growth Rate: Moderate – Hardiness Rating: Zone 2: (-46 to -40 °C) – Exposure: Full sun – Soil: Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained – Water Use: Moderate – Landscape Uses: Container planting, Fall interest.
Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
A quick growing, hardy North American shade tree with an oval or rounded canopy, the thornless variety of the honey locust is popular in cities and urban landscapes featuring beautiful yellow or golden leaves in spring and fall. The light, dappled shade cast by the foliage allows lawns to grow well beneath and tiny leaflets easily drop in between the blades of grass at season’s end.
Honey Locust Specifications:
Scientific Name: Gleditsia triacanthos inermis – Common Name: thornless honey locust – Family Name: Fabaceae
Habit: Irregular, Open, Spreading, Twiggy – Form: Oval – Texture: Fine – Growing Size: 70×50 tall and wide – Growth Rate: Fast – Hardiness Rating: Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C) – Exposure: Full sun – Soil: Well-drained – Landscape Uses: Fall interest, Specimen plant.
Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Commonly called bur oak or mossy cup oak, is one of the most majestic of the native North American oaks. It is a medium to large sized deciduous oak with a broad-spreading, rounded crown. Acorn cups are covered with a mossy scale or bur near the rim, hence the common names. It is native to a variety of habitats in central and eastern North America. Insignificant yellowish-green flowers in separate male and female catkins appear in spring as the leaves emerge. Fruits are oval acorns. Acorns are an important source of food for wildlife. Leathery, dark green leaves are variable in shape. Fall colour is an undistinguished yellow-brown. Twigs sometimes are ridged with corky wings.
Burr Oak Specifications:
Scientific Name: Quercus macrocarpa – Common Name: bur oak – Family Name: Fagaceae – Habit: Spreading, Twiggy – Form: Oval – vertical – Texture: Medium – coarse – Growing Size: 50×50 feet tall and wide – Growth Rate: Slow – Hardiness Rating: Zone 2: (-46 to -40 °C) – Exposure: Full sun, Part sun/part shade – Soil: Alkaline, Humus rich – Water Use: Low – Landscape Uses: Screening, Street (boulevard tree), Woodland margin.
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
The most widely distributed tree in North America, the quaking aspen is a medium-sized deciduous tree from Alaska and Canada, all the way south to Mexico. Quaking aspen, also called trembling aspen, is named for its finely saw-toothed leaves which quake or tremble in light breezes. This tree regularly grows in dense, pure stands, creating a stunning golden vista when leaves change colour in the fall.
Quaking Aspen Specifications:
Scientific Name: Populus tremuloides – Common Name: trembling aspen , white poplar – Family Name: Salicaceae – Habit: Spreading, Upright – Form: Oval – vertical, Round – Texture: Medium – Growing Size: 70×30 feet tall and wide – Growth Rate: Fast – Hardiness Rating: Zone 1: (below -46 °C) – Exposure: Full sun – Soil: Shallow and rocky to deep loamy sands and heavy clays – Landscape Use: Wind break.
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