Common Name
Hardiness Zone
Groupa
Growth Rate
Exposure
Texture
Form
Heightb Spread
Landscape Remarks
Scientific Name
Ash, Green Fraxinus pennsylvanica 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Upright; spreading 50 to 60' 25 to 30' Transplants well; grows in a variety of locations and soils; yellow fall color; many cultivars.
Ash, White Fraxinus americana 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Broad, rounded head 60 to 80' 50 to 70' Tolerates adverse conditions; yellow to purple fall color; reseeds itself.
Beech Fagus grandifolia 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun Medium Dense; broad crown 60 to 80' 40 to 60' Large tree with very dense shade; foliage on young trees remains in winter; golden brown fall color.
Birch, River Betula nigra 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Partial shade Fine to medium Upright; open; thin twigs 25 to 40' 16 to 20' Multi-trunk is desired; native tree; graceful branching; cultivar: Heritage.
Blackgum
Nyssa sylvatica		 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to shade Medium Open; irregular 40 to 60' 20 to 30' Good native tree; brilliant red fall color.
Catalpa, Southern Catalpa bignonioides 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Coarse Short, thick trunk 30 to 50' 20 to 25' Long-lived, untidy tree; crooked branches; white flowers.
Cedar, Deodar Cedrus deodara 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine Pyramidal; pendulous branches 40 to 50' 30 to 40' Blue-green foliage; good substitute for white pine; cones on female tree; Shalimar is a cold-hardy cultivar.
Cedar, Eastern red Juniperus virginiana 6, 7, 8 E Moderate to rapid Sun Fine Upright 30 to 40' 10 to 20' Native evergreen; good for screening; blue berries on female trees.
Chinese wingnut Pterocarya stenoptera 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Pendulous branching; open canopy 50 to 70' 40' Produces long necklaces of emerald-green, winged nutlets; expansive roots.
Coffee tree, Kentucky Gymnocladus dioicus 6, 7, 8 D Slow to moderate Sun Coarse Irregular and open; horizontal branching 60 to 75' 40 to 50' Select male plants to avoid seed pods; good city tree.
Cryptomeria, Japanese Cryptomeria japonica 6, 7, 8 E Slow to moderate Sun to partial shade Fine to medium Tall and conical 60 to 80' 25 to 25' Rich-green foliage; good screening tree; low-growing cultivars available.
Cypress, Bald Taxodium distichum 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun to partial shade Fine Pyramidal when young 50 to 100' 20 to 30' Good tree; light shade; easy fall cleanup; grows in variety of soils.
Dove tree Davidia involucrata 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Rounded; pyramidal; dense branching 20 to 50' 20 to 40' White flowers in early spring; orange and brown bark.
Elm, American Ulmus americana 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Arching branches 75 to 125' 60 to 120' Beautiful growth habit, but Dutch Elm disease limits use; yellow fall color; 'Valley Forge' and 'New Harmony' are disease resistant.
Elm, Chinese; Lace bark elm Ulmus parvifolia 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Medium to fine Rounded top 40 to 50' 40 to 50' Bark sheds, leaving irregular spots of orange; tough durable tree; many cultivars.
Elm, Siberian Ulmus pumila 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium to fine Rounded 50 to 70' 40 to 60' Fast growing for quick shade; brittle wood; attacked by elm leaf beetle; not recommended.
Elm, Winged Ulmus alata 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium to fine Pendulous; rounded top 30 to 40' 30 to 40' Small foliage; twigs usually have corky ridges or wings; yellow fall color.
Empress tree Paulownia tomentosa 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Coarse Open crown; spreading 30 to 50' 20 to 30' Lavender flowers; best used as accent tree; brittle wood.
Fir, China Cunninghamia lanceolata 6, 7, 8 E Slow to moderate Sun to shade Medium Pyramidal 50 to 60' 20 to 25' Good green color during growing season; tends to "brown out" inside as it matures.
Fir, Japanese; Momi fir Abies firma 6, 7, 8 E Slow Sun Fine Conical; open 30 to 50' Tolerant of hot, wet summers!
Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun Medium Pyramidal 40 to 70' 20 to 40' Plant male trees, female has objectionable fruit; yellow leaves fall rapidly in fall.
Hackberry; Sugarberry Celtis laevigata 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Fine Pendulous branches 60 to 80' 60 to 80' Native; bark tends to be warty; orange to blue-black fruit.
Hemlock, Canadian Tsuga canadensis 6, 7 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine Pyramidal; pendulous branches 30 to 80' 15 to 30' Excellent screen; useful for cool shade and northern slopes.
Hemlock, Carolina Tsuga caroliniana 6, 7 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine Compact; pyramidal 30 to 70' 20 to 25' Good screen for cool, shady areas.
Hickories Carya spp. 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun Medium Spreading 60 to 100' 30 to 50' Yellow fall color; nuts can be a nuisance.
Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Fine Upright; semi conical 50 to 75' 25 to 40' Casts light shade; easy fall cleanup; use improved thornless cultivars, var.: Shademaster, Intermis, Sunburst.
Hornbeam, European Carpinus betulus 6, 7 D Very slow Sun to partial shade Medium Pyramidal 40 to 50' 30 to 40' Dense shade; smooth, gray bark; also called ironwood due to very hard wood; gold fall color.
Katsura tree Cercidiphyllum japonicium 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Medium to fine Variable 40 to 60' 30 to 40' Difficult to transplant; excellent shade tree; yellow to apricot fall color.
Leyland Cypress x Cupressocyparis leylandii 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun Fine Upright; pyramidal 60 to 90' 12 to 15' Fast-growing, short-term screen plant; disease prone.
Linden, American Tilia americana 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Broad, rounded crown 60 to 75' 45 to 60' Useful as shade tree in urban areas; yellow fall color.
Linden, littleleaf Tilia cordata 6, 7, 8 D Slow to moderate Sun Medium Pyramidal; spreading 30 to 50' 25 to 40' Excellent street tree; tolerates poor soil.
London plane tree Platanus x acerifolia 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Coarse Rounded with age 70 to 100' 50 to 70' Long-lived, good street tree.
Magnolia, Cucumbertree Magnolia acuminata 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Pyramidal to rounded 50 to 80' 50 to 80' Large 6" leaves; yellow-green flowers appear with leaves; red seed pods.
Magnolia, Southern Magnolia grandiflora 7, 8 E Moderate Sun to partial shade Coarse Conical; symmetrical 40 to 60' 25 to 30' Should be planted where lowest branches can grow to ground.
Magnolia, Sweetbay Magnolia virginiana 6, 7, 8 E to semi-E Moderate to rapid Sun to shade Medium Conical 10 to 60' 10 to 20' Leaves have silvery underside; creamy white flowers in May-September; will grow in wet sites; often multi-trunk.
Maple, Norway Acer platanoides 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun Medium Dense; broad spreading 60 to 80' 50 to 70' Dense shade; tolerates city conditions; plant improved cultivars.
Maple, Red Acer rubrum 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to shade Medium Spreading; symmetrical 40 to 50' 25 to 35' Best soft maple; red or yellow fall color.
Maple, Silver Acer saccharinum 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Upright; fairly open 60 to 80' 50 to 75' Fast-growing shade tree; noted for weak branches and shallow roots.
Maple, Southern sugar Acer barbatum 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Medium Oval 40 to 50' 20 to 25' Excellent shade tree; beautiful fall color.
Maple, Sugar Acer saccharum 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Conical to round top 50 to 75' 30 to 40' Excellent landscape tree; casts very dense shade; yellow fall color.
Oak, Laurel Quercus hemisphaerica 7, 8 E Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Medium to fine Dense; upright; rounded top 40 to 60' 30 to 40' Good street tree; Darlington widely used cultivar.
Oak, Live Quercus virginiana 7, 8 E Slow Sun to partial shade Medium Wide spreading 30 to 50' 50 to 80' Excellent for coastal areas.
Oak, Pin Quercus palustris 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Pyramidal; dense 60 to 80' 40 to 50' Young trees and lower branches of older trees hold leaves throughout winter; red fall color.
Oak, Sawtooth Quercus acutissima 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Dense; broad prymadial to rounded 30 to 45' 30 to 40' Excellent, clean foliage shade tree; leaves persist in winter.
Oak, Scarlet Quercus coccinea 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium to coarse Symmetrical; round crown 60 to 80' 40 to 50' Red fall color; fast-growing oak.
Oak, Water Quercus nigra 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Semi-conical to round 50 to 75' 30 to 40' Dense shade; drooping branches; matures into large shade tree; yellow to brown fall foliage.
Oak, White Quercus alba 6, 7, 8 D Slow Sun to partial shade Medium to coarse Broad crown 60 to 100' 50 to 90' Massive, spreading tree with thick trunk; avoid planting near paved areas.
Oak, Willow Quercus phellos 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Fine Conical in youth; rounded crown 60 to 80' 30 to 40' Fine-textured oak; yellow fall color.
Pagoda, Japanese Sophora japonica 6, 7 D Moderate to rapid Sun to shade Fine Rounded; pendulous branches 50 to70' 50' Creamy flowers in July-August; cream colored seed pods; yellow fall color; produces a light shade.
Pecan Carya illinoinensis 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Irregular 60 to 100' 30 to 50' Brittle branches; casts light shade.
Pine, Japanese black Pinus thunbergiana 6, 7, 8 E Slow to moderate Sun Medium Irregular; asymmetrical crown 50 to 70' 25' Good for screening; very tolerant of salt spray.
Pine, Lacebark Pinus bungeana 6, 7, 8 E Slow Sun Medium Pyramidal to rounded 30 to 50' 20 to 35' Showy bark exfoliates in patches.
Pine, Loblolly Pinus taeda 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine Horizontal branches; rounded crown 70 to 90' 30 to 40' Good windbreak; tolerant of poor soils.
Pine, Longleaf Pinus palustris 7, 8 E Rapid Sun Fine Open; rounded top 80 to 100' 30 to 40' Susceptible to ice and storm damage; difficult to transplant.
Pine, Scotch Pinus sylvestris 6, 7 E Rapid Sun Medium Symmetrical; pyramidal 40 to 70' 15 to 30' Good landscape form, but later becomes more open; dwarf forms.
Pine, Shortleaf Pinus echinata 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun Medium Horizontal branches 80 to 100' Needles 3 to 5" long; long tap root.
Pine, Virginia Pinus virginiana 6, 7, 8 E Slow Sun Medium Horizontal branches 15 to 40' Will grow in poor soils.
Poplar, Lombardy Populus nigra 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Upright; narrow 40 to 70' 10 to 12' Has many landscape problems; short-lived.
Poplar, Tulip Liriodendron tulipifera 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Coarse Cylindrical 60 to 150' 30 to 40' Branches are brittle; yellow fall color.
Redwood, Dawn Metasequoia glyptostroboides 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Fine Pyramidal 70 to 90' 25 to 30' Feathery foliage; easy fall cleanup.
Spruce, Colorado blue Picea pungens 6, 7 E Slow Sun Medium Pyramidal 70 to 90' 30 to 40' Blue-green foliage; 'Foxtail' is heat resistant.
Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua 6, 7, 8 D Slow to moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Upright; semi-conical to spreading with age 60 to 100' 50 to 75' Fruit is a litter problem in lawn areas; scarlet, purple fall color; Rotundiloba is a fruitless cultivar (JC Raulston Arboretum Selection).
Sycamore Platanus occidentalis 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Coarse Broad; open growth 70 to 100' 60 to 80' Leaves have a tendency to drop all summer; attractive bark.
Willow, Weeping Salix babylonica 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine Pendulous; broad 30 to 50' 20 to 40' Weeping; invasive roots; avoid planting near sewers and water lines.
Yellowwood Cladrastis lutea 6, 7, 8 D Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Graceful spreading crown 30 to 50' 40 to 55' Withstands city conditions.
Zelkova, Japanese Zelkova serrata 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Rounded 50 to 60' 40 to 50' Good shade tree; easy fall cleanup; tolerant of urban conditions.

a E = Evergreen, D = Deciduous
b Size will vary with age, growing conditions, and cultivar.

 

Prepared by: Erv Evans, Consumer Horticulturist, NC State University

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