The limited space in urban settings requires the extensive use of small and intermediate sized trees. This is especially true in street, mall, and plaza projects, where a pavement will completely surround the tree and utilities (telephone, electrical) wires are either above or below ground. One needs to choose a tree which will remain relatively small in stature but offer large aesthetic benefits.
Residential landscapes utilize many of these trees as "understory" trees in natural areas where shade is a factor.
Blooms, berries and foliage color are also strong assets for most of the trees in this group.
Several of these trees are native to North Carolina, i.e., Flowering Dogwood, Redbud and River Birch. Care must be taken to assimilate these environmental conditions so the trees will grow and mature with a minimum of problems.
BOTANICAL NAME:
COMMON NAME:
HARDINESS ZONE:
GROUP:
GROWTH RATE:
EXPOSURE:
TEXTURE:
FORM:
HEIGHT:
SPREAD:
LANDSCAPE REMARKS:
BOTANICAL NAME: Acer palmatum
COMMON NAME: JAPANESE MAPLE
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: part shade
TEXTURE: medium to fine
FORM: dense rounded top
HEIGHT: 15-25'
SPREAD: 10-15'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: excellent specimen tree; several varieties
with interesting habits
BOTANICAL NAME: Albizia julibrissin
COMMON NAME: MIMOSA
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: spreading low open
HEIGHT: 20-30'
SPREAD: 20-30'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: relatively short-lived, good summer color
BOTANICAL NAME: Betula nigra
COMMON NAME: RIVER BIRCH
HARDINESS ZONE: RIVER BIRCH
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright open
HEIGHT: 25-40'
SPREAD: 10-15'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: multi-trunk is desired - excellent, native
tree which can be transplanted
BOTANICAL NAME: Betula pendula
COMMON NAME: EUROPEAN WHITE BIRCH
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: umbrella crowned
HEIGHT: 25-40Õ
SPREAD: 10-15'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: excellent for white bark and yellow fall
foliage
BOTANICAL NAME: Carpinus caroliniana
COMMON NAME: AMERICAN HORNBEAM
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: irregular crooked stem with horizontal branches
HEIGHT: 25-35'
SPREAD: 20-25'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: very slow growing but should be planted more
BOTANICAL NAME: Cercis canadensis
COMMON NAME: EASTERN REDBUD
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: wide spreading branches
HEIGHT: 20-30'
SPREAD: 15-20'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: good tree tolerant of adverse conditions
BOTANICAL NAME: Cornus florida
COMMON NAME: FLOWERING DOGWOOD
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: broad crowned small tree
HEIGHT: 20-30'
SPREAD: 20-25'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: excellent landscape tree for good soils;
many varieties to plant - CULTIVARS: 'Cherokee Chief' - dark
pink; 'Cloud 9' - white; 'White Cloud' - white; 'Rubra' - pink
BOTANICAL NAME: Cornus kousa
COMMON NAME: KOUSA DOGWOOD
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: horizontal branching habit
HEIGHT: 10-15'
SPREAD: 8-10'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: beautiful specimen landscape tree
BOTANICAL NAME: Cotinus coggyria
COMMON NAME: SMOKETREE
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: oval crown
HEIGHT: 10-15'
SPREAD: 10-12'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Daydream' - purple form very interesting
habit
BOTANICAL NAME: Crataegus phaenopyrum
COMMON NAME: WASHINGTON HAWTHORN
HARDINESS ZONE: 6, 7, 8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium to fine
FORM: dense, rounded top
HEIGHT: 25-30'
SPREAD: 20-25'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: nice fall color, berries persisting through
winter
BOTANICAL NAME: Eriobotrya japonica
COMMON NAME: LOQUAT
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: short trunk dense head
HEIGHT: 10-20'
SPREAD: 8-10'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: excellent accent plant; fruits on coastal
areas
BOTANICAL NAME: Halesia carolina
COMMON NAME: CAROLINA SILVERBELL
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: shade
TEXTURE: medium to coarse
FORM: rounded open crown
HEIGHT: 20-40'
SPREAD: 15-20'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: beautiful multi-trunk tree
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex cassine
COMMON NAME: DAHOON HOLLY
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: medium
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: large shrub form, dense branches
HEIGHT: 20-30'
SPREAD:
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: beautiful tree with green foliage, red
berries, gray bark
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex opaca
COMMON NAME: AMERICAN HOLLY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright and conical
HEIGHT: 20-30'
SPREAD: 10-20'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: excellent native tree - must have both
sexes for fruit
BOTANICAL NAME: Koelreuteria paniculata
COMMON NAME: GOLDEN-RAIN TREE
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright open
HEIGHT: 20-30'
SPREAD: 15-20'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: interesting seed display in fall compound
leaves
BOTANICAL NAME: Laburnum x watereri
COMMON NAME: GOLDEN-CHAIN
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: multi-trunked upright form
HEIGHT: 25-30'
SPREAD: 10-15'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: specimen tree, rather short lived
BOTANICAL NAME: Lagerstroemia indica
COMMON NAME: CRAPE-MYRTLE
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: multi-trunk rounded crown
HEIGHT: 20-25'
SPREAD: 10-15'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: interesting in tree form, showy display of
blooms in summer, excellent fall color; CULTIVARS: 'Potomac' -
pink; 'Catawba' - dark purple; 'Flame' - pink; 'Natchez' -
white; 'Durant Red' - red
BOTANICAL NAME: Magnolia soulangeana
COMMON NAME: SAUCER MAGNOLIA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: medium to coarse
FORM: broad, spreading
HEIGHT: 20-25'
SPREAD: 15-20'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: frost often claims flowers
BOTANICAL NAME: Malus spp.
COMMON NAME: FLOWERING CRABAPPLE
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: round spreading crown
HEIGHT: 15-25'
SPREAD: 10-20'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: very showy for short period of spring color;
Cultivars: 'Adams'; 'Centurion'; 'Prairifire'; 'Robinson'
BOTANICAL NAME: Oxydendrum arboreum
COMMON NAME: SOURWOOD
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun or shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: slender trunk, upright branches
HEIGHT: 20-30'
SPREAD: 10-15'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: excellent native tree - interesting panicles
in fall
BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus caroliniana
COMMON NAME: CAROLINA CHERRY LAUREL
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun or part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: dense rounded head
HEIGHT: 20-30'
SPREAD: 15-20'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: excellent green foliage, black fruit
BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus cerasifera
COMMON NAME: PURPLE LEAF PLUM
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: vase shape, dense foliage
HEIGHT: 15-25'
SPREAD: 10-15Õ
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: foliage is purple from spring to fall
'Atropurpurea'
BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus persica
COMMON NAME: PEACH
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: spreading
HEIGHT: 10-20Õ
SPREAD: 8-10'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: many varieties for excellent fruiting - good
for edible landscaping
BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus serrulata
COMMON NAME: JAPANESE CHERRY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright with spreading branches
HEIGHT: 15-25'
SPREAD: 15-20'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: excellent for spring color and fragrance
BOTANICAL NAME: Punica granatum
COMMON NAME: POMEGRANATE
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: wide spreading
HEIGHT: 10-20'
SPREAD: 10-15'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: good shrub-like plant tolerant of adverse
conditions
BOTANICAL NAME: Pyrus calleryana
COMMON NAME: CALLERY PEAR
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright conical shape
HEIGHT: 20-40'
SPREAD: 20-30'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: excellent street tree; 'Bradford' - better
selection
BOTANICAL NAME: Salix caprea
COMMON NAME: PUSSY-WILLOW
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun to part shade
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: slender trunk, spreading crown
HEIGHT: 12-25'
SPREAD: 8-15'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: fast growing plant-tolerant of adverse
conditions
BOTANICAL NAME: Sorbus aucuparia
COMMON NAME: EUROPEAN MOUNTAIN ASH
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: slender trunk, spreading crown
HEIGHT: 25-30'
SPREAD: 20-25'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: very interesting fruit in late summer