URBAN TREES

URBAN TREES SERIES

Trees are an excellent addition to a landscape, but not all trees are created equal. Matching a tree to a suitable site and climate is beneficial for both the tree and the homeowner, but knowing what tree to choose, and where to plant it, can be challenging. This 12-week series will help you plant the RIGHT TREE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

Posters of the following 'Urban Trees' series are included as .pdf documents at the bottom of this page.

• Right tree in the right place
• Before you plant a tree be sure to consider
• Parkland Pillar Birch
• Northern Acclaim Honey Locust
• Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac
• Autumn Blaze Maple
• White Fringe Tree
• Saskatoon
• Thunderchild Crabapple
• Paperbark Maple
• Showy Mountain Ash
• Saratoga Maidenhair

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RIGHT TREE IN THE RIGHT PLACE

Trees provide immeasurable  benefits to homeowners and the communities in which they live, delivering cool shade to privacy, beauty, windbreak, water runoff reduction, pollution reduction … and the list goes on.

How WELL a tree will grow (or not grow) is ultimately determined by the conditions of YOUR GROWING SITE.

MATCHING the characteristics of a tree species to the specific features of your site (climatic zone, soil type, structures, hardscapes, under/overhead power lines) is critical because it will ensure your new tree thrives and delivers the benefits you desire.

 

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BEFORE YOU PLANT A TREE BE SURE TO CONSIDER

WHY do you want to plant a tree?  For shade?  Fruit?  Colour?  Wind screen?  

WILL you have time to nurture the tree (prune, water, fertilize)?

CONFIRM what you are buying – use the latin name.

SOIL TYPE, pH and WATER REQUIREMENTS match the needs of the tree.

CORRECT HARDINESS ZONE rating for the tree?

MATURE SIZE AND HEIGHT:   When MATURE, it WON’T interfere with above / below ground infrastructure (power lines, drainage tiles, city signage, street corners), or encroach on an existing tree or obscure neighbour’s view.

For more  tips on site/tree prep and Kamloops’ plant hardiness zones visit:
gardenprofessors.com/twelve-step-program-for-planting/
purityfeed.ca/blog/Hardiness-Zones-in-Kamloops.htm

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PARKLAND PILLAR BIRCH

Betula platyphylla ‘Jefpark”

MATURE HEIGHT                           25 – 40 feet (7-12 metres)

MATURE SPREAD                           7 feet (2 metres)

SUN                                                   Full Sun/Partial Shade

HARDINESS  ZONE                        3 to 7 (Canada)

WATER REQUIREMENTS               Low

• A FAST-GROWING, LOW-MAINTENANCE tree that is tolerant of urban pollution and a variety of growing conditions. Watering is only necessary during dry periods, especially while it is establishing.

• NARROW, VERTICAL with DENSE foliage. Has white bark, golden foliage in the fall and in close plantings can serve as a HEDGE. Would also make an ideal planting for a BOULEVARD.
   
• DEER don’t particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone.            

Resources:
https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/products/parkland-pillar-birch-tree

 

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NORTHERN ACCLAIM HONEY LOCUST

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ‘Harve’

MATURE HEIGHT                    Up to 50 feet (15 metres)

MATURE SPREAD                     Up to 35 feet (10 metres)

LIFESPAN                                     70 years

GROWTH RATE                          Moderate to Fast

SUN                                             Full Sun

HARDINESS ZONES               3 to 6

WATER REQUIREMENTS        Moderate

SOIL TYPE                                   Well drained, moist soil; Not particular to soil type/pH

FIRE SMART                                Yes

PROS:

• HARDY, fast-growing, drought and pollution tolerant (once established), dappled shade, interesting bark, thornless and seedless, resistant to canker.

CONS:

• Does not tolerate shade, has aggressive (deep) roots and requires a LARGE YARD where it can be planted at least 20 feet from a house.  

Resources:
NDSU Research Foundation:  http://www.ndsuresearchfoundation.org/northern_acclaim

Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

 

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IVORY SILK JAPANESE TREE LILAC

Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’

MATURE HEIGHT                   20-30 feet (6-9 metres)

MATURE SPREAD                    15-20 feet (4.5-6 metres)

LIFESPAN                                   45 years

GROWTH RATE                         Medium

SUN                                            Full Sun

HARDINESS ZONE                  3 to 7

WATER REQUIREMENTS       Moderate

SOIL TYPE         Organically rich, moist, neutral to slightly acidic soils with good drainage.

FIRE SMART                              Yes

POLLUTION TOLERANT        Yes

USEAGE            Good for smaller property.
                           Can be used as a hedge, on a boulevard,
                           or as an accent tree.

PROS

• Generally trouble-free with showy plumes of fragrant flowers. Has attractive  dark, reddish-brown bark that peels as the tree ages. Can tolerate heat.

CONS

• Requires steady pruning to maintain flowers.

Resources:
Okanagan Xeriscape Association Plant Database – okanaganxeriscape.org/db/plant/295

Missourri Botanical Gardens – missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c152

TheKohser - Gregory Kohs, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

 

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AUTUMN BLAZE MAPLE

Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’

MATURE HEIGHT                   40-50 feet (12 to 15 metres)

MATURE SPREAD                    30-40 feet (9 to 12 metres)

LIFESPAN                                    80 years (under ideal conditions)

GROWTH RATE                         Fast

SUN                                            Full Sun to Part Shade

HARDINESS ZONE                  3

WATER REQUIREMENTS       Moderate

SOIL TYPE                                   Will tolerate alkaline soil. 
                                                    Prefers moist soil with good drainage

FIRE SMART                               Yes

POLLUTION TOLERANT         Yes

USEAGE                                        Shade; Accent

PROS

• Generally trouble-free with fall foliage that turns a spectacular orange-red/ scarlet. Drought-tolerant once established.

CONS

• Requires a sheltered, wind-protected location. May have some
  weak branch unions which can lead to snow or ice damage.

Resources:
okanaganxeriscape.org/db/?pq=autumn+blaze+maple&sort=common_name

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=255063&isprofile=0&
www.ebben.nl/en/treeebb/acfjeffe-acer-x-freemanii-jeffersred/

 

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WHITE FRINGE TREE

Chionanthus virginicus

MATURE HEIGHT                  15 feet (5 metres)

MATURE SPREAD                   15 feet (5 metres)

LIFESPAN                                   60 years (under ideal conditions)

GROWTH RATE                        Slow

SUN                                           Full Sun to Part Shade

HARDINESS ZONE                 4 to 6

WATER REQUIREMENTS      Moderate

SOIL TYPE                                  Prefers moist soil with good drainage. 
                                                   Not particular to soil type or pH

FIRE SMART                              Yes

POLLUTION TOLERANT        Yes

USEAGE                                       Accent for smaller home landscape

PROS

• Small ornamental tree with generous clusters of delicate, fragrant, white flowers that grace the tree’s long, drooping branches. Adaptable to drier soils. Male trees do not produce fruit.

CONS

• Very small understory.

Resources:
Gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder – www.missouribotanicalgarden.org

Wiki commons – fritzflohrreynolds

 

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SASKATOON

Amelanchier alnifolia

MATURE HEIGHT                  12 to 15 feet (4 to 5 metres)

MATURE SPREAD                    6 feet (2 metres)

LIFESPAN                                    20-25 years

GROWTH RATE                         Medium

SUN                                           Sun to Part Shade

HARDINESS ZONES               3 to 6 (varies according to cultivar)

WATER REQUIREMENTS       Low

SOIL TYPE                                   Prefers well-drained soil.  Not particular to soil type or pH

FIRE SMART                                Yes

POLLUTION TOLERANT         Somewhat

USEAGE                                        Accent for smaller home landscape;                                                      edible garden

PROS

• Ornamental and edible. Extremely hardy with beautiful white flowers in early spring and berries in June. Attract pollinators and birds.
   
• ‘Northline’ and ‘Thiessen’ cultivars have excellent berries for eating.

CONS

• Can sucker and can become shaggy if not pruned.

Resources:
Okanagan Xeriscape Plant Database – okanaganxeriscape.ca

Saskatoon Berry Production Manual. Government of Alberta

Wiki commons – Walter Siegmund

 

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THUNDERCHILD CRABAPPLE

Malis ‘Thunderchild’

MATURE HEIGHT                  15 to 20 feet (4 to 5 metres)

MATURE SPREAD                   12 to 15 feet (3 to 5 metres)

LIFESPAN                                   50 years (under optimal conditions)

GROWTH RATE                        Medium

SUN                                           Full Sun

HARDINESS ZONE                 3

WATER REQUIREMENTS      Medium

SOIL TYPE                                  Prefers moist, well-drained soil. 
                                                   Not particular to soil type or pH

FIRE SMART                              Yes

POLLUTION TOLERANT        Yes (highly tolerant)

USEAGE                                       Ornamental accent or boulevard

PROS

• Soft pink buds that open to white flowers, followed by dark red edible fruit that tends to cling to tree over winter. Leaves emerge green, turning to rich purple and changing to a bronzy colour in fall. Heat tolerant. Resistant to fire blight.

CONS

• Small fruit can be messy.

Resources:

Town of Turner Valley – Tree Guide – Species and Care Information. turnervalley.ca

University of Saskatchewan
https://conferences.usask.ca/horticulture100years/news/2021/01january/percy-wright-thunderchild-flowering-crab-apple.php

 

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PAPERBARK MAPLE

Acer griseum

MATURE HEIGHT                30 feet (9 metres)

MATURE SPREAD               25 feet (7.5 metres)

LIFESPAN                               80+ years (under optimal conditions)

GROWTH RATE                    Slow

SUN                                          Full Sun/Part Shade  

HARDINESS ZONES           5-7

WATER REQUIREMENTS  Moderate

SOIL TYPE                              Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Not particular to soil type or pH

FIRE SMART                          Yes

POLLUTION TOLERANT   Somewhat

USEAGE                                  Shade

PROS:

• Relatively low-maintenance. Its luminous, copper-orange to cinnamon reddish/ brown peeling bark is extremely showy, as is its orange to red fall colour.

CONS:

• Intolerant of drought; mulch will help keep the roots cool. Once established, requires a deep weekly watering in summer months.

RESOURCES:
Harvard Education Arboretum Plant Bios - Paperbark Maple
https://arboretum.harvard.edu/plants/

Missouri Botanical Garden:
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfindersearch.aspx

Photos - Derek Ramsey and Bruce Morton – Wikimedia Commons

 

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SHOWY MOUNTAIN ASH

Sorbus decorus

MATURE HEIGHT                       20-25 feet (6 to 7.5 metres)

MATURE SPREAD                      15 feet (4.5 metres)

LIFESPAN                                      40 years  (under optimal conditions)

GROWTH RATE                           Moderate

SUN                                                 Full Sun

HARDINESS ZONE                     2b

WATER REQUIREMENTS         Medium

SOIL TYPE                                     Prefers moist, well-drained soil.  
                                                     Not particular to soil type or pH

FIRE SMART                                 Yes

POLLUTION TOLERANT          Yes

USEAGE                                          Ornamental, boulevard  

PROS

• The hardiest of the mountain ashes, this tree has a long blooming time. The flowers and dark green foliage are very showy along with its scarlet red berries and smooth grey bark. A good choice for attracting birds.  

CONS

• Should only be grown in full sunlight. Intolerant of drought and shade and its small fruit can be messy.
   

RESOURCES:
Right Tree, Right Place – Hydro Manitoba - https://www.hydro.mb.ca/safety/pdfs/right_tree_right_place.pdf

Okanagan Xeriscape Plant Database – https://okanaganxeriscape.org

Images – Ryan Hodnett and Simon A. Eugster - Wiki Commons

 

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SARATOGA MAIDENHAIR

Ginkgo biloba ‘Saratoga’

MATURE HEIGHT                      40 feet (12 metres)

MATURE SPREAD                       30 feet (9 metres)

LIFESPAN                                       150 years (under optimal conditions)

GROWTH RATE                            Slow

SUN                                               Full Sun

HARDINESS ZONES                   4

WATER REQUIREMENTS           Low

SOIL TYPE                                       Adaptable to moist and dry soils
                                                       Not particular to soil type or pH

FIRE SMART                                   Yes

POLLUTION TOLERANT            Extremely

USEAGE                                           Shade Tree; Specimen Plant

PROS

• This low-maintenance, ancient tree coexisted with the dinosaurs!
  It is moderately drought tolerant and deer don’t find it tasty.

CONS

• Female gingko trees drop messy fruit that is so smelly, it will make
  your time outside unbearable. Stick with male gingko tree
  selections like ‘Saratoga’ and ‘Princeton Sentry.’

RESOURCES:
Chicago Botanical Garden –  www.chicagobotanic.org

Photos - Stickpen, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons