Shade Providing Trees

Shade trees are defined by their shade-producing canopies of foliage. Many also possess desirable ornamental qualities such as attractive flowers, colorful fall foliage and decorative bark. A properly sited shade tree not only adds beauty to your landscape, but also reduces energy costs during the summer months by shading and cooling your home. Most shade trees prefer full sun to part shade and plenty of room to grow. As with all trees, maintain a 2-3” layer of shredded or chunk bark over the root system to moderate soil temperature, conserve moisture and deter weeds.

Name	Form	HxW	Light	Description
Baldcypress Taxodium distichum	Pyramidal	70’x30’	Full Sun	Native to southern IL. Deciduous conifer (cone bearer). Feathery, needle-like leaves turn cinnamon brown in the fall. Incredibly wind resistant. This remarkably adaptable tree performs well in both wet and dry soils.
Basswood, American Sentry Tilia americana	Pyramidal	40’x25’	Full Sun	Variety of a native linden with a narrower habit. Large thick leaves create a lush appearance. Yellow fall color. Sweetly fragrant flowers in June attract pollinators. Robust grower.
Beech, American Fagus grandifolia	Oval	70’x50’	Full Sun	Eastern US native is a magnificent choice for large residential properties. Attractive serrated leaves turn golden in fall. Stunning in winter with smooth gray bark on muscular branches. Prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil.
Beech, Fernleaf Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’	Rounded	50’x40’	Full Sun	Narrow, feathery dark green leaves turn golden brown in fall. Smooth gray bark has an elephant-hide appearance. Wide-spreading branches may sweep the ground so allow plenty of space for this big beauty! Moist, well-drained soil.
Beech, River’s Purple Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’	Rounded	50’x40’	Full Sun	Rich purple leaves maintain their color all season long. Russet and golden bronze fall color. Elegant, smooth gray bark on wide-spreading branches. Moist, well-drained soil.
Beech, Rohan’s Fagus sylvatica ‘Rohanii’	Pyramidal	40’x35’	Full Sun	Wavy-margined leaves emerge bronze purple in spring, mature to dark purplish green in summer then turn golden bronze in fall. Smooth gray bark is attractive all year long.
Beech, Threadleaf Fagus sylvatica ‘Laciniata’	Pyramidal	60’x40’	Full Sun	Named for its narrow lance-shaped leaves that impart a fine-textured appearance to this stately tree. Golden brown fall color, elegant gray bark.
Beech, Tricolor Fagus sylvatica	Oval	30’x20’	Full Sun, Part Sun	Simply stunning foliage emerges burgundy becoming green with creamy white and soft pink variegation. Smooth gray bark and attractive branch character for winter interest.
Birch, Renaissance Oasis Betula papyrifera 'Oenci'	Broadly	50’x30’	Full Sun, Part Sun	Improved tolerance to drought and high pH (alkaline) soil Betula papyrifera Pyramidal distinguish this tree. White, peeling bark is revealed at an earlier age than is typical of the species.
Birch, River Heritage Betula nigra	Round	40’x30’	Full Sun	Lovely, exfoliating creamy salmon bark. Shiny leaves turning yellow in the fall. Provide ample moisture during dry periods and be sure to maintain a 2-3 inch layer of shredded bark mulch over the roots.
Catalpa Catalpa speciosa	Oval	50’x30’	Full Sun, Part Sun	Native to southern IL. Very large, bright green leaves. Huge, upright white flower clusters in June are followed by long, slender brown seed pods. Rugged winter character.
Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides	Pyramidal	70’x30’	Full Sun	Deciduous conifer. Stately form, similar in appearance to Baldcypress. Feathery leaves turn russet orange in the fall. Shaggy red bark. Best in moist, but not soggy, soil.
Elm, Cathedral Ulmus	Vase Shaped	60’x50’	Full Sun	A vigorous, disease resistant cross between Japanese and Siberian elm discovered at UW-Madison. Features large, glossy leaves and a beautiful arching habit of growth.
Elm, Triumph Ulmus	Rounded	60’x50’	Full Sun	Disease and insect resistant hybrid from the Morton Arboretum. Large, glossy green leaves turn yellow in the fall. Very rapid grower.
Ginkgo, Autumn Gold Ginkgo biloba	Broadly Pyramidal	45’x35’	Full Sun	Bright green, fan-shaped leaves turn a glorious golden color in the fall, then drop all at once! Seedless, pest-free, hardy and adaptable. An excellent lawn or street tree.
Hickory, Shagbark Carya ovata	Oval	60’x35’	Full Sun	Ruggedly beautiful native tree distinguished by its shaggy bark, sweet edible nut and rich yellow fall color. Not particular about soil as long as it drains well. Avoid soggy areas or those prone to flooding. Slow growing.
Honeylocust, Skyline Gleditsia triacanthos	Broadly Pyramidal	45’x35’	Full Sun	Fine-textured, medium green foliage turns golden in the fall. Tough and vigorous, this tree will quickly provide filtered shade. No thorns or seeds.
Honeylocust, Sunburst Gleditsia triacanthos	Oval	35’x35’	Full Sun	Seedless variety with bright yellow new growth changing to bright green. Irregular, somewhat rectangular outline.
Katsuratree Cercidiphyllum japonicum	Rounded	40’x40’	Full Sun, Part Sun	Pyramidal in youth, rounding out with age. Heart-shaped leaves emerge reddish purple turning bluish green then finally shades of yellow and apricot in fall. Intolerant of drought – keep soil evenly moist and mulched.
Kentucky Coffee Tree, Espresso Gymnocladus dioicus	Vase Shaped	50’x35’	Full Sun, Part Sun	Fine-textured foliage is like Honeylocust’s, casting only light shade. Picturesque, rugged winter outline. Fast growing, adaptable and trouble-free large lawn tree.
Larch, American Larix laricina	Pyramidal	60’x20’	Full Sun	Deciduous conifer (cone-bearer) also known as tamarack. Brush-like clusters of fine-textured, needle-like leaves turn golden yellow before dropping in fall. Naturally growing in bogs or wet woods, this tree is intolerant of dry soil.
Linden, Greenspire Tilia cordata	Pyramidal	50’x35’	Full Sun	The Littleleaf Linden standard-bearer with small, dark green leaves, fragrant creamy white flowers, yellow fall color and a perfectly uniform pyramidal shape. Note: Japanese beetles favor the leaves of this linden.
Locust, Purple Robe Robinia pseudoacacia	Oval	50’x30’	Full Sun	Fine-textured, dark green leaves turn yellow in the fall. Striking purple flower clusters in late spring age to rosy pink. Tough tree tolerant of adverse conditions.
Maple, Autumn Blaze Acer x freemanii	Broadly Oval	50’x40’	Full Sun	Our most popular maple is a tough, fast growing hybrid of Silver and Red maple with reliable and long-lasting orange-red fall color. Tolerates heavy clay soils and drought.
Maple, Crimson Sunset Acer truncatum x platanoides	Oval	40’x30’	Full Sun	Deep purple foliage turns maroon to reddish bronze in fall. The rich color holds up well, even in heat.
Maple, Norway Crimson King Acer platanoides	Rounded	50’x40’	Full Sun	Rich maroon leaf color during the growing season. Burgundy to orange fall color. Grows rather slowly, but casts dense shade when mature.
Maple, Norway Royal Red Acer platanoides	Rounded	40’x30’	Full Sun	Similar to Crimson King with rich maroon leaf color during the growing season and burgundy to orange fall color. Grows rather slowly, but casts dense shade when mature.
Maple, Norway Variegated Acer platanoides	Rounded	50’x40’	Full Sun	Variegated leaves of green and creamy white give this tree a luminous glow. In fall the leaves turn golden yellow with a hint of pink. Avoid compacted soil.
Maple, Red Brandywine Acer rubrum	Pyramidal	45’x30’	Full Sun	Seedless! Subtle red flowers appear on smooth gray branches in spring before leaves emerge. Leaves are smaller than Sugar’s or Norway’s. This type is noted for consistent scarlet red fall color. Best in moist, acidic soil.
Maple, Sugar Fall Fiesta Acer saccharum	Rounded	60’x30’	Full Sun, Part Sun	Selection of sugar maple noted for a faster rate of growth; symmetrical form; thick, scorch and tatter resistant leaves; and improved fall color with more oranges and reds.
Oak, Bur Quercus bicolor	Broadly Rounded	55’x55’	Full Sun	IL native. Majestic legacy tree with thick, spreading muscular branches and a broad canopy. Large leaves turn golden brown in the fall. Tolerates alkaline soil well.
Oak, Chinkapin Quercus, Muehlenbergii	Rounded	50’x60’	Full Sun	IL native. Also known as Chestnut oak. Narrow, dark green, serrated leaves turn coppery bronze in fall. Slow growing and may take decades for tree to produce acorns. Beautiful open rounded crown. Best in well-drained soil.
Oak, English Cutleaf Quercus robor ‘Filicifolia’	Rounded	35’x35’	Full Sun	Unusual variety of English oak with deeply cut, narrow leaves turning bronze-yellow in fall.
Oak, English Heritage Quercus hybrid	Pyramidal	50’x40’	Full Sun	Lovely hybrid oak selected for its outstanding vigor and refined pyramidal form with a straight central trunk. Leaves are leathery dark green, glossy and smaller than our native oaks’. Little fall color. Mildew-resistant.
Oak, Northern Pin Quercus ellipsoidalis ‘Majestic Skies’	Pyramidal	60’x45’	Full Sun	This selection features a symmetrical form and straight branching. Similar in appearance to Pin Oak but is much more tolerant of alkaline soil. Deeply lobed, glossy dark green leaves turn rich red in the fall. Well-drained soil.
Oak, Northern Red Quercus rubra	Rounded	50’x45’	Full Sun	IL native. Deeply lobed, shiny dark green leaves turn red or reddish brown in the fall. Grows rapidly once established. More tolerant of urban conditions than other oaks.
Oak, Scarlet Quercus coccinea	Broadly Oval	50’x40’	Full Sun	Deeply lobed, glossy foliage often displays the finest red fall color of any oak. When established, tolerant of dry soi and drought. Best in well-drained soil.l
Oak, Swamp White Quercus bicolor	Rounded	60’x60’	Full Sun	IL native. Broad-branching with a short trunk. Shiny dark green leaves are silvery below. Yellow to reddish purple fall color. Loves moist to wet soil and once established also tolerates drought.
Oak, White Quercus alba	Rounded	70’x60’	Full Sun	Native State Tree of Illinois. Massive, broad-branching tree with a rounded canopy. Fall color is wine red. Leaves ay stay on well into the winter, rustling in the breeze.
Planetree, Exclamation Platanus x acerifolia	Pyramidal	55’x35’	Full Sun	Fast grower with beautiful mottled bark in a mosaic of green, tan, and brown. Large maple-like leaves turn yellow in the fall. Shows tolerance to salt and pollution as well as resistance to frost crack and foliar disease.
Sweetgum, Slender Silhouette Liquidambar styraciflua	Columnar	50’x8’	Full Sun	Fast growing, tall and extremely narrow tree with distinctive star-shaped leaves turning range to burgundy in the fall. Like an exclamation point in the landscape!
Tulip Tree Liriodendron tulipifera	Oval	60’x30’	Full Sun	Eastern US native. Unusually shaped leaves turn a luminous golden yellow in fall. Beautiful greenish yellow, tulip-shaped flowers are borne high in the tree and may be missed. Very fast grower. Moist soil is best.
Tulip Tree, Emerald City Liriodendron tulipifera	Oval	55’x25’	Full Sun	Glossy, darker green leaves turn bright clear yellow in fall. Good form with a straight central trunk.
Willow, Weeping Prairie Cascade Salix hybrid	Weeping	30’x40’	Full Sun	Graceful wide-spreading form with dark green glossy leaves. Bright yellow stems are a beautiful feature in the winter months. Suitable for large properties and especially effective near ponds.

Full Sun: 6 hours direct sun

Part Sun: 4 hours direct sun

Shade: less than 3 hours dirct sun