Street Trees for Decatur

This is a general list of street trees that are suitable for Decatur’s urban environment. Parks & Recreation will take into account above and below ground growing constraints, soil texture and moisture, amount of sunlight, role of plant in landscape, flowering and fall foliage characteristics and obstructions, including utilities in determining suitable tree species.

Wind Resistance ratings by the University of Florida’s publication: “Hurricanes and the Urban Forest: I. Effects on Southeastern United States Coastal Plain Tree Species.” These ratings also take into account our typical storm wind speeds in Decatur and ratings also include tree characteristics, such as, weak wood, ability to compartmentalize decay, density of foliage, shape of crown etc… that may have been factors in tree damage during high winds.

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LARGE TREES

Ash, White (Fraxinus Americana) : A fast growing, native, low maintenance tree that adapts well to any conditions. White Ash can experience occasional borers and scale pests, leaf anthracnose is a frequent disease on leaves during wet springs and they can experience occasional trunk canker of the bark and cambium.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Yellow to Deep Purple and Maroon
Size: 50’-80’ Height, 45’ Spread

Birch, River (Betula Nigra): River Birch is a native tree and has a very distinctive cinnamon colored exfoliating bark. It is the most Borer resistant Birch. Tolerant of both wet soils and dry summers.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Yellow
Size: 40’-60’ Height, 25’-40’ Spread

Magnolia, Southern (Magnolia Grandiflora): Native evergreen tree that has very large, showy fragrant flowers. Easily adaptable to a variety of soils and few pest problems.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Evergreen
Size: 60’-80’ Height, 40’ Spread

Maple, Red (Acer Rubrum): A native tree that has reddish seedlings, stems and twigs in the late spring or early summer and has very showy red fall color. It is very adaptable to a variety of soil types. A medium to fast grower depending on sunlight but grows very well in extreme shade.
Wind Resistance: Medium to Low
Fall Color: Red
Size: 40’-60’ Height, 40’ Spread

Maple, Sugar (Acer Saccharum): A native tree that is sometimes called Florida Maple. Sugar Maples like moist soils but are easily adaptable to many soil types. They are often chosen for their brilliant fall colors in urban landscapes.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Yellow, Burnt Orange or Red
Size: 60’-75’ Height, 40’-50’ Spread

Oak, Cherrybark (Quercus Falcata var. Pagodaefolia): A fast growing native oak, the cherrybark oak is often confused with the Southern Red Oak. It has very strong wood and is a very pleasant shade tree. Cherrybark Oak is also excellent at compartmentalizing decay and is in the Red Oak family.
Wind Resistance: Medium to Low
Fall Color: Copper
Size: 60’-80’ Height, 50’ Spread

Oak, Post (Quercus Stellata): Post Oak is in the White Oak family and is a slow growing native oak. It is desirable as a shade tree and is often used in Urban Forestry. The Post Oak is moderate to very resistant to decay. It is often associated with the Blackjack Oak.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Copper
Size: 40’-50’ Height, 35’-50’ Spread

Oak, Shumard (Quercus Shumardii): A fast growing native oak, the Shumard Oak is a great shade tree and handles Urban planting issues like pollution, compacted soil, poor drainage, poor soil and drought better than most oak varities. Shumard Oak is in the Red Oak family and has been known as a hardy city species. It is closely related to the Nuttall Oak. Shumard is one of the tallest of Oaks and has recorded heights of 140’.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Deep Orange to Red
Size: 75’-90’ Height, 40’-60’ Spread

Oak, Southern Red (Quercus Falcata): A fast growing native oak, the Southern Red Oak is often used in Urban Forestry for its rounded canopy and it is a good shade tree. It is sometimes mistaken for Turkey Oak due to its deeply lobed leaves. Grows well in poor soil and is drought tolerant.
Wind Resistance: Medium to Low
Fall Color: Red to Brown
Size: 70’-80’ Height, 60’-70’ Spread

Oak, Water (Quercus Nigra): A fast growing native oak, Water Oaks along with Willow Oaks are two of the better shade trees. Water Oaks like moist soils. It has a smooth bark and is almost an evergreen oak as some of the green leaves will cling to the tree through winter. Water Oaks typically live shorter lives than most oaks. Water Oaks are not very good at compartmentalizing decay.
Wind Resistance: Medium to Low
Fall Color: Yellow
Size: 50’-75’ Height, 30’-40’ Spread

Oak, White (Quercus Alba): A long lived slow growing native oak, White Oaks have been known to live up to 600 years old. White Oaks are drought tolerant and are adaptive to many soil types.
Wind Resistance: Medium to Low
Fall Color: Red to Purple
Size: 60’-100’ Height, 50’-90’ Spread

Oak, Willow (Quercus Phellos): A fast growing native oak, Willow Oaks are very commonly used in urban environments due to its dense foliage as it is considered one of the best shade trees. Willow Oaks are not good at compartmentalizing decay and may be over used in Urban Forestry, however, Willow Oaks are tolerant of drought, heat and pollution. Recognized for its long slender leaves.
Wind Resistance: Medium to Low
Fall Color: Yellow to Yellow Brown
Size: 60’-80’ Height, 30’-40’ Spread

Pecan (Carya Illinoinensis): Native tree and a member of the Hickory family, although the wood is not as hard as Hickory wood.
Wind Resistance: Medium to Low
Fall Color: Brown
Size: 70’-100’ Height, 40’-80’ Spread

Poplar, Tulip (Liriodendron Tulipifera): Highly resistant to pests and disease, Tulip Poplars are native and have great shade tree quality. They are very fast growing. Sometimes referred to as Yellow Poplar, they are actually members of the Magnolia family and are not a Poplar.
Wind Resistance: Medium to Low
Fall Color: Yellow
Size: 80’-120’ Height, 30’-50’ Spread

Sweetgum (Liquidambar Styraciflua): Sweetgums are native and are good shade trees and are easily recognizable by their star shaped large leaves. Many people don’t like the spiked gumball but non-fruiting varieties are now available. They are a fast growing tree usually chosen for their excellent fall color and shade qualities.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Yellow, Purple, Red
Size: 60’-70’ Height, 45’ Spread

Tupelo, Black (Nyssa Sylvatica): Black Tupelo is a native tree that is actually a distant cousin to Dogwoods, but they don’t resemble one another. Sometimes referred to as Blackgum or Sourgum, the Black Tupelo attracts birds with its fruit and it is considered one of the best street trees. It has a slow to medium growth rate.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Orange to Scarlet
Size: 50’-70’ Height, 25’-35’ Spread

MEDIUM TREES

Cherry, Yoshino (Prunus x Yedoensis): One of the first trees to bloom in the spring with very showy white and pinkish flowers, but it is susceptible to late frost damage to flowering. A relatively short lived tree, Yoshino likes well drained soils and does not like wet feet. Branches grow horizontally and are very picturesque. Yoshinos have shallow roots and low branches.
Wind Resistance: Medium to Low
Fall Color: Yellow
Size: 20’-30’ Height, 30’-40’ Spread

Dogwood, Flowering (Cornus Florida): Dogwoods are native trees that prefer shade to sunlight as they are originally an under-story tree. There provide a wonderful splash of white flowers in the late spring and there are also varieties of Pink Dogwoods as well. They are susceptible to disease and pests and don’t respond well to mechanical damages caused by lawn mowers etc..
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Red to Purple
Size: 20’ Height, 15’ Spread

Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo Biloba): Ginkgo are easily identifiable by their fan shaped leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall. Female Ginkgos produce a fruit that has a foul odor, so male Ginkgos are recommended for planting. They are adaptable to most soil conditions. Often called “Living Fossils” as they first appeared in the early Jurassic period.
Wind Resistance: High
Fall Color: Yellow, Copper, Orange, or Deep Red
Size: 50’-80’ Height, 50’-75’ Spread

Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova Serrata): Japanese Zelkova is a good street and shade tree that has an appealing vase-shaped form with a rounded crown. The peeling bark on older trees exposes orange patches which can be quite impressive. Prefers moist, well drained soils and full sun. It is pH adaptable, and when established is tolerant of wind, drought, and air pollution.
Wind Resistance: Medium
Fall Color: Yellow
Size: 50’-80’ Height, 30’-40’ Spread

Magnolia, Saucer (Magnolia x Soulangiana): Also known as Tulip Trees, Saucer Magnolias have a white and pinkish fragrant flower that blooms in early spring. It has a medium fast growing rate of growth and has good pollution tolerance. It has a moderate drought tolerance.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Yellow
Size: 20’-30’ Height, 25’ Spread

Magnolia, Southern ‘Little Gem’ (Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Little Gem’): A slow growing smaller version of Southern Magnolia. Little Gem has the same large fragrant white flowers that the Southern Magnolia has but also has smaller leaves, which some people like because there is less cleanup. It has a moderate drought tolerance.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Evergreen
Size: 30’-35’ Height, 8’-12’ Spread

Magnolia, Sweetbay (Magnolia Virginiana): A native tree that has white fragrant flowers. It has a moderate to fast growth rate and it produces fruit that attracts birds.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Evergreen
Size: 10’-60’ Height, 10’-30’ Spread

Maple, Japanese (Acer Palmatum): Japanese Maples are very slow growers but have a very impressive bright red fall leaf color. They have a moderate drought tolerance and are excellent under-story trees. Some varieties grow well in full sun and there are many varieties of laceleaf or disectum Japanese Maples. Pruning is required to secure a strong structure.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Red
Size: 15’-25’ Height, 15’-25’ Spread

Pistache, Chinese (Pistacia Chinensis): A long lived, winter hardy shade tree. Outstanding heat, drought and soil tolerance. Extremely pest resistant. It is an excellent urban street tree, but does require some early pruning to secure a strong structure.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Red Orange
Size: 40’-50’ Height, 30’ Spread

Redbud, Eastern (Cercis Canadensis): A native tree that is usually the first to bloom in the spring with pinkish or purplish flowers that is very showy. Also known as the Judas tree because it dates back to biblical times. It has heart shaped leaves and its seed pods attract wildlife. Redbuds are good under-story trees like dogwoods.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Yellow
Size: 20’-25’ Height, 15’-30’ Spread

SMALL TREES

Buckthorn, Carolina (Rhamnus Caroliniana): Carolina Buckthorn has bright green glossy leaves and has inconspicuous green/white flowers in the spring and produces bright red berries that songbirds and other wildlife love. The berries can be toxic to humans but wildlife love them. Even though it is a Buckthorn, it has no spines and has a showy fall leaf color. It is very shade and drought tolerant. Also, known as "Indian Cherry", it can be grown as a small tree or large shrub.
Wind Resistance: High to High
Fall Color: Orange/Yellow or Red
Size: 12’-15’ Height, 10’-15’ Spread

Fringe Tree (Chionanthus Virginicus): Fringe Trees are native trees that are seldom seen. They are very slow growing and are also known as Old Man’s Beard. They are good under-story trees and have a very showy white flowering period. Fringe trees are relatively short lived trees but are tolerant to pollution.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Brown
Size: 15’-20’ Height, 15’-20’ Spread

Myrtle, Crape (Lagerstroemia Indica): Crape Myrtles are probably the most common ornamental tree in the south and may be over used in many cases. They are an excellent selection, however, due to their hardiness. They are very tough, heat and drought tolerant, however, they are susceptible to pest damage. There are many varieties and flower colors to choose from. Pruning is a necessity for proper flowering and overall look. Proper selection of size is essential to picking the right type of crape myrtle for any landscape.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Brown to Yellow
Size: 4’-30’ Height, 4’-20’ Spread

Plum, Chickasaw (Prunus Angustifolia): Chickasaw Plum has white flowers that appear in the spring and it produces a tart fruit that attracts wildlife. It has no real significant fall color and it does require pruning to secure a strong structure. They have a relatively short life and can form multi-stemmed thickets if not pruned regularly.
Wind Resistance: Medium to High
Fall Color: Yellow
Size: 15’-25’ Height, 15’-25’ Spread