The Southern magnolia is a popular flowering tree.
Trees offer many benefits. They add height and color to the landscape and provide shelter and habitat for birds and other beneficial species. Trees benefit the environment by reducing runoff and water pollution, absorbing carbon dioxide and providing shade that decreases the amount of energy used for air conditioning. Trees can even improve human health; according to the Arbor Day Foundation, simply gazing at trees for five minutes reduces blood pressure and tension. Does this Spark an idea?
Small Deciduous Trees
Deciduous trees, also known as shade trees, lose their foliage in the winter. The flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a slow-grower that reaches heights from 15 to 30 feet with an equal spread and is prized for its showy, pink spring flowers and shiny red fruits. The flowering dogwood thrives in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
According to the University of Missouri Extension, the crabapple (Malus spp.) is the most popular flowering tree in the Midwest. The Camzam cultivar grows to 10 feet with a rounded form and produces bright pink and white blossoms followed by deep red fruits. The Camzam crabapple has deep-green foliage tinged with burgundy. Crabapples prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
Small Evergreen Trees
Evergreen trees provide year-round color and texture, as they don't lose all their foliage in the winter. The Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) grows quickly, reaching heights of 40 feet with a 20-foot spread. This narrow-leaved evergreen has green, scale-like foliage that turns gray-green in winter and produces bird-attracting blue berries. Eastern red cedars grow best in sites with full sun and well-drained soil but tolerate a variety of soils.
The Little Gem Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora "Little Gem") is prized for its large, aromatic white flowers. This 20-foot-tall evergreen has a narrow, 10-foot spread and thrives in full sun and a range of soils.
Large Deciduous Trees
Deciduous trees more than 40 feet tall can lower summer cooling bills by more than 20 percent when planted near a building. The American linden (Tilia Americana) grows to 100 feet with a 60-foot spread. This tree tolerates urban sites and drought, attracts bees, birds and butterflies, and thrives in a range of soils, from clay to dry. Plant American lindens in full sun and add several inches of mulch.
The river birch (Betula nigra) is a popular landscape tree for areas with damp soil. This upright tree grows to 70 feet with a wide, 60-foot spread and has yellow fall foliage. River birches have reddish-brown, peeling bark and produce bird-attracting seeds. Plant the river birch in sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Large Evergreen Trees
Evergreen trees more than 40 feet tall can reduce winter heating bills by acting as windbreaks, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.
The flamegold (Koelreuteria elegans) grows to 50 feet with an equal spread. This fast-growing, broadleaved tree grows into a flat-topped shape. The flamegold produces an abundance of showy, fragrant yellow flowers in early summer, followed by 2-inch-long pink seed pods. A drought-tolerant tree, the flamegold thrives in a range of soils, from sand to clay, and prefers full sun.
The University of Austin recommends the live oak (Quercus virginiana) which grows to 50 feet with a wide, 80-foot spread. This tree prefers full sun and tolerates a range of soils, including compacted clay. A North American native, the live oak attracts birds and butterflies and has glossy, leathery foliage.
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