Intermediate-Sized Deciduous Trees

Tagged as: Deciduous Trees, Intermediate

Prunus sargentii, Sargent's cherry. Rich pink flowers open early to create a frothy pink mass in the springtime landscape

Intermediate-Sized Trees for the Home Landscape

• Generally grow 25-40 feel tall
• Drop their leaves in the fall (deciduous)
• Recommended for the Midwest on the basis of ornamental value, proven hardiness, availability, and freedom from serious problems

Uses in the Landscape

• Intermediate-sized trees give shade and shelter to our houses as well as a sense of permanence
• In front of and to the sides of the house, they help create an attractive setting by framing the house
• In the backyard, intermediate-sized trees shade private areas such as patios and create a pleasing background for the house when viewed from the street
• In the parkway, these trees help shade the street and curbside parking, absorb noise, din, heat, and glare from the pavement, and contribute to cooler walkways and yards
• On the west and south sides of the house, they can help cut heating and air conditioning costs by providing cooling afternoon shade in the summer while allowing the sun's warmth to reach the house in winter

Factors to Consider

Seasonal changes

Many trees drop flowers, seeds or nuts. This may be a maintenance consideration if the tree is planted near a patio, deck, entry, walk or driveway Trees planted close enough to shade the house will also likely drop their leaves and seeds into the gutters, requiring periodic inspection and cleaning. It's important t0 assess your Willingness to do these tasks before selecting a site and a tree.

Types of shade

It's important to realize that the leaf and branching patterns of different species produce different kinds of shade. Some, such as Ohio buckeye, create fairly deep shade limiting what will grow beneath It. Others, such as the Amur cork tree, create a light, filtered shade.

Growth rate

Another important considerations is how quickly the tree grows. In newer residential areas, people often select trees that grow quickly. Although they are desirable for their rapid contribution to the landscape, fast-growing trees are often shorter-lived, more susceptible to diseases and Insects and more likely to break in wind and Ice storms. For these reasons, it's often useful to plan a combination of fast-growing and slow-growing trees.

Chart

This chart inside provides information about the size, shape, growth rate and other important characteristics of Intermediate-Sized Deciduous Trees (25-40 feet tall) recommended by The Morton Arboretum for their Suitability and desirability in the Midwest.

Botanical Name	Common Name	Height	Spread	Form	Rate	Zone	Cultural/Comments
Acer campestre	Hedge Maple	20-35'	20-35'	Rounded to broad rounded	S	5-8	Full sun to part shade, in a moist, well drained soil.  Can tolerate some dryness, alkaline soils and compaction.  Avoid pruning in early spring
Acer saccharum 'Morton'	Morton Sugar Maple- CRESCENDO™	30-40'	30'	Broadly oval	M	4-8	Best in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soils.  Tolerant of heat and drought once established.
Aesculus x carnea	Red Horse-chestnut	30-40'	25-30'	Round	M	4-7	Full sun to light shade; needs rich, moist soil; red flowers
Aesculus x carnea 'Briotii'	Ruby Red Horse-Chestnut	25-35'	25-35'	Round	M	5	Deep red flowers; compact habit; more disease resistant
Aesculus glabra	Ohio Buckeye	20-40'	20-30'	Round	S/M	4-7	Full sun to part shade; prefers rich, moist soil; creates dense shade; attractive red fall color early in the season
Betula populifolla 'Whitespire'	Whitespire Gray Birch	30-40'	25-35'	Pyramidal	M	5-6	Full sun; needs well-drained soil; heat tolerant; best resistance to bronze birch borer of all white barked birches; yellow fall color
Carpinus betulus	European Hornbeam	40-60'	30-40'	Oval-to- rounded	S	5-7	Full sun to light shade; tolerant of a wide range soil conditions, but best in well-drained soils, Dense habit;  attractive smooth bark; late fall color
Carpinus caroliniana	American Hornbeam (Musclewood)	25-35'	25-30'	Round	S	3-9	Sun to shade; best in deep, rich, moist soil; tolerant of drier sites & periodic flooding; native under story tree; often multi-trunk; orange-red fall color
Catalpa ovata	Chinese Catalpa	30-40'	25-30'	Round	S	5-8	Sun to part shade; tolerant of poor, dry soil; finer textured than other catalpas
Cercidlphyllum japonlcum	Katsuratree	40-60	25-30'	Pyramidal	M/F	4-8	Full sun; drought sensitive; needs moist, well-drained soil; wide, blue-green heart-shaped leaves
Cladrastls kentukea	Yellowwood	30-50'	40-55'	Round	M	4-8	Moist, rich soil; large pendulous, fragrant white flowers every other year; cast deep shade; attractive gray bark
Corylus colurna	Turkish Hazelnut	40-50'	20-25'	Broad Pyramidal	M	4-7	Full sun; pH adaptable; tolerant of adverse conditions; heat tolerant; yellow fall color
Magnolia x loebneri	Loebner's Magnolia	25-35'	25-30'	Pyramidal to rounded	S	4-8	Full sun; requires rich, moist well drained soil; pink & white flowers
Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel'	Leonard Messel Loebner's Magnolia	20-25'	15-20'	Upright-rounded	S-M	5-8	Early, fragrant deep pink flowers; frost resistant
Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill'	Merrill Loebner's Magnolia	25-30'	30-35'	Upright-rounded	M	3-8	Large, fragrant white flowers
Magnolia x soulangiana	Saucer Magnolia	25-30'	15-25'	Spreading	M	4-9	Full sun to light shade; moist, well-drained soil, high in organic matter; shallow-rooted; large pink flowers subject to early frost damage
Magnolia x soulangiana 'Verbanica'	Verbanica Saucer Magnolia	20-25'	20-25'	Upright	M	4-9	Improved; late blooming selection avoids early season frost; extremely cold hardy
Nyssa sy/vatica	Tupelo	30-50'	25-30'	Pyramidal	S/M	4-9	Full sun; moist soil with pH below 6.5; difficult to transplant; native tree with distinct horizontal branching; brilliant red fall color
Ostrya virginiana	Ironwood	25-40'	15-20'	Round	S	3-9	Full sun to part shade; needs well-drained soils; native under story tree; interesting ornamental fruit
Prunus maackii	Amur Cherry	20-30'	20-30'	Pyramidal to rounded	F	3-6	Full sun; requires well-drained soil; attractive amber bark; cast light shade
Prunus sargentii	Sargent's Cherry	30-40'	25-30'	Upright	F	4-7	Sun; needs well-drained soil; early pink flowers in spring; red fall color
Sorbus alnifolia	Korean Mountain-Ash	35-50'	20-30'	Pyramidal to oval	M/F	4-7	Full sun; well-drained soil; pH adaptable; least susceptible to borer; attractive white spring flowers; orangish-red fruits in fall
Tilia americana 'Redmond'	Redmond American Basswood	35-50'	20-30'	Pyramidal	M	3-7	Full sun to light shade; deep, well-drained soil; dark green foliage; fragrant flowers; casts moderate to dense shade
Tilia cordata	Little-leaved linden	35-60'	25-30'	Pyramidal	M	3-7	Full sun; pH adaptable; prefers moist, well-drained soil; pollution
Tilia cordata 'Chancellor'	Chancellor Little-leaved linden	35-40'	20-25'	Upright	F	4-7	Uniform habit; good branch development
Tilia cordata 'Greenspire'	Greenspire Little-leaved linden	40-50'	30-35'	Pyramidal to oval	M	3-7	Single-trunk tree; improved branching; fragrant flowers
Ulmus 'Frontier'	Frontier Elm (Ulmus carpinifolia x U. parvifolia)	25-40'	15'	Upright/ Pyramidal	F	5-8	Tolerant of urban conditions, drought, poor soil, and compaction

Height and spread listed are at the tree's maturity. How fast a tree grows will be influenced by site conditions, species selection, and maintenance, Growth rate refers to the average annual rate of growth in the first 10 years after planting.

Key to Growth Rate:

Nyssa sylvatica, tupelo or black gum, in outstanding fall color	Bark of Betula nigra 'Little King' - a plant with four-season interest

Carpinus caroliana, American hombeam, a great tree for naturalizing along wood edges	Spring blossoms of Magnolia x soulangiana, saucer magnolia

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