Street tree selections?

macrocarpa

macrocarpa

Branched out member
Location
Midwest
I’m working on a spring street tree planting project in a 6.5 foot tree lawn. I definitely want to avoid trees that are known for sidewalk damage, but also want real shade trees.

Any thoughts on the best ginkgo cultivar for a street tree situation? Here’s what is currently available at my local nursery.

-Magyar
-Princeton sentry (is it too upright like a foofoo ornamental?)
-Autumn gold

Also, anyone have experience with the below as street trees? I’ve worked with both in a park or yard, but not street tree setting.

-Miyabe maple
-Trident maple

I do wish there was a place on treebuzz for these types of questions for those of us that do planting and street tree consulting for municipalities, etc.
 
A development around here lined their main street with trident maples and the seem to be doing alright, not lifting the sidewalk, and growing at a reasonable and sustainable pace. They do well here, but the gingko that the city has planted in a lot of medians outshines them I think. I will find out which cultivar they used.
 
Treetopflyer said:
I have planted what I believe to be an autumn gold ginko a few years back in my yard near sidewalk and it’s been really awesome! I love that tree! @macrocarpa when You say real shade trees what does that really mean to you?
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A tree that reaches at least 40x20’ I suppose. When I research the different Ginkgo cultivars, they usually suggest the Princeton sentry as the ideal street tree but I have concerns it will just be an upright stick compared to autumn gold or magyar.

From what I gather, ginkgo are not known for heaving up sidewalks so I’m more comfortable going with what would be considered a large tree for the 6.5’ tree lawn.
 
Honeylocust and Kentucky coffeetree were both popular choices in NYC when I was doing some street tree plantings. I don’t know about root lifting, but a few not huge trees that come to mind are Carpinus, Mulberry, Black gum, and Osage orange, and dwarf chestnut oak. Chicago has some really impressive Black locusts as street trees, believe it or not.
 
Stumpsprouts said:
Honeylocust and Kentucky coffeetree were both popular choices in NYC when I was doing some street tree plantings. I don’t know about root lifting, but a few not huge trees that come to mind are Carpinus, Mulberry, Black gum, and Osage orange, and dwarf chestnut oak. Chicago has some really impressive Black locusts as street trees, believe it or not.
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Wait, which mulberry doesn't get huge? Around here they get ultra massive. Every. Damn. Time. And with a quickness.
 
Matias said:
Wait, which mulberry doesn't get huge? Around here they get ultra massive. Every. Damn. Time. And with a quickness.
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How big is big?
There are some dwarf varieties out there. The regular ones max out probably around 50’ here.
 
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The upright Ginkgo are going to have a lot of co-dominate leaders and included bark. I will say the other cultivars can really be hit and miss on form. Some are straight as an arrow with well proportioned branches. Others, even out of the nursery, I look at and think "I have no idea how to get a leader out of that!". So I'd pick them out rather than order for delivery (I usually order sight unseen with good results ...but I'd go tag Ginkgo).
 
Stumpsprouts said:
How big is big?
There are some dwarf varieties out there. The regular ones max out probably around 50’ here.
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Height wise, I think I haven't seen much bigger than 70', but with a 90'+ spread, and Trunks that hit 4' DBH in like 40-50 years. Chico calls itself the "City of Trees" and John Bidwell wrote to congress after arriving claiming it was the perfect place to plant the garden of Eden, and begged them to sent more white people. (He didn't say it quite that way, but y'know)
 
Willow, tulip tree, pin oak, red maple.

Just kidding!

I wonder why carpinus isnt planted more. Seems like a great option, not too big or too messy. Handles cutting well

A few times serviceberry has worked nice for me in a parking lot space, I like how they are fairly upright
 
Some other ideas for "medium-large" sized street trees (I cannot attest to how most behave with sidewalks, but 2 things:
*"medium" trees need a less aggressive root system so will tend to cause fewer problems.
*sidewalk damage is often more a result of poor sidewalk construction than it is aggressive roots. So, no tree is "safe" if the sidewalks are built with a bad base and 2.5" slab.)

OK, so some ideas that I didn't see above
White shield maclura (@Stumpsprouts listed osage orange...just highlighting seedless and "mostly thornless) variety
Yellowwood
Persian parrotia
Eucommia
Sassafras (if you have sandy soil - probably not likely?)
Ostrya
Frontier elm
 
Tom, catalpa as a street tree???? I love them but have zero experience with them as a street tree.

Been searching high and low for autumn treasure hophornbeam (ostrya). Everywhere is sold out. Supposed to be a more urban tolerant cultivar.

Frontier elm
Yellowwood
Boulevard linden
Amur maackia

Are all in process to be planted.

Ostrya and carnipus are ideal in theory but in practice can be a sickly street tree in central Ohio. But I keep trying. The serviceberry “allegheny lustre” blows autumn brilliance away as a street tree from my limited experience planting the two.

Here’s what the nursery said about the ginkgos, ATH I agree princeton sentry would need to be pruned for sure for structure!
 

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macrocarpa said:
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Been searching high and low for autumn treasure hophornbeam (ostrya). Everywhere is sold out. Supposed to be a more urban tolerant cultivar.

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Acorn has (4) 1.75" and (1) each 2:, 2.5"

But, don't see it anywhere else. Don't know anything about the cultivar...but certainly sounds intriguing.
 
I’m not a fan of maple species as street trees.

London Plane seems to always do great.

Ginkgo is excellent especially if you can avoid co dominant leaders with included bark.

Honey locust do well but require a bit of maintenance to avoid that mess.

Hardy rubber tree is a rarity but I’ve seen them looking very happy in Brooklyn.

Carpinus seems like a good idea in theory but the ones I’ve seen used in urban and city areas around here (NY/CT/MA) don’t seem to jive well with the typical urban stressors. Can’t say I’ve pin pointed exactly what it is but they seem to get all kinds of pests and pathogens. My theory is it’s the heat refraction from pavements and buildings and/or maybe don’t do well with urban pollution.

What about sourwood? I’ve been recommending this under utilized tree left and right. But like Carpinus not a true shade tree.
 
Basswood said:
Carpinus seems like a good idea in theory but the ones I’ve seen used in urban and city areas around here (NY/CT/MA) don’t seem to jive well with the typical urban stressors. Can’t say I’ve pin pointed exactly what it is but they seem to get all kinds of pests and pathogens. My theory is it’s the heat refraction from pavements and buildings and/or maybe don’t do well with urban pollution.
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They need full to part shade. Have a lot growing wild in the holler here. Such a beautiful form, but the best ones are deep in the understory.

But I have also seen them do ok in full sun. And they hedge beautifully if you’re into that kind of thing. There’s a courtyard around here I worked on once where they are shaped like ice cubes. Kind of dumb but they’re in full sun and doing great. My first official day of tree work ever was to spray horticultural oil on a tall Carpinus hedge in Manhattan, part shade as I recall. That hedge was probably 30’ tall.
 
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