The selections on this list are large, locally-grown trees that will offer shade in the summer months, put on a show in the fall, and be able to withstand harsh Chicago winters.
Consider diversifying your trees on the parkway to help stop the spread of disease like we're seeing with Ash Trees and the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).
Consider planting Red Oak along your parkway for a native feel, beautiful foliage, and fall color! Red Oak is striking in the fall with its deep red leaves and round mature shape. Red Oak is one of the fastest-growing oak tree varieties that we grow!
This tree was bred for urban tolerance, the State Street™ Maple makes a spectacular street tree. State Street™ Maple has an interesting, textured bark that is complimented by a unique leaf pattern. Even better, this tree stands out in the fall when it bursts with vibrant yellow fall color!
New Horizon Elm is a cold-tolerant hybrid elm that was developed in a disease resistance program at the University of Wisconsin. Additionally, this tree is particularly well suited for parkways because of its durability and high ground clearance. Bonus! It will shine in the fall along your parkway with its bright golden fall color!
Swamp White Oak is one of the fast-growing oaks that we have available. It has unique peeling bark which will add texture to the landscape. This tough tree is versatile and can be planted along the parkway or anywhere in the open areas of your yard.
This trees' slender, pyramidal canopy allows it to be a good fit for city parkways or anywhere you need shade, color, and texture in a tight space. Prince Sentry® Ginkgo has a unique fanlike leaf that will turn a bright yellow/gold in the fall. This is a seedless non-fruiting variety of ginkgo which is appealing to homeowners and nursery growers alike! This adaptable ginkgo tree has proven to be a beautiful pest-resistant urban tree!
06 Native Hackberry & Chicagoland Hackberry
Hackberry trees are tough as nails, fast-growing, and native to the Chicagoland area. Hackberry is always a safe bet and is a must for places where tough growing conditions exist.
Chicagoans love the Skyline® Honeylocust for its urban tolerance, upright/spreading branches, and for its dappled shade that won't kill the grass beneath. This rapidly growing tough tree is ideal for the parkway, suitable for parking lot islands, and does well anywhere in the open landscape.
08 Emerald Lustre® Norway Maple
Emerald Lustre Noway Maple is a wonderful shade tree for the parkway or any open area in your landscape. This maple matures to have a round canopy with large dark green leaves, offering dense shade. In fall it will have a bright yellow/gold fall color that is stunning on the parkway! Last but not least, Emerald Lustre is a very vigorous, fast-growing tree!
Triumph Elm is a useful tree and it's an excellent performer for home landscapes, in parks, and on the parkway. This large shade tree was specially selected as part of the Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program for its strong upright branching, deep green, glossy leaves that turn a bright yellow in the fall, as well as for its disease resistance to Dutch Elm Disease (DED), elm yellows, and elm leaf beetle.
Deborah Norway will offer something different in the landscape when they unfurl in spring with large purple leaves that provide dense shade. In the summer the leaves will transition to dark green before changing to copper in the fall.
Autumn Fantasy® Maple is a hybrid of the Silver Maple and Red Maple and is one of the most durable varieties of maple trees. This dependable and fast-growing tree will be the envy of your block every fall when the beautiful leaves turn bright red. Because of the large, sturdy branches, the Autumn Fantasy® Maple is ideal for shade on a hot summer day or blocking the big breeze in the windy city. Autumn Fantasy is one of the faster-growing maple varieties. They hold up to ice storms very well and have a very good branching structure.
Northern Catalpa is a standout Parkway tree with its huge heart-shaped leaves and large panicles of fragrant spring flowers! This midwest native tree grows to be a tall shade tree, with an open and irregularly spreading/rounded crown. It's very adaptable and dependable especially in city parkways, and parks where the conditions can be unpredictable.
Kentucky Coffee tree is a proven performer in a wide range of growing conditions including a variety of soils, drought, heat, cold, and road salts making it an ideal parkway tree. This tree brings a tropical feel to the Chicagoland landscape due to its fans of compound leaves, and upright/arching branching structure. Kentucky Coffee Tree offers a filtered and more refined shade.
Add beauty to your parkway with this beautiful shade tree! Redmond American Linden matures to have a strong pyramidal shape which is striking as an accent or when planted in a row along the parkway. In late spring you can expect a floral display of small fragrant yellow flowers. Come fall, your street will put on an outstanding show of yellow/gold fall color! Truly a beautiful sight to be seen.
Musashino Japanese Zelkova's slender form makes it the perfect choice for tight spaces. It's performed exceptionally well in tough, urban conditions especially on the parkway. This beautiful columnar tree will have slender, medium green leaves in the summer while autumn brings an array of colors from yellow to rusty red-orange.
Resources→
For more information on Chicago's urban tree planting recommendations check out the city's list here.
