Trees are of value in the urban setting because they provide shade, cooling, add humidity to the air, provide wildlife habitats and improve the aesthetics of our surroundings, just to name a few. Unfortunately, the urban environment is one of the toughest places for trees to survive and grow. Many trees living in an urban site will be exposed to many, if not all of the following stresses:
There are basically two approaches that can be taken to help ensure the survival of trees planted in urban settings. One approach is to alter current planting and after-care practices by providing trees with larger and improved root zones, by supplying additional water to a tree until it is firmly established in its site and by affording trees greater protection from "people pressure." Tree survival in urban sites can also be enhanced by selecting only tree species or cultivars which are tolerant of stressful conditions and are appropriate for their location. An abbreviated list of trees that are suitable for planting in Connecticut's cities and towns is provided below.
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | COMMON NAME |
|---|---|
| Acer campestre | Hedge Maple |
| Acer ginnala | Amur Maple |
| Acer platanoides Cleveland | Cleveland Norway Maple |
| Acer platanoides Deborah | Deborah Norway Maple |
| Acer platanoides Emerald Queen | Emerald Queen Norway Maple |
| Acer platanoides Globosum | Globe Norway Maple |
| Acer platanoides Erectum | Upright Norway Maple |
| Acer platanoides Columnare | Columnar Norway Maple |
| Acer platanoides Olmsted | Olmsted Norway Maple |
| Amelanchier spp. | Serviceberry, Shadbush |
| Betula nigra | River Birch |
| Carpinus betulus | European Hornbeam |
| Carpinus betulus Columnaris | Columnar European Hornbeam |
| Carpinus betulus Fastigiata | Fastigiate European Hornbeam |
| Carpinus betulus Globosa | Globe European Hornbeam |
| Corylus avellana Contorta | Contorted Weeping Filbert |
| Corylus colurna | Turkish Filbert |
| Crataegus crusgalli | Cockspur Hawthorn |
| Crataegus x lavallei | Lavalle Hawthorn |
| Crataegus phaenopyrum | Washington Hawthorn |
| Crataegus viridis Winter King | Winter King Green Hawthorn |
| Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall Seedless | Marshall Seedless Green Ash |
| Fraxinus pennsylvanica Patmore | Patmore Green Ash |
| Fraxinus pennsylvanica Summit | Summit Green Ash |
| Fraxinus pennsylvanica Urbanite | Urbanite Green Ash |
| Ginkgo biloba Princeton Sentry | Princeton Sentry Ginkgo |
| Gleditsia triacanthos inermis Moraine | Moraine Thornless Honeylocust |
| Gleditsia triacanthos inermis Shademaster | Shademaster Thornless Honeylocust |
| Gymnocladus dioicus | Kentucky Coffeetree |
| Koelreuteria paniculata | Goldenraintree |
| Liquidambar styraciflua Moraine | Sweetgum Moraine American |
| Liquidambar styraciflua Variegata | Variegated American Sweetgum |
| Malus floribunda | Japanese Crabapple |
| Malus hupehensis | Tea Crabapple |
| Malus sargentii | Sargent Crabapple |
| Malus Adams | Adams Crabapple |
| Malus Centurion | Centurion Crabapple |
| Malus Coralburst | Coralburst Crabapple |
| Malus Donald Wyman | Donald Wyman Crabapple |
| Malus Harvest Gold | Harvest Gold Crabapple |
| Malus Molten Lava | Molten Lava Crabapple |
| Malus Professor Sprenger | Professor Sprenger Crabapple |
| Malus Robinson | Robinson Crabapple |
| Malus Snowdrift | Snowdrift Crabapple |
| Malus Sugar Tyme | Sugar Tyme Crabapple |
| Ostrya virginiana | American Hophornbeam |
| Platanus x acerifolia Bloodgood | Bloodgood London Planetree |
| Platanus x acerifolia Columbia | Columbia London Planetree |
| Platanus x acerifolia Liberty | Liberty London Planetree |
| Pyrus calleryana Aristocrat | Aristocrat Callery Pear |
| Pyrus calleryana Autumn Blaze | Autumn Blaze Callery Pear |
| Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer | Chanticleer Callery Pear |
| Pyrus calleryana Redspire | Redspire Callery Pear |
| Quercus imbricaria | Shingle Oak |
| Quercus rubra | Northern Red Oak |
| Syring reticulata | Japanese Tree Lilac |
| Taxodium disticum | Baldcypress |
| Tilia americana Redmond | Redmond America Linden |
| Tilia cordata (numerous cultivars) | Littleleaf Linden |
| Tilia x euchlora | Crimean Linden |
| Tilia tomentosa | Silver Linden |
| Ulmus Camperdownii | Camperdown Weeping Elm |
| Ulmus parvifolia | Lacebark Elm |
| Avoid the following: | |
| Malus Almey | Almey Crabapple |
| Malus American Beauty | American Beauty Crabapple |
| Malus Bechtel | Bechtel Crabapple |
| Malus Flame | Flame Crabapple |
| Malus Hopa | Hopa Crabapple |
| Malus Royalty | Royalty Crabapple |
| Malus Spring Snow | Spring Snow Crabapple |
| Malus Van Eseltine | Van Eseltine Crabapple |
| Pyrus calleryana Bradford | Bradford Callery Pear |
By Dr. Mark H. Brand
Cooperative Extension Specialist, Nursery Crops
Department of Plant Science
University of Connecticut