Small Trees

RHS_RHS-0009154_10593.JPG, via   The Royal Horticultural Society

Downy Serviceberry

Latin Name Amelanchier arborea

Type Native to Ontario

Size SmallAverage height at maturity (meters): 7Average width at maturity (meters): 4

LeavesShape: Oval or round with finely serrated edgesSummer Foliage: Dark greenFall Foliage: Yellow, orange to deep red leaves

Flowers Clusters of white flowers with slender petals, spring blooming

Fruit Small red berries ripen in early to mid-summer

Growing ConditionsLight: Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy, or clay)Soil moisture: Moist to dry

Facts Food source for pollinators and wildlife. Transplants easily due to their fibrous root systems

Vilen3556A.jpg, 2010-5-24, via  Oregon State University

Nannyberry

Latin Name Viburnum lentago

Type Native to Ontario

Size SmallAverage height at maturity (meters): 7Average width at maturity (meters): 3

LeavesShape: Oval with fine teethSummer Foliage: Glossy emerald, green to dark greenFall Foliage: Reddish-purple

Flowers Cream-colored flat topped round clusters. Spring blooming

Fruit Dark blue-black berries

Growing ConditionsLight: Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Moderately drained loamy or claySoil moisture: Moist

Facts Deep root system. Food source for pollinators and wildlife. Shrub-like tree

Dana V Williamson, Malus × 'Prairifire' – summer habit 381-6. jpg ,2014-05-05 via Purdue Arboretum Explorer

Prairiefire Crabapple

Latin Name  Malus 'Prairifire'

Type Native to North America and Eurasia

Size SmallAverage height at maturity (meters): 7Average width at maturity (meters): 3

LeavesShape: Simple leaves in clusters on short spurs Summer Foliage: Dark green with red tingeFall Foliage: Orange and red

Flowers Showy clusters of deep pink-ish red

Fruit Masses of small purplish-red

Growing ConditionsLight: Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Well-draining soils (loamy or clay)Soil moisture: Moist

Facts Bushy shrub-like tree. Food Source for pollinators and wildlife

ILPARW, full-grown tree in bloom, 2011-05-17, via The National Gardening Association- Plants database 

Pagoda Dogwood

Latin Name Cornus alternifolia

Type Native to Ontario

Size SmallAverage height at maturity (meters): 8Average width at maturity (meters): 3

LeavesShape: OvalSummer Foliage: Dark greenFall Foliage: Red-violet

Flowers Creamy-white, flat-topped clusters bloom in the spring

Fruit Dark blue

Growing ConditionsLight:   Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy, or clay)Soil moisture: Moist

Facts Small shrub like tree. Flowers have a sweet smell that attracts pollinators. Food source for wildlife

Anthony Scullion, acer_pensylvanicum_04.jpg, 2010-06-18 via Natural Resources Canada- index of trees

Striped Maple

Latin Name Acer pensylvanicum

Type Native to Ontario

Size SmallAverage height at maturity (meters): 10Average width at maturity (meters): 5

LeavesShape: Three triangular lobes with fine teeth Summer Foliage: Yellowish-greenFall Foliage: Yellow

Flowers Bright yellowish-green, small bell-shaped flowers hang in clusters

Fruit Winged seeds that hang in long clusters

Growing ConditionsLight: Partial shade to full shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy, or clay)Soil moisture: Moist

Facts Excellent shade tree. The green stripes on bark allow it to photosynthesize in the shade

Carpinus caroliniana  – overall tree in the fall 114-1.jpg ,2013-09-5, via Purdue Arboretum Explorer

Blue Beech

Latin Name Carpinus caroliniana

Type Native to Ontario

Size SmallAverage height at maturity (meters): 8Average width at maturity (meters): 7

LeavesShape: Elliptical to oval with fine teethSummer Foliage: Blue-greenFall Foliage: Yellow to reddish-orange

Flowers Green-brown catkins with red spots

Fruit Small nuts surrounded by a leaf-like structure called a bract that turns brown in late fall

Growing ConditionsLight: Tolerates full sun and full shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy or clay)Soil moisture: Moist

Facts Slow-growing with distinctive muscle-like ridged bark

Medium Trees

Acer rubrum- overall tree in the fall - 30-3-600x400 via  Purdue Arboretum Explorer 

Red Maple

Latin Name Acer rubrum

Type Native to Ontario

Size MediumAverage height at maturity (meters): 15Average width at maturity (meters): 10

LeavesShape: Typically, three prominent triangular lobes but can have as many as five lobes with "V" shaped notchesSummer Foliage: Bright green with pale green underside Fall Foliage: Bright red or scarlet  

Flowers Small and red to yellowish orange. Growing in clusters on  slender stalks. Bloom in late winter to early spring before leaves appear

Fruit Reddish winged keys containing a seedcase 

Growing ConditionsLight: Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy, or clay)Soil moisture: Dry to wet

Facts Fast growing. Can have overcrowding branches. Weak bark that is prone to cracking

Andrew Gloeckner, Ostrya virginiana- overall habit- 457.jpg, 2013-7-2, via Purdue Arboretum Explorer 

Ironwood

Latin Name Ostrya virginiana

Type Native to Ontario

Size MediumAverage height at maturity (meters): 12Average width at maturity (meters): 10

LeavesShape: Oval, toothed edge and a pointy tipSummer Foliage: Dark yellowish-greenFall Foliage: Yellow

Flowers Male flowers grow as catkins (yellow dangling) Female flowers grow in elongated clusters known as racemes

Fruit Flattened nut enclosed by an inflated sac that is covered in stiff hairs

Growing ConditionsLight: Tolerates full sun and full shadeSoil type: Well-draining sandy, loamy, or rocky soilSoil moisture: Dry to moist

Facts Slow growing tree. Has the hardest and densest wood of any Canadian species

Cercidiphyllum japonicum- overall tree in the summer- 132-600x400.jpg, 2012-6-14, via Purdue Arboretum Explorer  

Katsura

Latin Name Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Type Native to Asia

Size MediumAverage height at maturity (meters): 15Average width at maturity (meters): 6

LeavesShape: Heart shapedSummer Foliage: Blue-greenFall Foliage: Orange and gold yellow

Flowers Tiny pink-reddish blossoms (not showy) 

Fruit Clusters of brown pods

Growing ConditionsLight:   Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy, or clay)Soil moisture: Moist

Facts Known for its sweet, burnt sugar and cinnamon fragrance in the fall

Large Trees

Acer saccharum- 43-10-600x400.jpg, 2012-10-17, via Purdue Arboretum Explorer  

Sugar Maple

Latin Name Acer saccharum

Type Native to Ontario

Size LargeAverage height at maturity (meters): 20Average width at maturity (meters): 15

LeavesShape: Typically five lobes with "U"-shaped notches between the lobesSummer Foliage: Bright yellowish-green with pale green undersideFall Foliage: Yellow, brilliant orange or red

Flowers Small hanging clusters of pale yellowish-green flowers appear before leaves emerge in the spring

Fruit Brown winged keys containing a seedcase

Growing ConditionsLight: Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy, clay, or rocky)Soil moisture: Dry to moist

Facts Good shade tree with deep and wide spreading roots. National tree of Canada

Anthony Scullion, Celtis occidentalis _04.jpg, 2010-06-18 via Natural Resources Canada- index of trees

Hackberry

Latin Name Celtis occidentalis

Type Native to Ontario

Size LargeAverage height at maturity (meters): 18Average width at maturity (meters): 8

LeavesShape: Ovate to oblong with long tapering tip; sharply-toothed margins Summer Foliage: Deep bluish-green Fall Foliage: Light yellow

Flowers Small greenish flowers (not showy)

Fruit Red to purple berries with a pitted stone ripen between September and October. Berries stay on tree throughout winter

Growing ConditionsLight:   Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy, clay, or rocky)Soil moisture: Dry to moist

Facts Important food source for several species of birds. Drought and flood tolerant

Quercus macrocarpa – overall tree in the summer 547, 2012-06-14, via Purdue Arboretum Explorer

Burr Oak

Latin Name Quercus macrocarpa

Type Native to Ontario

Size LargeAverage height at maturity (meters): 20Average width at maturity (meters): 20

LeavesShape: Large leaves with rounded lobes Summer Foliage: Shiny green on top. The underside is pale green and hairyFall Foliage: Dull yellowish brown 

Flowers Long, bright yellow green catkins appear with leaves in spring

Fruit Catkins mature into brown acorns in the fall

Growing ConditionsLight:   Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy, rocky)Soil moisture: Dry to moist

Facts  Slow growing and drought tolerant. Needs large yard due to its wide canopy

treebg_princetonSentryGinkgo.jpg, 2018-03, via  dogwood hill street farm

Ginkgo Princeton Sentry

Latin Name Ginkgo biloba  'Princeton Sentry'

Type Native to Asia

Size LargeAverage height at maturity (meters): 18Average width at maturity (meters): 8

LeavesShape:  Fan-shaped with 1 or more notchesSummer Foliage: Lime greenFall Foliage: Bright yellow

Flowers Slender yellowish-green catkins

Fruit Fruitless (all male cultivar)

Growing ConditionsLight:   Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy, or clay)Soil moisture: Dry to moist

Facts Slow growing tree that is tolerant of urban soils and mostly disease and pest resistant. Showy autumn leaves drop all at once forming a golden carpet  

Owen Johnson, Carya cordiformis, 2015-06-8, via International Dendrology Society- Trees and Shrubs Online 

Bitternut Hickory

Latin Name Carya cordiformis

Type Native to Ontario

Size LargeAverage height at maturity (meters): 20Average width at maturity (meters): 20

LeavesShape: One leaf is composed of 7-11 leaflets on central stalk. Coarse textured pointy leaflets Summer Foliage: Dark greenFall Foliage: Yellow

Flowers Long, green catkins bloom in spring

Fruit Round greenish-brown nuts that are very bitter and unpalatable to humans

Growing ConditionsLight: Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Well-draining, loamy, rockySoil moisture: Moist to wet

Facts Requires lots of water in the summer. Plant in damp soil or water as needed. Needs to be planted in a large yard due to its wide canopy

Catalpa speciosa- overall tree in the summer -125-600x400.jpg, 2012-9-19. Via  Purdue Arboretum Explorer

Northern Catalpa

Latin Name Catalpa speciosa 

Type Native to North America

Size LargeAverage height at maturity (meters): 18Average width at maturity (meters): 9

LeavesShape: Very large heart-shaped Summer Foliage: Light greenFall Foliage: Yellow

Flowers Big clusters of white fragrant flowers blooming in the spring

Fruit Long thin legume-like capsules that can range from green to light brown or purple

Growing ConditionsLight:   Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Well-draining, loamy, rockySoil moisture: Moist

Facts  Fast growing tree. Can be considered messy, big leaves drop all at once as well as seed pods. New leaves come out late in the spring

Michael E. 16476.jpg, via The Dawes Arboretum

Morgan Freeman Maple

Latin Name Acer x freemanii 'Morgan'

Type Native to Ontario

Size LargeAverage height at maturity (meters): 16Average width at maturity (meters): 12

LeavesShape: Typically, three to five lobed with "V" shape notchesSummer Foliage: Mid green with silvery underside Fall Foliage: Orange-red to purple in autumn  

Flowers Rounded clusters of tiny red flowers, spring-blooming

Fruit Red winged keys containing a seedcase

Growing ConditionsLight:   Full sun to partial shadeSoil type: Adaptable to all well-draining soils (sandy, loamy or clay)Soil moisture: Dry to wet

Facts Cross between a silver and red maple. Fast growing and needs a very large yard due to its large mature size. Good for wet sites 

Definitions of Key Terms

Type

Native: Tree species which has evolved naturally in a geographical region.

Light Conditions

Full Sun: At least 6 hours of direct sunlight

Partial sun: 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight. The sunlight does not have to be continuous; it can be a few hours between the morning and afternoon sun.

Partial shade: 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight where most of these
hours should come in the morning hours when the sun’s rays are less intense.

Full shade: 2 hours or less of direct sunlight per day.

Soil Moisture

Dry: Light and crumbly soil that has low water retention.

Moist: Slightly damp but not soaking wet soil that has balanced water
retention.

Wet: Water saturated soil that is heavy and sticky. Water may pool on top and
drain more slowly.

Soil type

Note that most soils are a mix of all types of the following textures

Sandy: Gritty and loose soil that crumbles easily. Water drains more quickly.

Silt: Smooth soil that holds some structure. In between sandy and clay soils. Holds more moisture than sandy soils.

Clay: Sticky compact soil that is difficult to break apart. Holds on to water longer and drains more slowly than silt.

Loamy: Soil that has a balanced mix of sand, silt, and clay.

Rocky: Soil that is mostly dominated by rocks and stones.