THROWING SHADE

Trees are one of the best investments in any landscape. Of course they provide shade, but they can also provide flowers, texture, fall color, winter interest, cover for wildlife and more. With the devastation of the tree canopy due to emerald ash borer and now the decline and death of Colorado spruce and issues with ornamental pears, we’ve learned a valuable lesson in diversification. When we replace dying species, we need to be introducing new and interesting species into our yards — different from what our neighbors have. Sometimes trees get overlooked because they don’t have the “bells & whistles” that the popular trees have. Some trees also have an “awkward teenage phase,” and you might not give them a second glance when you see them young, but they mature to beautiful specimens. (The tree world is kind of like high school…)

Below are some unique and favorite trees that you should give a second look to if you are in the market for a shade tree or two this fall:

 AMERICAN HORNBEAM: the smallest of this bunch but a beautiful tree for any space, compact head with bright green leaves, excellent fall color, pretty bark in winter, native to the Midwest, great mid-sized tree where you need something that has an upright, perfect shape, excellent replacement for pears  ‘IVORY SILK’ TREE LILAC: also a bit smaller but still a nice shade tree, creamy white fragrant flowers in summer, gold fall color, fairly fastgrowing and long-lived, no disease or bug issues, excellent replacement for pears  ‘CRIMSON SPIRE’ OAK: new cultivar that is bred to be narrow, great for skinny spots where you need height but not width, gorgeous deep red fall color, makes excellent screening tree without losing space  COPPER BEECH: unusually-colored leaves, long-lived, ‘Riversii’ has dark burgundy copper foliage, gray bark looks like “elephant knees” as it ages. There are many large specimens of copper beech in the Fox Valley — some over 100 years old!  KENTUCKY COFFEETREE: one of those “awkward teenagers” I spoke of! Open canopy with large compound leaves, golden fall color, tough and native, gorgeous as it ages, very tolerant of poor soil conditions  ELM: hybrid versions (many developed in Chicago) that grow fast and have a one-of-a-kind vase shape, tough, resistant to Dutch elm disease, excellent parkway tree, ‘Frontier’ has red fall color, all others are yellow  BLACK TUPELO: amazing red and orange fall color (puts maples to shame!), shiny leaves, native, slower growing but worth the wait  GINKGO: prehistoric tree with beautiful fan-shaped leaves, stunning gold fall color, slower growth habit. Geneva has some beauties along Route 38.  LONDON PLANETREE/SYCAMORE: beautiful stately tree, very large fuzzy leaves, unique “camouflage” bark, medium-fast grower  TULIP TREE: a Wasco Nursery favorite, unique hand-shaped leaves, yellow/orange flowers, tall and narrow, yellow fall color, very fast grower, excellent street or yard tree If you want to mix it up a little in your yard, try one of these beauties. There is more to life than maples!

Meagan is the Senior Landscape Designer at Wasco Nursery in St. Charles. She can be reached at 630-584-4424 or design@ wasconursery.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!