Large shade trees
American Basswood
Tilia americana
American basswood, or linden, is a native tree that becomes quite large. It is best for naturalistic settings, parks, or similar large areas. Basswood and other lindens have dense, pyramidal crowns. It adapts to many soil types and conditions, but without adequate moisture leaves may scorch in summer. Several insects and diseases may attack it, causing leaves to drop or be eaten. A hybrid cultivar of American basswood called `Redmond' linden is a better selection, which has a pronounced pyramidal form.
Hardiness Zones: 3-8
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
American beech is a large-growing tree native to forests of the eastern United States and to the Crowley's Ridge portion of southeast Missouri. It is more heat tolerant than the European beech on areas where soils are sandy and internally well-drained. It is not adapted to clay soils. Open grown trees become very dense with noticeable surface roots. The glossy leaves and smooth gray bark are outstanding landscape qualities. Fall color is often a golden yellow.
Hardiness Zones: 3-8
Cucumbertree
Magnolia acuminata
Often called the cucumbertree magnolia, this is an impressive large, broad-spreading shade tree native to southern Missouri. Leaves are large and provide dense shade. It does not survive drought or polluted conditions well, however. Greenish-white flowers are produced in late spring among the leaves, followed by fruit that looks somewhat like cucumbers. It is pest free, but should be used in landscapes or parks where summer care and watering is possible.
Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Chinese Elm, Lacebark Elm
Ulmus parvifolia
Chinese or lacebark elm is often confused with the undesirable Siberian elm. Chinese elm forms a graceful round crown with mottled gray, green, orange and brown bark. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and is suited for urban situations. Chinese elm is resistant (but not immune) to Dutch elm disease and is not as seriously affected by elm leaf beetles and similar problems as the other elms.
Hardiness Zones: 5b-9a
Hickory
Shellbark hickory - Carya laciniosa
Shagbark hickory - Carya ovata
While there are a number of species of native hickory, shellbark and shagbark are occasionally used for plantings. Hickory, however, is not an important landscape tree because all species are difficult to transplant and the nuts cause clutter in lawns. They are well adapted to soils in both the lowlands and uplands. Hickories are among the first trees to develop a yellow fall color that is not long lasting. They are more likely to survive construction disturbances than many other native trees.
Hardiness Zones: 5-8 (both)
Katsura
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
This is a relatively unknown species to home gardeners which forms a medium to large shade tree with unique bluish-green leaves. It is adaptable to many soil types and environmental conditions. It grows best in deep, moist soils. Summer moisture is important while trees are young. Katsura is slow to become established after transplanting, but once established it grows fairly fast. It is essentially free of any insect or disease problems. Fall color is yellow to apricot.
Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Black Oak
Quercus velutina
Black oak becomes a wide-spreading tree with large, glossy, dark-green leaves. It is not easily transplanted and therefore is most likely to become part of a landscape where it grew as a native tree. Black oak is tolerant of many soil types and can be found statewide. Fall color is yellow but generally not outstanding. It is drought and stress tolerant, although it does grow best in deep moist soils.
Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Chestnut Oaks
Swamp chestnut oak - Quercus michauxii
Chestnut oak - Quercus prinus
These two oaks are very similar, but chestnut oak does better as an ornamental tree because it adapts well to many soil types and upland conditions. Swamp chestnut oak grows larger and should be selected for landscapes in low, wet areas. Leaf color is light green. Trees develop oval to rounded canopies. Fall color is usually yellow to yellow-brown. These oaks are very useful for attracting wildlife that are fond of acorns.
Hardiness Zones: 4-8 (both)
Chinkapin Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
Chinkapin oak is most suitable for planting in central and southern Missouri. Like many oaks in the white oak group, transplanting it is difficult. It is more tolerant of alkaline soil conditions than most oaks, but also grows well in acid soils. It is seldom available for sale, but should be preserved on developed sites. Fall color is generally yellow.
Hardiness Zones: 5b-7
Post Oak
Quercus stellata
Post oak is seldom planted but is often found as a native tree in southern Missouri. The foliage is dark green and forms a dense, rounded crown. Post oak grows on dry, gravelly soils and on rocky ridges. When it is found in those conditions, it is usually the best species suited for that site and should be preserved. In good years, fall color is yellow-brown.
Hardiness Zones: 6a-9a
Southern Red Oaks
Southern red oak - Quercus falcata
Cherrybark oak - Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia
These oaks are not commonly available for sale, but are native to southeast Missouri. They become large shade trees with broad, rounded canopies. Leaves are a lustrous, deep green that makes them stand out in summer. Fall color is usually not showy in these trees. In central Missouri winter damage is possible, but they are excellent oaks for southern areas. They can endure poor, dry soils.
Hardiness Zones: 6b-9 (both)
Water Oak
Quercus nigra
Water oak is suitable only for the southern part of the state. It is easy to transplant and is best adapted to low sites with moist or wet soil conditions. It is fast growing, but the wood is more subject to storm and ice breakage than many other oaks. Leaves are held long into the fall and fall color is not significant. Since there are
better oaks for upland conditions, its use should be reserved for low wet areas where most other oaks will not grow.
Hardiness Zones: 6b-9
Pecan
Carya illinoensis
Pecans make attractive large-spreading landscape trees. Their only landscape disadvantage may be litter from nut husks. Since these nuts are edible, however, many homeowners are willing to accept this clutter during harvest. Like other hickories, they develop a taproot that makes transplanting difficult. Southern varieties will not fill nuts well in most of the state, so more northern varieties should be selected. A few of these are `Hardy Giant,' `Major' and `Colby'.
Hardiness Zones: 5b-9
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