Large shade trees
European White Birch
Betula pendula
European white birch was once very popular due to its showy white bark. Its popularity has been lessened by an insect called the bronze birch borer. This pest moves into the tops of trees and works downward. It can be controlled by frequent use of insecticides, but most home gardeners cannot keep up with the frequency needed. Some beautiful trees still exist in isolated areas, but planting this species for long term survival is questionable.
Boxelder
Acer negundo
Boxelder is a fast-growing invader species that is weak-wooded and breaks up easily in wind storms or under ice and snow weight. It attracts an insect called the boxelder beetle that is not damaging to the tree, but finds hiding places in homes during the fall and winter and can become a nuisance. Some trees are heavy seed producers.
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Black cherry is a common native tree. Birds are very fond of the fruit and spread the seeds. In yards and parks, its abundant fruit and seed production may be a disadvantage because of fruit mess and weediness. This is an important timber tree, and can be a very useful tree for naturalistic areas. The oval crown has drooping branches that give it a graceful look. Fall color is often an excellent wine or red. It may be attacked by tent caterpillars.
American Elm
Ulmus americana
During the 1950s and 1960s, Missouri and the rest of the nation were ravaged by Dutch elm disease. It is still present and American elms that appear as seedlings or are planted will likely be attacked and killed. American elm also is affected by several other pests and diseases, but Dutch elm disease is the primary reason for not planting it. Disease resistant cultivars have been developed and are being introduced.
Siberian Elm
Ulmus pumila
This fast-growing elm, incorrectly called Chinese elm, was once introduced as a replacement for the American elm because it is resistant to Dutch elm disease. It is seriously attacked by both larvae and adult forms of elm leaf beetles which give the tree a perpetually unattractive appearance throughout most of the summer. Its very weak wood breaks up easily in storms or under the weight of ice. If that is not enough, it is also a prolific seeder. Don't plant it.
Black Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
Black locust produces pendulous clusters of fragrant white flowers that attract attention in spring. It also has value for growing on very poor soils. A disadvantage is that it has brittle wood and breaks up easily in storms. It also tends to root sucker and become somewhat weedy. Black locust is short-lived because of attacks by borers and other pests.
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
This maple may be the best-known of trees in Missouri because it can be found on streets and in yards statewide. Seedlings and volunteer trees appear almost anywhere. It grows rapidly and becomes too large for most urban spaces. Its greatest problem is its tendency to grow weak branch unions that split and break easily during wind storms or under winter ice and snow. Trees are frequently topped, causing even more problems.
Mulberry
White mulberry - Morus alba
Red mulberry - Morus rubra
Both mulberries may be found growing in the wild, but white mulberry is most common. Their major landscape problems are messiness of the fruits and weediness. Fruitless male cultivars of white mulberry are sometimes found. Weeping forms of these trees have been more widely accepted for planting.
Osage-orange
Maclura pomifera
This tough, durable tree was once commonly used for hedgerows to contain livestock and for wind erosion control. In urban areas it is less desirable, primarily because of the large fruits, low-hanging branches and thorns. Thornless, fruitless cultivars have been developed but are not generally available.
Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Persimmon is a native tree found most often in fencerows and old pastures. The leaves are a shiny, dark green and the bark on older trees breaks into attractive black, squarish blocks. The fruit, which is consumed by wildlife and humans alike, is messy and the major reason for not planting persimmon around homes. It also is difficult to transplant.
Poplar
Eastern cottonwood - Populus deltoides
Lombardy poplar - Populus nigra `Italica'
These poplars, as well as their relatives the aspens, are fast growing trees that are weak-wooded and relatively short-lived on most growing sites. Canker diseases of the branches and trunk, such as Dothichiza canker and Cytospora, can be the most serious. Female cottonwoods produce "fuzz" in the spring that can be a nuisance. Cottonwood is sometimes planted for a park tree in areas susceptible to flooding.
Tree-of-Heaven
Ailanthus altissima
Tree-of-Heaven is a rapid-growing exotic that has become common in urban areas. It is not normally grown for sale. Because of its weediness and brittle wood, it is not recommended for planting. Some people also experience skin irritations after coming into contact with this tree.
Black Walnut
Juglans nigra
Although black walnut is a useful timber and nut tree, it is not desirable as a shade tree for several reasons. It is one of the last trees to leaf in the spring, and one of the first to shed foliage in fall. Walnut exudes a chemical called juglone from the roots that can retard the growth of adjacent plants. The nuts clutter lawns and the hulls can cause serious allergic reactions in some people. Walnut anthracnose often causes trees to be defoliated in August, ruining the late summer shade. Leaf spots also may add to the problem. Fall color is yellow.
Willow
Salix spp.
Willows are fast-growing but usually short-lived trees that grow naturally in wet areas. White willow, weeping willow, pussy willow and contorted willow are a few of the popular willows. The most damaging diseases are cankers, which cause twig, branch and trunk die-back. Black canker and the same disease that causes canker in poplar, Cytospora, are common in all areas. Willows' brittle wood breaks easily in ice or wind.
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