Looking for a tree tough enough for your city parkway? Look no further!
Are you searching the internet for the best, most affordable, yet high-performing, high-quality parkway tree, AND one that will be professionally delivered and installed for you, hassle-free? Then look no further! We have a list of the best trees for Chicagoland parkways. The selections on this list are large, locally grown trees that will offer shade in the summer months, put on a show in the fall, and can withstand our harsh Northern Illinois winters.
Consider diversifying your trees on the parkway to help stop the spread of diseases and pests. This is a widely recognized practice in forestry, urban planning, and landscape design. Diversifying tree species can help reduce the risks associated with diseases and pests. A good example of this is the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), which was a destructive pest that specifically affected Ash Trees. These trees were once overplanted and are now nearly wiped out, significantly reducing community tree canopy coverage and having a large impact on urban forests and neighborhood canopies. The impact of something like this happening has broad implications, affecting everything from local ecology to property values.
Give yourself and your community peace of mind by choosing a tree that's not the same as your neighbor's next door!
Consider planting Red Oak along your parkway for a native feel, and as a bonus, you'll get to enjoy its stunning fall color! Red Oak is an absolute head-turner come fall. Its round canopy of dark green leaves changes to a rich, deep red. Red Oak is one of the fastest-growing oak trees available. It's tolerant of urban pollution and is a proven performer in a variety of landscape settings, including parkways.
This tree was bred for urban tolerance; State Street™ Maple makes a spectacular street tree. State Street™ Maple has thick, rough-textured bark. In contrast, its branches are covered in smooth, satin green leaves, providing dense, solid shade. In fall, it will give that classic autumn vibe when its round canopy turns a vibrant yellow. Plant one of these beauties and you'll rest easy knowing you've got a top-notch tree growing in your parkway.
New Horizon Elm is a cold-tolerant hybrid elm that was developed in a disease resistance program at the University of Wisconsin. This tree is particularly well-suited for parkways because of its durability and high ground clearance. One of the things we love most about it is the fact that they have good height in the 2.0" to 4.0" Caliper range, making an immediate impact. As an added bonus, these rapid-growing trees will light up your parkway in the fall when their leaves transform into a bright yellow-gold!
Swamp White Oak is a native beauty that adds lasting charm and beauty wherever it grows. This commanding tree is one of the faster-growing oaks that we have available. Unique features include dark green leaves with a soft silvery underside, rusty-yellow fall color that adds warmth and beauty to the autumn landscape, and at a young age, it has interesting peeling bark that reveals an orangy inner bark. This tough tree is versatile and can be planted along the parkway or anywhere in the open areas of your yard.
Ginkgo provides a sense of wonder and elegance to landscapes that is almost unmatched. Princeton Sentry® is even more compelling due to its slender, pyramidal canopy. Its narrow size means it is a good fit for city parkways, or really anywhere you need shade, color, and texture in a tight space. Princeton Sentry® Ginkgo has a unique fanlike leaf that will turn a glowing yellow-gold in the fall. This is a seedless non-fruiting variety of ginkgo, which is appealing to homeowners and nursery growers alike! This adaptable tree has proven to be a beautiful pest-resistant urban tree!
Native Hackberry is tough as nails! These durable trees are fast-growing and native to the Chicagoland area. They support local ecology all while providing excellent shade and beauty. Its rough, corky bark adds a layer of interest, and its green leathery leaves turn a soft, buttery yellow in fall. Native Hackberry is a safe bet for city parkways, wide medians, community parks, and areas that present tough growing conditions.
This thornless (and mostly podless) beauty is a top choice for Chicagoland homeowners who want a low-maintenance tree. Skyline® Honeylocust is built for urban areas. It's tough & pretty, all in one. This tree has beautiful upright arching branches that provide good clearance below. Its round canopy of green leaves turns a sunny yellow in fall. One of the things homeowners love the most is its small leaf size! Smaller leaves provide more of a dappled shade below, which allows the grass to grow beneath. Also, the smaller leaf size means less fall cleanup because you can't really rake the small leaves; they kind of just blow away. This rapid-growing tough tree is ideal for the parkway and does well anywhere in the open landscape.
Triumph™ Elm is a top performer on urban parkways. Elms are often known for having massive, vase-shaped canopies. This elm, however, has a slightly narrower canopy with tighter, more upright branching, making it a practical choice for parkways, boulevards, and wide medians. Its green, serrated leaves turn a happy yellow in the fall. Triumph™ Elm will give you peace of mind, too. It's highly disease-resistant, and as a bonus, it is a rapid-grower, which means you won't have to wait an eternity for it to take off!
Autumn Fantasy® Maple is a fast-growing red and silver maple hybrid that gets its fast growth rate from the silver maple side and its beautiful fall color from the red maple side. This dependable and fast-growing tree will be the envy of your block every autumn when its dark green leaves turn a deep, rich red. Autumn Fantasy® Maple has strong, sturdy branching that withstands our cold Northern Illinois winters, and it provides great shade. This beauty is considered nearly seedless. Which is really just a long way of saying, less yard cleanup for you!
Kentucky Coffee Tree is a reliable option for city parkways, boulevards, large medians, and anywhere a large beautiful shade tree is needed. This native beauty is known for its adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions, including various soils, tolerance of heat, drought, cold winters, and road salts, making it an ideal urban parkway tree. This tree brings a tropical feel to Chicago landscapes due to its unique branching habit and dark green leaves that reach out and up, providing a light, more refined shade below. Over time, this tree will grow to have a commanding presence, adding beauty and stature to your parkway.
Talk about an American classic! Redmond American Linden is a trusted grower, adding a formal touch to Chicagoland parkways with its strong pyramidal form and its sturdy trunk. Its canopy is adorned with large dark green leaves that turn a soft yellow in the fall. In spring, it attracts friendly pollinators when its tiny flowers bloom, adding a soft fragrance to the air. This tree will elevate your property's aesthetics and its value. Redmond American Linden works hard to look pretty, provide shade, and add value to homes and neighborhoods!
Musashino Japanese Zelkova is a smart pick for tight spaces. This tree's slender form makes it the perfect choice for narrow parkways. Its upright sweeping branches allow for good clearance for nearby foot traffic and for parked cars. This tree is an absolute urban baddie. It performs exceptionally well in tough, urban conditions, especially on city parkways. This beautiful columnar tree has slim, medium green leaves in the summer, while autumn brings an array of warmth when it shows off its fall colors ranging from yellow to rusty red-orange.
Final thoughts,
The importance of urban canopies cannot be overstated. These trees are the workhorses of cities, helping to mitigate the urban heat island effect, stormwater runoff, and urban pollution. They boost property values, help reduce crime, benefit local ecology, and look beautiful while doing it. They're our superheroes in disguise!
Planting a parkway tree is something you can feel good about, and you'll sleep well knowing you made the best possible choice for your home and community!
Other Resources→
Do you reside in The City of Chicago? Chicago has their own list of recommendations. It can be viewed here. Please keep in mind, it's not an all-inclusive list of trees that they'll allow on the parkway, but instead another good starting point for recommendations.
