Ohio State University Extension Bulletin

Selecting and Planting Trees

Bulletin 845

Desirable Medium-Sized Trees

These trees are appropriate for Zone 2. They should be planted no closer than 15' to power lines.
Littleleaf Linden Tilia cordata (40') This plant is intolerant of mechanical injury but if protected from damage can serve well in urban areas. It does not grow in restricted root spaces. For this plant to function, it must be grown in unrestricted root space with protection from mechanical injury. Under these conditions, 'Greenspire,' 'Chanticleer' and 'Bicentennial' are good selections. The small yellow fragrant flowers are not conspicuous but extremely attractive to bees. People that are allergic to honey bees would do well to avoid this plant. Service life is 20 years.	Hedge Maple Acer campestre (35') A dense upright oval growth pattern is adorned with dark green summer foliage. This plant may be grown single-stemmed or multistemmed. This maple can be allowed to retain foliage to the ground or can be limbed up to allow foot traffic beneath the plant. This plant is tolerant of urban conditions but is susceptible to Verticillium wilt. Fall color is not showy. Service life is 30 years.
Lacebark Elm Ulmus parvifolia (35') This tree has variable hardiness. Only cold-hardy seed sources or cultivars should be grown in Ohio. Foliage is dark green and the tree holds foliage late into the fall. Fall color ranges from yellow to plum in color. Attractive flaking bark gives rise to the common name. This plant is resistant to Dutch elm disease, elm yellows and elm leaf beetle. This tree is extremely urban tolerant and can be grown in sidewalk cuts. Service life is 30-plus years.	Crabapples Malus sp. (35') Some crabapples are medium-sized trees and should be treated as such. Like their smaller counterparts, these plants are very urban-tolerant and make remarkable landscape subjects in urban situations. Dolgo is white flowered with large red fruit. The large fruit (11/2 inches) is edible, but can be a litter problem if not harvested. 'Zumi Calocarpa,' the 25-30' tall flowering crab, has white flowers and red fruit. 'Snowdrift' is a large crab with white flowers and orange-red fruit. 'Spring Snow' is a white flowering crab that has not been known to set fruit. 'Spring Snow' is an ideal planting where fruit is not desired, but it does tend to have poor branch structure, although crabapples in general are resistant to structural failure. Service life is 35 years.

These trees are appropriate for Zone 2. They should be planted no closer than 15' to power lines.

Littleleaf Linden
Tilia cordata (40')
This plant is intolerant of mechanical injury but if protected from damage can serve well in urban areas. It does not grow in restricted root spaces. For this plant to function, it must be grown in unrestricted root space with protection from mechanical injury. Under these conditions, 'Greenspire,' 'Chanticleer' and 'Bicentennial' are good selections. The small yellow fragrant flowers are not conspicuous but extremely attractive to bees. People that are allergic to honey bees would do well to avoid this plant. Service life is 20 years.

Hedge Maple
Acer campestre (35')
A dense upright oval growth pattern is adorned with dark green summer foliage. This plant may be grown single-stemmed or multistemmed. This maple can be allowed to retain foliage to the ground or can be limbed up to allow foot traffic beneath the plant. This plant is tolerant of urban conditions but is susceptible to Verticillium wilt. Fall color is not showy. Service life is 30 years.

Lacebark Elm
Ulmus parvifolia (35')
This tree has variable hardiness. Only cold-hardy seed sources or cultivars should be grown in Ohio. Foliage is dark green and the tree holds foliage late into the fall. Fall color ranges from yellow to plum in color. Attractive flaking bark gives rise to the common name. This plant is resistant to Dutch elm disease, elm yellows and elm leaf beetle. This tree is extremely urban tolerant and can be grown in sidewalk cuts. Service life is 30-plus years.

Crabapples
Malus sp. (35')
Some crabapples are medium-sized trees and should be treated as such. Like their smaller counterparts, these plants are very urban-tolerant and make remarkable landscape subjects in urban situations. Dolgo is white flowered with large red fruit. The large fruit (11/2 inches) is edible, but can be a litter problem if not harvested. 'Zumi Calocarpa,' the 25-30' tall flowering crab, has white flowers and red fruit. 'Snowdrift' is a large crab with white flowers and orange-red fruit. 'Spring Snow' is a white flowering crab that has not been known to set fruit. 'Spring Snow' is an ideal planting where fruit is not desired, but it does tend to have poor branch structure, although crabapples in general are resistant to structural failure. Service life is 35 years.

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