Street Trees Part 12 – Platanus, Prunus, Amelanchier, and Tilia

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This week we look at what some very durable choices for street trees. London Planetree, Cherry, Serviceberry and Linden provide some good alternatives. Some have been used in an urban setting for years, but others are new and worth considering.

Platanus occidentalis, Sycamore is a native tree that can be found in low lying areas along riverbanks and stream and has distinct exfoliating bark revealing a white trunk.

 

platanus group

 

Platanus x. acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’, Bloodgood London Planetree has been used for years in an urban, park setting and can become a very large tree when mature.

 

platanus large

 

It handles heat and drought conditions well.

 

platanus school

 

Platanus x. acerifolia ‘Exclamation’™, Exclamation London Planetree has an upright pyramidal habit with a moderate growth rate and shows resistance to anthracnose.

 

 

p exclamation

 

Platanus x. acerifolia ‘Suttneri’, Variegated London Planetree has streaked foliage but a very striking white bark.

 

 

suttneri1

suttneri2

 

Prunus – Cherry provides some nice cultivars that lent themselves to use as street trees.

Prunus x. ‘Okame’, Okame Cherry has a pink flower

 

okame

okame2

 

in the spring and a good fall color display.

 

okame3

 

Prunus serrulata ‘Snowgoose’, Snowgoose Cherry has pure white flowers. (center)

 

 

p snowgoose

 

The tree is a medium fast grower and tends to form an upright shape and is a good choice for under wire urban tree.

Snowgoose Cherry is on the right.

 

snowgoose right

 

Prunus sargentii ‘JFS-KW58’™, Pink Flair Cherry forms a narrow vase shape and has a pink flower and orange-red fall color.

 

 

pink flair

 

Amelanchier – Serviceberry can form a good, durable tree in a street, parking lot setting.

 

amel.

amel parking lot

 

Amelanchier x. grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

 

autumn brilliance3

 

has white flowers

 

autumn brilliance1

 

in spring, fruit in summer which attracts wildlife, and turns brilliant red in fall.

 

autumn brilliance 2

 

Amelanchier x. g. “Ballerina’, Ballerina Serviceberry has clusters of white flowers in spring,

 

 

ballerina1

 

fruit in summer, red fall color and a compact growth habit.

 

ballerina2

 

Amelanchier x. g. ‘Robin Hill’, Robin Hill Serviceberry has pink buds fading to white.

 

 

robin hill

 

Tilia – Linden has some selections that lend to urban settings.

 

tilia

 

Most produce yellow flowers that attracts pollinators.

 

tomentosa flower

 

Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire ™, Greenspire Linden is a narrow grower with a strong. Central leader and produces a yellow fall color.

 

greenspire

 

Tilia tomentosa ‘Sterling, Sterling Silver Linden has an upright, rounded growth habit with leaves that are green on top and silver on the bottom.

 

sterling

 

Tilia americana ‘American Sentry’™, American Sentry Linden has a narrow, pyramidal habit.

 

american sentry

 

Give strong consideration to Platanus, Prunus, Amelanchier, and Tilia for use in an urban setting.