It finally happened. It. Finally. Happened.
For the past 25 years I have driven through this beautiful community while admiring the hundreds of trees planted along each side of the street. For the first time last week, I admired the gorgeous arches formed as a result of parkway trees, planted on opposites sides of the street, now being tall and wide enough to touch each other. This glorious sight coupled with the wonderful feeling of driving under blocks of majestic trees now mature enough to form a dense canopy was tremendously rewarding. As Del Webb’s Sun City Huntley celebrates its 25th year, the trees planted so many years ago are a testament to the residents who have nurtured them for the past two and a half decades.
As the community matures, the types of trees that are planted has invariably shifted. Establishing shade and privacy has been achieved through proper plant selection in many yards. The reasons for planting a new tree in the landscape now include replacing one that has out grown its space or replacing a tree that has succumbed to an insect infestation and/or a disease. Adding a bit of color or interest to a yard can also be achieved through careful site evaluation. While certainly not all inclusive, the following is a list that details a few trees that typically do well in our area.
The following is a list of deciduous trees.
Redpointe Maple (Acer rubrum ‘Frank Jr.’) This gorgeous maple turns brilliant red in the fall and has a beautiful pyramidal shape with a strong central leader. It grows about 35-40’ tall and 25’ wide.
Hot Wings Tatarian Maple (Acer tataricum ‘Garann’) Hot wings is known for its red samaras that contrast with the rich green foliage. Yellow flower clusters cover the tree in the spring after the leaves appear. In the fall, the foliage turns a bright orange red color. It grows about 15’ tall and wide.
Golden Glory Dogwood (Cornus mas ‘Golden Glory’) An upright plant with abundant early yellow flowers. It is one of the first plants to flower in the spring. The attractive bright red fruit appear in the late summer. It grows about 18’ tall and wide. It has very few insect or disease problems.
Dawyck Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyckii) The tall, narrow, upright columnar growth habit coupled with dark purple foliage make this truly a statement tree. The leaves open ruby red in the spring and turn a deep purple as the season progresses. It does best in full sun. A mature height of about 45’ tall and width of 10-15’ make it ideal for areas with limited space.
Princeton Sentry Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ‘PNI2720’) This tree is a fruitless male cultivar which results in no fruit being produced. It is a columnar selection due to its upright growth habit. The stiff, upright branches form a narrow pyramidal crown. It grows approximately 45’ tall and 25’ wide.
Seven-Son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides) This deciduous, irregularly shaped small tree can be used as a specimen plant. The exfoliating bark is tan in color and papery thin. The name ‘seven-son’ refers to the fact that most of the flower clusters contain seven blooms. In the summer creamy white blossoms emerge from the tips of the branches and shortly thereafter the calyces turn a bright cherry red, resulting in another spectacular eye-catching display. It grows about 18’ wide and 10’ tall and is truly a unique plant.
Spring Snow Crabapple (Malus x ‘Spring Snow’) The dense, upright oval structure forms a naturally rounded shape on this tree. It has bright green, shiny foliage with pink buds that open to fragrant white flowers. This nearly sterile variety does not set fruit. It is the cleanest of all crab trees with good heat tolerance. It grows about 20’ tall and 15’ wide.
Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) This is considered a large shrub or small native tree. In spring the new leaves emerge copper colored followed by white, flat-topped flowers and green glossy flowers. The light red fall color contrasts nicely with the black fruit. This is a truly adaptable plant that can withstand many soil conditions. It grows about 15’ tall and 10’ wide.
The following is a list of evergreen trees.
Concolor Fir (Abies concolor) This evergreen has 2-3” soft blue gray needles. It is pyramidal in form and has a dense formal shape even as it matures. It has a slow to medium growth rate and is tolerant of most climates and conditions. It grows to about 55’ tall and 25’ wide.
Black Hills Spruce (Picea glauca densata) This pyramidal formed tree has short stiff blue green foliage. It is slow growing and has a dense compact growth habit. It withstands both heat and drought conditions as well as clay soils. At maturity it can reach 50’ high and 25’ wide.
It is my sincerest hope that you enjoy the summer, in part thanks to the shade that the trees in our midst provide. As for which street contains the beautiful canopy of trees that now touch each other, that you will have to discover on your own.
In remembrance of those residents who planted trees whose beauty and shade we now enjoy: “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” – Nelson Henderson.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc.,a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
