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Carmel City Zoning Code

Appendix D

Recommended Tree List

D.01 Tree Species Recommendation

This list is provided as a guide to the most appropriate species for tree plantings in urban areas. There is no single perfect tree; the most successful course is to match the planting site limitations with the right tree for that spot. Each site must be evaluated and possible restrictions of tree species noted. These restrictions include rooting space, soil texture, soil pH, drainage, exposure, overhead wires and surrounding building surfaces.

The trees appearing on this list have different requirements and tolerances. All of these species should do well in the urban forest environment of Carmel. Before selecting any particular species or variety further research should be done to ensure that the site would satisfy the specific requirements of the tree. Some of the species or cultivars listed here shall not be readily available at local nurseries, particularly in calipers large enough for planting in high traffic areas. Tree staking may provide limited protection.

  1. Small Trees with Narrow Crowns: Suitable for tree lawns at least 5’ wide and under power lines.
    • Amelanchier species - Serviceberry
      • Cornus kousa - Kousa Dogwood
        • Prunus serrulata - ‘Kwanzan’ Cherry
        • Syringa reticulata - Japanese Tree Lilac
      • Small Trees with Broad Crowns: Suitable for tree lawns at least 8’ wide and under power lines.
        • Carpinus caroliniana - American Hornbeam
        • Cercis canadensis - Eastern Redbud
        • Chionanthus virginicus - Fringetree
        • Cornus alternifolia - Pagoda Dogwood
        • Cotinus obovatus - American Smoketree
        • Crategus crus-galli inermis - Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn
        • Halesia carolina - Silverbell
        • Koelreuteria paniculata - Goldenraintree
        • Maackia amurensis - Amur Maackia
        • Styrax japonica - Japanese Snowbell
      • Medium Trees: Suitable for tree lawns at least 6’ wide, but not under power lines.
        • Aesculus x carnea - ‘Briotii’ Rubyred Horsechestnut
        • Alnus cordata - Italian Alder
        • Alnus glutinosa - European Black Alder
        • Carpinus betulus - European Hornbeam
        • Cladrastis kentukea -Yellowwood
        • Evodia danielii - Korean evodia (bebe tree)
        • Fagus sylvatica - ‘Roseo-marginata’ Tricolor Beech
        • Gleditsia triacanthos inermis - ‘Impcole’ Imperial Honeylocust
        • Nyssa sylvatica - Sourgum / Blackgum
        • Ostrya virginiana - American Hophornbeam
        • Oxydendrum arboretum - Sorrel tree / Sourwood
        • Parrotia persica - Persian Parrotia
        • Phellodendron amurense - ‘Macho’ Amur Cork Tree (male only)
        • Prunus virginiana - ‘Canada Red’ Chokecherry
      • Large Trees: Suitable for continuous tree lawns at least 5’ wide, but not under power lines.
        • Betula nigra - River Birch
        • Celtis occidentalis - Hackberry
        • Corylus colurna - Turkish Filbert
        • Diospyros virginiana - Persimmon
        • Fagus sylvatica - European Beech
        • Eucommia ulmoides - Hardy Rubber Tree
        • Ginkgo biloba - Ginkgo (male only)
        • Gleditsia triacanthos inermis - Thornless Honeylocust
        • Gymnoclanus dioica - Kentucky Coffeetree
        • Liquidambar styraciflua - ‘Rotundiloba’ Sweetgum
        • Liriodendron tulipifera - Tuliptree
        • Magnolia acuminata - Cucumber Magnolia
        • Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood


  • Platanus x acerifolia - London Planetree
    • Quercus bicolor - Swamp White Oak
      • Quercus coccinea - Scarlet Oak
        • Quercus imbricaria - Shingle Oak
          • Quercus macrocarpa - Bur Oak
          • Quercus muehlenbergii - Chinkapin Oak
          • Quercus robur - ‘Fastigiata’ English Oak
          • Quercus rubra - Northern Red Oak
          • Sophora japonica - Japanese Pagodatree
          • Taxodium distichum - Common Baldcypress
          • Tilia tomentosa - Silver Linden
          • Ulmus species - Elm cultivars
          • Zelkova serrata - Japanese Zelkova
      • Additional Trees for Open Space/Yard:
        • Aesculus species - Ohio buckeye/Chestnut
        • Carya species - Hickory/Pecan
        • Catalpa speciosa - Northern Catalpa
        • Cercidiphyllum japonicum - Katsuratree
        • Fagus grandifolia - American Beech
        • Juglans species - Black Walnut
        • Juniperus virginiana - Eastern Redcedar
        • Magnolia species - Magnolia
        • Malus species - Crabapple/Apple
        • Picea species - Norway Spruce
        • Pinus species - White Pine
        • Populus deltoides - Cottonwood
        • Pseudotsuga menziesii - Douglas Fir
        • Thuja occidentalis - White Cedar
        • Tsuga species - Hemlock

D.02 Undesirable Trees and Comments

  • Acer negundo - Boxelder: pervasive, shallow roots, weak wood
  • Acer rubrum - Red Maple: shallow roots, easily damaged, chlorotic
  • Acer saccharinum - Silver Maple: pervasive, shallow roots, weak wood
  • Acer species: Asian longhorned beetle
  • Ailanthus altissima -Tree of Heaven: Seeds, suckers, weak wood
  • Betula papyrifera - Paper Birch: insects
  • Betula pendula - Euorpean White Birch: insects
  • Elaeagnus angustifolia - Russian Olive: form, disease, thorns
  • Fraxinus species - Ash: Emerald ash borer
  • Ginkgo biloba - Female Ginkgo: fruit (odor)
  • Morus species - Mulberry: fruit, shallow roots
  • Paulownia tomentosa - Paulownia: weak wood, prolific Seeds
  • Picea or Pinus species - Spruce or Pine: shallow roots, low branches, salt spray
  • Pyrus calleryana - Pear: weak branching, low branches
  • Populus alba - White Poplar: suckers, shallow roots, weak wood
  • Populus deltoides - Cottonwood: weak wood, shallow roots, Seeds
  • Populus nigra - Lombardy Poplar: insects, disease, short-lived
  • Quercus palustris - Pin Oak: soil problems, yellowing, low branches
  • Salix species - Willow: weak wood, shallow roots
  • Sorbus species - Mountain Ash: insect, disease
  • Tilia species - Linden: Japanese beetle
  • Ulmus americana -American Elm: insects, disease
  • Ulmus pumila - Siberian Elm: weak wood, Seeds