Tree Pinus nigra [Austrian Pine] An excellent plant for screening when young. Needs a companion planting eventually for low screening as it loses branches at the base. Tolerates city conditions. Tolerates clay, dry, and alkaline soils, and heat. May be badly damaged by sapsuckers. Sphaeropsis tip blight is a more serious problem. Pine foliar nematode (transmitted by a beetle) can also be problematic.
Tree Indiana Native Pinus resinosa [Red Pine] Forms a decent screen when young, especially on poor, dry soils, but soon drops lowers limbs necessitating the need of companion plants to complete the screen. Develops a shorter, thicker trunk when grown in the open. Pine bud moth (as well as other moths) can be problem if not controlled. Foliage presentation not always full or clearly esthetic. Best in groves or plantations where bark color can be admired.
Tree Pinus sylvestris [Scotch Pine] Effective as a screen with pruning. Tolerant of fairly dry soils, but not a good specimen in shade or on wet soils. Sphaeropsis, nematodes, and pine wilt fungus are serious problems; not recommended by Morton Arboretum.
Tree Platanus × acerifolia [London Planetree] Platanus x acerifolia is quite similar to P. occidentalis, but was originally advertised as being much more pest resistant. P. x acerifolia was quickly overplanted, and it is clear that pest resistance varies among hybrids, and can be quite poor. Pests that can severely affect this species include sycamore anthracnose, cankerstain, Botryosphaeria canker, leaf spot, powdery mildew, sycamore lace bug, and American plum borer. One of the largest of shade trees, making massive, majestic specimens.…
Tree Platanus × acerifolia 'Morton Circle' [sold as EXCLAMATION!™] [Exclamation London Planetree] 'Morton Circle' is a cultivar with exfoliating tan bark exposing white underneath. It has large palmately lobed leaves, and is monoecious with different fruit size and color.
Tree Indiana Native Platanus occidentalis [American Sycamore] One of the largest of shade trees, making massive, majestic specimens. Tolerant of urban conditions, but generally found in riparian areas in the wild. The mottled, multi-colored, exfoliating bark is very beautiful and makes for excellent winter interest. Needs a large volume of soil space. Anthracnose leaf and twig blight occasionally disfigure this tree, and can damage it severely. Leaves, twigs, bark, and fruit contribute to a significant litter problem. Although this species can tolerate…
Tree Indiana Native Populus deltoides [Eastern Cottonwood] Populus deltoides is a large, fast-growing tree that is not generally advised for use in the landscape. This plant is weak-wooded, weedy, and a litter problem, dropping twigs, flowers, branches, leaves, and fruits (the cottony masses that float through the air in early summer). In the wild, it tends to grow along streams, rivers, and other moist areas. Susceptible to many pests and diseases, especially canker.
Tree Indiana Native Populus tremuloides [Quaking Aspen] The common name of Populus tremuloides is derived from the tendency of the leaves to tremble (quake) in the wind, or even light breezes, due to flattened petioles. This is a fast-growing and short-lived species that regenerates from root suckers and can quickly recolonize disturbed sites. Generally, most of the specimens in a grove of P. tremuloides are clones, all originating from the same stem. This plant is dioecious, so groves are usually all male…
Tree Prunus × incam 'Okame' [Okame Cherry] 'Okame' is a small cherry tree that performs well in the landscape and provides multi-season interest with beautiful, pink flowers very early in the spring, handsome dark green summer foliage, excellent orange, red, and bronze fall color, and shining, reddish bark in the winter.
Tree Prunus sargentii [Sargent Cherry] One of the better performing and useful cherries available. Beautiful, polished reddish to chestnut brown bark on older trunks. Subject to several minor pests, none usually serious.