Shade Trees

Some easy shade trees

(though all trees are pretty easy!)

White Oak group

Six species of oaks in Northern Virginia fall in this group.

-White Oak (Quercus alba)
-Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
-Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)
-Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana)
-Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muelenbergii)
-Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Any of these will grow just fine in most yards. Swamp White Oak and Swamp Chestnut Oak are good choices for wet areas.

Red Oak group

NOVA has eight species of red oaks
-Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
-Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)
-Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica)
-Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
-Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
-Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
-Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
-Black Oak (Quercus velutina)

Any of these will grow well in most yards. Willow Oak and Pin Oak can also grow in wet areas.

Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica)

The fall foliage of Blackgum is spectacular.

The fruits of this tree are eaten by birds, beavers, bears, fox, opossums, raccoons and squirrels. The inconspicuous flowers are a nectar source for bees.

River Birch (Betula nigra)

Beautiful peeling bark gives this tree year-round interest. It tolerates wet conditions as well as compacted soil.

RIver Birch is the caterpillar host plant for 413 species of butterflies and moths including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Red-spotted Purple butterflies. Its seeds are eaten by many birds.

Hickories

Bright yellow fall foliage graces our four common local species:

-Bitternut HIckory (Carya cordiformis)
-Pignut HIckory (Carya glabra)
-Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)
-Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa)

Because of their deep tap roots, they are hard to grow commercially and may be a little hard to find in garden centers. Your neighbor's seedling might be your best source!

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

Spires of white flowers make this tree stand out in May. This tree has outstanding wildlife value, feeding 456 species of butterflies and months, numerous native bees, birds, foxes, chipmunks, bears, squirrels, opossum, raccoons, rabbits and turtles.

Shade trees are the original air conditioners! They cast cooling shade in the summer, but let the warm sun shine through in the winter. Trees also cool off hot air by releasing water from their leaves. As a result, it feels 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit cooler under a tree.

It’s hard to go wrong in choosing a native shade tree for a residential setting. Even those that grow in swamps will also grow in a yard. If your yard is swampy, though, you’ll need a tree that tolerates wet areas.

Find details here:

Native Trees Native Shrubs

Photos, planting conditions, etc.

Printable lists

of Northern Virginia

native trees and shrubs

(Just those that are for sale. There are many others in the wild!)

When in doubt, choose an oak, because they:

Grow slowly but steadily in shade (most shade trees need full sun to grow)
Can live hundreds of years (unlike a tulip tree, which grows fast but whose wood is therefore weaker and more prone to breakage.)
Support the most caterpillar species (bird food). Acorns are also a critical food source for wildlife.
Include a dozen species, some of which tolerate wet soil, others dry conditions.

Promoting Native Trees
in Northern Virginia

Shade Trees

Some easy shade trees

(though all trees are pretty easy!)

Donate

Promoting Native Trees in Northern Virginia

Shade Trees

Some easy shade trees

(though all trees are pretty easy!)

Donate

Promoting Native Trees
in Northern Virginia