Recommended Shade Trees for the Yakima Valley
These trees are easy to grow, disease free, hardy, and best of all - they like our climate!
Small Shade Trees - Under 40 Feet
Aristocrat Pear - Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat'
This is a beautiful ornamental flowering tree with white flowers in early spring, very small fruit for the birds, and waxy bright green foliage in the summer. The show ends with leaves turning to a deep red in the fall.
Needs: Full sun
Height: 35' (spread 25')
Crabapples - Malus
A beautiful small tree that is ablaze with color in the spring and full of berries in the fall. Wildlife love this tree. Look for cultivars that are disease resistant. These include: Prairie Fire, Robinson Pink, Royalty, and Coral Burst. Spring Snow is the only cultivar that does not have berries.
Needs: Does best in full sun in well-drained soil in pH range of 5.0-7.5. Will tolerate drought and soil compaction.
Height: 15-25' depending on cultivar
English Hawthorn - Paul's Scarlet - Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet'
Beautiful spring and fall, this tree has a dense, wide upright habit, full of double scarlet-rose flowers in the spring and red berries in the fall.
Needs: Grows in sun, not fussy about soil but prefers loam. Can tolerate environments unfavorable to many trees and shrubs.
Height: 20' (spread 20')
Eastern Redbud - Cercis canadensis
A small tree native to the Eastern U.S. It has delicate upright branching and is covered with bright magenta pink flowers in the spring and heart shaped leaves in the summer. Beautiful fall color too!
Needs: Full sun to part shade. Well-drained rocky soil. Do not overwater as the Redbud does not like wet feet.
Height: 25'
Large Shade Trees - Over 40 Feet
Asian Birches - Betula jacquemontii and Betula platyphylla japonica
Graceful and uniform in habit, these trees are renowned for dazzling pure-white bark and vigorous growth. Fall color is a beautiful clear yellow. There are many types of Asian birches, including Japanese and Himalayan. All are resistant to the birch borer. Nurseries are recommending that European varities be avoided at this time.
Needs: Adaptable to a wide range of soils but not drought tolerant. Likes to keep its roots moist.
Height: 40-50' (in 20 years)
Silver Linden - Tilia tomentosa
A beautiful specimen tree with erect branches and a sharply defined broad-pyramidal habit. Dense foliage with silver under-surfaces is particularly striking when blown by the wind. Very fragrant flowers in early summer. Fall color is gold. Unfortunately, many nurseries don't carry this tree, but a great alternative is Little Leaf Linden - Tilia cordata 'Greenspire'.
Needs: Tolerates a wide range of soils and is heat and drought tolerant.
Height: 50-70'
Red Maple - Acer rubrum
A very hardy tree that is considered one of the finest maples for all-year interest. Known for its rich scarlet to red autumn foliage and its small red flowers in early spring. Many beautiful varieties are available. Look for 'October Glory', 'Autumn Flame', 'Autumn Blaze', or 'Northwood'.
Needs: tolerant of all soils but not of drought. Likes to keep its roots moist.
Height: 40-50' (in 18 years)
Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum
One of the best of the larger shade and lawn trees. Delicate branching gives it a distinctive winter character plus incredible, brilliant fall color. Resistance to disease has been bred into most cultivars.
Needs: Tolerant of many soils and some shade. Not drought tolerant, needs to be kept moist.
Height: 60-75' (in 25-30 years)
Northern Red Oak - Quercus rubra
An outstanding oak with beautiful architectural form in the winter and the most intense red fall color of any tree in the Yakima Valley. A classic shade tree that requires little maintenance.
Needs: Adaptable to a wide variety of soils and harsh growing conditions. Prefers moist soil.
Height: 65-75' (in 50 years)
Yellowood - Cladrastis lutea
Some consider this the foremost American flowering tree with its summer display of fragrant white flowers. A bonus is its fine late-season yellow color. Its roots support nitrogen-fixing bacteria that can improve the fertility of the surrounding soil.
Needs: Tolerant of any soil provided it is rich and moist. Not drought tolerant.
Height: 30-50' (spread 40')
Yakima Area
Arboretum
1401 Arboretum Drive
Yakima, Washington 98901
509-248-7337
info@ahtrees.org