Appropriate Trees and Plants

[TheAllusionist]

An area that gets overlooked is the selection of plants and trees for landscaping. You probably don't want to show a Japanese Cherry tree in Anchorage Alaska, let alone a Palm Tree. So we really should know our trees better, I am as guilty as the next guy, and on top of that the Puget Sound area may have lots of rain, but it is pretty mild in climate, so we can get away with showing and growing quite a bit, this propbably isn't the case if you live in Chicago and have harsh winters.

What I have here is what I think is a list of trees appropriate for the Northwest, since I am not a Landscape architect, I could be all wrong, but I thought it would be an interesting type thread to start and others can chime in and of course correct me if I am wrong.

Trees for Northwest

Recommended

Deciduous Trees:
Ash (Fraxinus)
Birch (Betula)
Cherry (Prunus)
Crabapple (Malus)
Elm (Ulmus)
Hackberry (Celtis)
Hickory (Carya)
Hophornbeam (Ironwood) (Ostrya)
Lilac (Syringa)
Linden (Tilia)
Maple (Acer)
Nannyberry (Viburnum)
Oak (Quercus)
Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
Conifer Trees:
Arborvitae (white cedar) (Thuja)
Cedar (Juniperus)
Larch (Larix)
Spruce (Picea)

Limited Use

Deciduous Trees:
Alder (Alnus)
Apricot (Prunus)
Ash (Fraxinus)
Aspen (Populus)
Birch (Betula)
Bladdernut (Staphylea)
Cherry (Prunus)
Cottonwood (Populus)
Dogwood (Cornus)
Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus)
Hornbeam (Carpinus)
Linden (Tilia)
Locust (Robinia)
Maple (Acer)
Mountain Ash (Sorbus)
Peashrub (Caragana)
Plum (Prunus)
Popular (Populus)
Russian-olive (Elaeagnus)
Sumac (Rhus)
Walnut (Juglans)
Willow (Salix)
Conifer Trees:
Fir (Abies)
Hemlock (Tsuga)
Pine (Pinus)
Spruce (Picea)


Possible Useage

Deciduous Trees:
Alder (Alnus)
Ash (Fraxinus)
Cherry (Prunus)
Coffeetree (Gymnocladus)
Crabapple (Malus)
Elm (Ulmus)
Hawthorn (Crataegus)
Maackia (Maackia)
Maple (Acer)
Mountain Ash (Sorbus)
Pear (Pyrus)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
Conifer Trees:
Cedar (Juniperus)
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga)
Fir (Abies)
Pine (Pinus)

Use with Caution

Deciduous Trees:
Catalpa (Catalpa)
Corktree (Phellodendron)
Crabapple (Malus)
Elm (Ulmus)
Hawthorn (Crataegus)
Honeylocust (Gleditsia)
Magnolia (Magnolia)
Maple (Acer)
Oak (Quercus)
Plum (Prunus)
Poplar (Populus)
Conifers Trees:
Larch (Larix)
Pine (Pinus)
Spruce (Picea)

Mild Climate (Seattle, Portland and Vancouver B.C.)

Deciduous Trees:
Sweetgum (Liquidambar)
Shellbark Hickory (Carya laciniosa)
Japanese Flowering (Yoshino)
English oak (Quercus robur)
Tulip (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
American Elm (Ulmus americana)
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia)
Little Walnut (Juglans microcarpa)
Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)
Crab Apples (Rosaceae)
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Plum (Prunus cerasifera)
Flame Ash Tree (Fraxinus augustifolia `Raywood')
Southern beech (Nothofagus antarctica)
European beech (Fagus sylvatica)
SmokeTree (Cotinus coggygria)
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)
Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata')

[rpadc2002]

it sometimes the most common thing an artist overlooked for the lack of information regarding trees and plants in the region.

[pradipta]

Russell,

its great thread!!! this is an area where most artist overlook due to the lack information and also most of us dont know how to recognise a tree by their leaves. And in most cases plant type and nature is not provided by client so it depends a lot on the artists understanding and their library stock.

I will also try to add some trees for asian regions, i have to do some ground work for that before i post here.

[TheAllusionist]

Yes guys, we want people to share in their region, could make a good resource. Books generalize a lot for a whole region, but in reality there are micro climates and pockets where a lot more or less will grow. This is why for example I included the mild climate trees, 40 miles from here some of them would not grow as you head east and upwards and the winters get much worse. As you get close to sea level the cimate gets milder and so the pallet of foilage increases.

I personally am a not versed in plants at all, so I wouldn't even try to cover that! LOL

[neil]

Thanks Russell for the informations. I agree, people used to overlook on trees. I will also try some informations overhere.
I am sure, huge botany study and assinments will come on us! LOL

[TheAllusionist]

True, could get technical and over our heads, but never know, a member could be landscape architect or arborist or something and share some useful info

[Rod]

Here is a really good resource to go with your list, Russell,
Welcome to the PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS
you can get images, geographic location etc, worth a look

[neha]

Thanks Russell! This is a great guide!! It is very true, when loaded with the burden of deadlines, we almost always ignore the regional landscape info and go ahead with whatever suitable looking trees we get our hands on first!

[TheAllusionist]

Thanks Rod!