What Is a Good Shade Tree?

There are a large number of shade trees to choose from for your home garden. The shape of the tree you want and size of the tree you need are both factors that will go into choosing the best type of shade tree for your home. Planting a tree is a long-term investment since large trees live for many years.

Deciding on Type of Shade Tree

Choosing a tree native to your hardiness zone is helpful. You'll also want to consider the tree's size at maturity, whether it blooms, has fall color and what type of root growth it might have.

Choosing a Shade Tree

Large shade trees often have colorful foliage in the fall but rarely have blooms. Most shade trees drop their leaves in winter. Choose an evergreen for year-round home privacy.

Large Shade Trees

Large shade trees include sugar maple, liquid amber, weeping willow, magnolias, red oak and Colorado blue spruce.

Medium Shade Trees

Medium-sized trees include Chinese pistache, black gum, European white birch, lacebark elm, linden and Japanese pagoda tree.

Shapes of Shade Trees

Shade trees come in round, weeping, columnar, spreading, pyramidal, vase and oval shapes.

Benefits of Shade Trees

Shade trees help reduce summer cooling bills and also increase the value of your property.