Urban Tolerant Trees

While searching for a tree species that is suitable for withstanding the stresses of urban environments in Ontario, the swamps of Louisiana would not often be the first location to look.

The Japanese tree lilac helps to keep our streets vibrant as things heat up in summer.

The oaks (Quercus spp.) are a large genus with nearly 600 species known worldwide.

This species was likely moved into the province by aboriginal peoples, as natural, established populations are found predominantly along human migration and trade routes.

Serviceberries are found across Canada. There are five or six species. It can be multi-stemmed or grown with a single trunk.

I have seen ginkgo grow out of the gangly youth stage, and approach the loveliness of the well-branched maturing tree.

You may know the common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) as the brave little tree that survives parking lot islands, its pale lime leaves covered in weird bumps.

The second in a series of articles highlighting 29 urban tolerant trees as recommended alternatives to ash and Norway maple.

A list of 29 alternative trees to white and green ash (Fraxinus americana and F. pennsylvanica) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides) is now featured online.