The Best Medium Tree Choices

Shade Trees

• The black gum tree (Nyssa sylvatica) reaches a height of 30 to 50 feet. The University of Missouri lists the tree as one of the best medium-sized trees for shade. It forms a dense, pyramid-shaped canopy. During the fall months, the foliage turns a brilliant scarlet and orange. The tree grows slowly but is virtually pest free. The Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests the littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata) as an ideal shade tree. It produces abundant green foliage that clings to the tree well into the fall months, when other trees have shed their leaves. The tree is hardy and has few pest problems. It grows to a height of 50 to 60 feet.

Fall Color

• The European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is suggested as one of the best medium-sized trees by the Ohio State University. It produces brilliant yellow foliage in the fall. The tree grows to a height of 35 feet. The tree tolerates a wide range of soils and needs remarkably little maintenance to thrive. The Ohio State University and the University of Missouri Extension suggest the ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) tree. A slow grower, it may eventually reach 60 to 80 feet in height, but it will take it more than 50 years. The tree produces bright yellow, fall colors. It withstands drought well.

Flowering Trees

• The yellowwood tree (Cladrastis kentukea) produces pendulous white flowers. It grows to a height of 40 feet. The University of Missouri Extension suggests it as one of the best medium landscape trees because of its eye-catching flower and its hardiness. The tree suffers from extremely few pests or diseases. The Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests the Japanese pagodatree (Sophora japonica), which produces clusters of white flowers in the late summer. It grows to a height of 75 feet.

Evergreen Trees

• The Maryland.gov website suggests the magnolia sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana). It grows to a height of 60 feet. It displays evergreen foliage year-round. The tree produces creamy white flowers that measure 2 to 3 inches in diameter. It can tolerate shade. The City of Santa Maria suggests the medium-sized evergreen Austrialian willow tree (Geijera parviflora). It grows to a height of up to 30 feet. It has a noninvasive root system which makes it ideal for the home landscape.