Large Trees With Columnar Shapes

Large Deciduous

• Standing at 35 feet tall, the European hornbeam “Fastigiata” (Carpinus betulus Fastigiata) is a thin tree with a span only 15 feet wide. This slow-growing tree has deep green leaves similar to elm species. Fastigiata requires large amounts of water and shady locations with cool soils. Bolleana (Populus alba Pyramidalis) is a variety of white poplar with lobed, silver-toned foliage that resembles maple leaves. A fast-growing tree, bolleana reaches heights of 40 feet with a spread of 15 feet. Bolleana often is planted by landscapers as a quick-growing privacy screen. This species has a short lifespan because it is disease-prone.

Extra-Large Deciduous

• English oak “Fastigiata” (Quercus robur Fastigiata) is a 45-foot-tall tree with a medium growth rate. In the fall, the leaves of this deciduous tree turn from green to brown. This oak variety thrives in small spaces. Norway maple “Columnare” (Acer plantanoides Columnare) is a 50-foot-tall tree with a narrow spread spanning 20 feet. This deciduous species has a medium to fast rate of growth and requires a moderate amount of water. Landscapers use Columnare for tight, narrow locations such as an ornamental street tree.

Large Evergreen

• A cultivar of the Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana), “Arnold Pyramid” has a deep columnar formation. This evergreen grows to heights of 40 feet with luminous, dark-green needles. Many pests and animals target this species, causing damage that weakens the tree. “Green Giant” is a variety of Western Arborvitae (Thuja plicata) with a height of 50 feet and a span of 10 feet. The thick, dark-green foliage often turns a bronze shade in the winter. This evergreen has a fast rate of growth, sometimes gaining more than 3 feet a year.

Extra-Large Evergreen

• A narrow tree, Eastern white pine “Fastigiata” (Pinus strobus Fastigiata) is typically three times taller than its width. This evergreen has long, soft bluish-green needles. A mature Fastigiata eastern white pine reaches heights of 50 to 70 feet. Atlas cedar “Glauca Fastigiata” (Cedrus atlantica Glauca Fastigiata) is an erect tree with a columnar shape only 10 feet in width. This tree typically reaches 40 to 60 feet in height; however, in optimal conditions it grows up to 100 feet. The needle-like foliage of glauca fastigiata is a grayish-blue hue.