Environment Planet Earth 8 Best Trees to Plant Along Your Street and Sidewalk These curbside trees tolerate compacted, infertile soils and the environment found in cities and along streets. By Steve Nix Steve Nix Writer University of Georgia Steve Nix is a member of the Society of American Foresters and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. Learn about our editorial process Updated August 30, 2024 jyapa / Getty Images Planet Earth Outdoors Weather Conservation Are you looking for a curbside tree that can tolerate compacted, infertile soil and the general environment found in cities and along streets and sidewalks? We have eight recommendations for the best tree specimens to plant along city streets. These trees are considered the most adaptable to the urban environment and horticulturists revere them. Messy, brittle trees can be difficult to clean up and maintain, costing property owners significant time and money, so we didn't include those in this list. The Urban & Community Forestry Society has chosen several of our recommended trees as "Urban Tree of the Year." Below, find eight of the best trees to plant along your city street or sidewalk. 1 of 8 Acer campestre "Queen Elizabeth": Hedge Maple Carol Sharp/Corbis Documentary/Getty Images Hedge maple (Acer campestre) tolerates urban conditions without succumbing to damage from pests or diseases. It also does well in dry and compacted soil and in the company of air pollutants. The small stature and vigorous growth of hedge maple make the tree an excellent option for residential areas or downtown urban sites. However, hedge maple often grows too tall for planting beneath power lines. It's perfectly suitable, however, as a patio or yard shade tree because it creates dense shade. 2 of 8 Carpinus betulus "Fastigiata": European Hornbeam PSNH / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0 The smooth, gray, rippling bark of Carpinus betulus shields extremely hard, strong wood inside. Fastigiata European hornbeam, the most commonly sold hornbeam cultivar, grows 30 to 40 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. As a densely foliated, columnar or oval-shaped tree, the European hornbeam is ideal for use as a hedge, screen, or windbreak. It's also preferred over the American hornbeam as it grows faster with a uniform shape. 3 of 8 Gleditsia tricanthos var. inermis "Shademaster": Thornless Honeylocust Kevmin/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0 Gleditsia tricanthos var. inermis or "Shademaster" is an excellent fast-growing street tree with no fruit and dark green leaves. Many horticulturists consider this tree one of the best cultivars of North America's honeylocust. Since thornless honeylocust is also one of the last trees to leaf in springtime and one of the first to lose its leaves in fall, it's one of the few trees well-suited for planting over a lawn. The tiny leaflets of the thornless honeylocust turn golden yellow in fall before dropping and are so small they easily vanish into the grass below, without any raking necessary. 4 of 8 Quercus macrocarpa: Bur Oak Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 Quercus macrocarpa or Bur Oak is a large, durable tree tolerant of urban stresses. It is also tolerant of poor soils. It will adapt to acid or alkaline soil and is suitable for parks, golf courses, and anywhere adequate growing space is available. This beautiful but huge tree should only be planted with plenty of space. Bur Oak has been chosen an "Urban Tree of the Year" as determined by responses to an annual survey in arborist magazine City Trees. This magazine serves as the official journal to The Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) and readers select a new tree each year. 5 of 8 "Shawnee Brave": Baldcypress Putneypics / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0 Although the baldcypress is native to wetlands along running streams, its growth is often faster on moist, well-drained soil. The "Shawnee Brave" has a tall, narrow form that reaches 60 feet high and only 15 to 18 feet wide. It has excellent possibilities as a street tree. Baldcypress has been chosen "Urban Tree of the Year" as determined by responses to an annual survey in arborist magazine City Trees. This magazine serves as the official journal to Urban and Community Forestry Society and readers select a new tree each year. 6 of 8 Tilia cordata: Littleleaf Linden Dinesh Valke / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 Littleleaf linden is valued for its vigor and improved branching habit. It tolerates a wide range of soils but is somewhat sensitive to drought and salt. It is a good specimen tree and is suitable for areas where adequate root space is available. Architects enjoy using the tree due to its predictably symmetrical shape. Tilia cordata is a prolific bloomer. Its small, fragrant flowers appear in late June and into July. Many bees are attracted to the flowers and the dried flowers persist on the tree for some time. 7 of 8 Ulmus parvifolia "Drake": "Drake" Chinese (Lacebark) Elm Greg Blick / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 The Chinese elm is an excellent tree that is surprisingly under-used. It possesses many traits that make it ideal for a multitude of landscape uses. Also known as lacebark elm, Ulmus parvifolia is a fast-growing and nearly evergreen tree, since leaves tend to stay on. Lacebark elm is extremely tolerant of urban stress and resistant to Dutch elm disease (DED). The elm thrives under drought conditions and will adapt to alkaline soil. It is relatively free of pests and diseases. 8 of 8 Zelkova serrata: Japanese Zelkova harum.koh / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 Zelkova serrata is a fast-growing, graceful tree suitable as a replacement for American elms and tolerant of urban conditions. Under extreme conditions, splitting can occur at the crotch because of the narrow-angle. The tree is resistant to Dutch elm disease. The cultivar "Green Vase" is an excellent selection. Zelkova has a moderate growth rate and likes a sunny exposure. Branches are more numerous and smaller in diameter than those of the American elm. Leaves are 1.5 to 4 inches long and turn a brilliant yellow, orange, or burnt umber in the fall. This tree is best suited for an area with plenty of room and space.