What are some good native shade trees for my landscape?

Question:

What are some good native shade trees for my landscape?

Answer:

Shade trees endemic to Iowa or similar ecoregions are listed below.  These species can be found east of the Rocky Mountains in North America and Canada.  Those native to within Iowa's boundaries are noted with an asterisk (*).  Learn more about how to define native in this article: What is a Native Plant?

Learn more about these species, recommended cultivars and their mature sizes in this article: Shade Trees for Iowa.

Native Shade Trees Well-Suited for Iowa Landscapes

• American elm (Ulmus americana) *
• American linden (Tilia americana) *
• Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum)
• Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
• Black maple (Acer nigrum) *
• Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) *
• Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) *
• Cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata)
• Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) * 
• Freeman maple (Acer ×freemanii)
• Gray birch (Betula populifolia)
• Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) *
• Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) *
• Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) *
• Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) *
• Northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) 
• Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) *
• Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) *
• Red maple (Acer rubrum) *
• Red oak (Quercus rubra) *
• River birch (Betula nigra) *
• Shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria) *
• Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) *
• Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) *
• Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
• Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
• White oak (Quercus alba) *
• Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) *
• Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)

Native Shade Trees with Limited Use in the Landscape

These trees are native and may be found in woodlands, roadsides, and landscapes around the state.  However, they have limitations that prevent them from being a recommended tree for Iowa landscapes.  These trees can be considered for habitat restorations and other native plantings.

• Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis) * | difficult to transplant, large fruit/seed is a nuisance
• Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) * | emerald ash borer is a serious and deadly pest
• Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) | large thorns, seedy, prone to storm damage
• Black oak (Quercus velutina) * | difficult to find in the nursery trade
• Black walnut (Juglans nigra) * | difficult to transplant, large fruit/seed is a nuisance
• Black willow (Salix nigra) * | short lifespan
• Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) * | difficult to find in the nursery trade
• Blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata) * | emerald ash borer is a serious and deadly pest
• Boxelder (Acer negundo) * | short-lived, prone to storm damage, seedy, not ornamental
• Butternut (Juglans cinerea) * | difficult to transplant, large fruit/seed is a nuisance
• Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) * | seedy, prone to storm damage
• Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) * | not ornamental
• Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) * | emerald ash borer is a serious and deadly pest
• Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa) *  | difficult to transplant, large fruit/seed is a nuisance
• Northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) * | difficult to find in the nursery trade
• Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) * | thorns, large fruit/seed is a nuisance
• Pecan (Carya illinoensis) | not reliably winter hardy
• Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) * | difficult to transplant, large fruit/seed is a nuisance
• Pin oak (Quercus palustris) * | frequently develops sickly yellow color due to iron deficiency
• Post oak (Quercus stellata) * | difficult to find in the nursery trade
• Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) * | suckers extensively, prone to storm damage
• Red mulberry (Morus rubra) * | messy fruit, not ornamental
• Rock elm (Ulmus thomasii) * | difficult to find in the nursery trade, Dutch elm disease is a serious and deadly problem
• Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) * | difficult to transplant, large fruit/seed is a nuisance
• Shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa) * | difficult to transplant, large fruit/seed is a nuisance
• Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) * | seedy, prone to storm damage
• Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) * | difficult to find in the nursery trade, Dutch elm disease is a serious and deadly problem
• Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) * | messy seed, extensive twig drop due to anthracnose
• White ash (Fraxinus americana) * | emerald ash borer is a serious and deadly pest