Why street trees?

Street trees provide an enormous array of benefits. Each of them is unique, and so are their various cultivars.

The Urban Conservation Office chooses trees that work best on your street. Modern urban planning standards ensure that street trees have little effect on sidewalks, tolerate heat and typical city conditions, and maintain sizes and characteristics that enhance our community.

Learn about the types of street trees planted in Easton: Musashino zelkova, sweetgum, hornbeam, oak, hawthorne, cherry, plum, serviceberry, Persian parrotia, maple, dogwood, crabapple, Japanese tree lilac, buckthorne fine line, and magnolia.

Magnolia
Genus: Magnolia Cultivars used in Easton: Merrill (with large, white fragrant flowers) Magnolias are some of the oldest flowering plants! So much so that they predate bees: beetles pollinate them instead. They're known for their flowers which resemble water lilies, with "tepals" rather than petals. Varieties of magnolias span from evergreen to deciduous, and they can be fairly diverse. Luckily, they're not favored by deer. Merrill magnolias are hybrids with rounded crowns growing to 20 - 30' and fragrant flowers up to 6" wide. With this variety, fruit sometimes may not form.

Magnolia

Genus: Magnolia
Cultivars used in Easton: Merrill (with large, white fragrant flowers)

Magnolias are some of the oldest flowering plants! So much so that they predate bees: beetles pollinate them instead. They're known for their flowers which resemble water lilies, with "tepals" rather than petals. Varieties of magnolias span from evergreen to deciduous, and they can be fairly diverse. Luckily, they're not favored by deer.

Merrill magnolias are hybrids with rounded crowns growing to 20 - 30' and fragrant flowers up to 6" wide. With this variety, fruit sometimes may not form.

Buckthorn
Genus: Rhamnus Cultivars used in Easton: Fine Line (narrow, ~6 ft tree with feathery leaves which blooms in the summer) Though buckthorns are Eurasian and may pose an invasive status in our area, cultivars like Fine Line are almost completely nonviable and produce few fruit. They grow in a narrow, upright fashion up to 7', and function well as a shrub-like street tree.

Japanese tree lilac
Genus: Syringa Cultivars used in Easton: 'Ivory Silk' Japanese tree lilac (clusters of fragrant white lilac blooms on trees nearing 22 ft tall) Look for fragrant, white floral plumes in late spring on the Ivory Silk variety of Japanese tree lilacs. They grow taller than a typical lilac bush and have an attractive red-brown bark similar to those of cherry trees. Japanese tree lilacs attract few pests and make great upright street trees.

Japanese tree lilac

Genus: Syringa
Cultivars used in Easton: 'Ivory Silk' Japanese tree lilac (clusters of fragrant white lilac blooms on trees nearing 22 ft tall)

Look for fragrant, white floral plumes in late spring on the Ivory Silk variety of Japanese tree lilacs. They grow taller than a typical lilac bush and have an attractive red-brown bark similar to those of cherry trees. Japanese tree lilacs attract few pests and make great upright street trees.

Crabapple
Genus: Malus Cultivars used in Easton: Showtime (bright pink flowers and narrower shape), Royal Raindrops (pink flowers and wider shape), Sugar Tyme (pink flowers, good disease resistance), Lollipop (dwarf size, very round shape, white flowers), and Prairifire (red-green leaves, dark purple fruit) Crabapples (in the same genus as typical orchard apples) are prized for their showy flowers, fruits, and manageable size. Their summer fruits (ranging from colors of red, yellow, and green) are actually edible, although those of many ornamental species might require sweetening. They're excellent for street trees or home landscaping due to their small size, and only require minor pruning in late winter to open up the center of the tree for air circulation. Cultivars accepted in Easton vary in color and shape. Showtime, Royal Raindrops, Prairifire crabapples all grow bright pink flowers, while Sugar Tyme and Lollipop crabapples have white blooms. Royal Raindrops have a wider spread, while Showtime's and Prairifire are a bit more upright. And while Sugar Tyme trees may have a rounded shape, nothing compares to the compact spherical crown of the dwarf Lollipop crabapple. Dark purple foliage of Royal Raindrops crabapples differ from the reddish or dark green of other varieties. Aside from the stocky Lollipop crabapple, all grow to 15 - 20' tall and are resistant to disease and road salt.

Crabapple

Genus: Malus
Cultivars used in Easton: Showtime (bright pink flowers and narrower shape), Royal Raindrops (pink flowers and wider shape), Sugar Tyme (pink flowers, good disease resistance), Lollipop (dwarf size, very round shape, white flowers), and Prairifire (red-green leaves, dark purple fruit)

Crabapples (in the same genus as typical orchard apples) are prized for their showy flowers, fruits, and manageable size. Their summer fruits (ranging from colors of red, yellow, and green) are actually edible, although those of many ornamental species might require sweetening. They're excellent for street trees or home landscaping due to their small size, and only require minor pruning in late winter to open up the center of the tree for air circulation.

Cultivars accepted in Easton vary in color and shape. Showtime, Royal Raindrops, Prairifire crabapples all grow bright pink flowers, while Sugar Tyme and Lollipop crabapples have white blooms. Royal Raindrops have a wider spread, while Showtime's and Prairifire are a bit more upright. And while Sugar Tyme trees may have a rounded shape, nothing compares to the compact spherical crown of the dwarf Lollipop crabapple. Dark purple foliage of Royal Raindrops crabapples differ from the reddish or dark green of other varieties. Aside from the stocky Lollipop crabapple, all grow to 15 - 20' tall and are resistant to disease and road salt.

Dogwood
Genus: Cornus Cultivars used in Easton: Stellar Pink (pink springtime flowers), Venus (), Cherokee Princess () Information on dogwood.

Maple
Genus: Acer Cultivars used in Easton: Paperbark, Crimson Sentry The over 115 species of maple trees vary greatly in size; some may reach over 100'! However, the maple tree cultivars that Easton's Urban Conservation Office approves are a small or medium stature that's suitable as a street tree. Their distinctive leaves and bright autumn color are especially attractive in cityscapes. Paperbark maples are known for their cinnamon-colored peeling bark and bright orange autumn foliage. They reach 25' tall, and up to 20' wide. Crimson Sentry maples grow to around 25' tall, but stay at a narrower 15' in width, making for a dense, oval shaped crown. The purplish leaves (hence 'crimson') darken to a red-brown come fall.

Maple

Genus: Acer
Cultivars used in Easton: Paperbark, Crimson Sentry

The over 115 species of maple trees vary greatly in size; some may reach over 100'! However, the maple tree cultivars that Easton's Urban Conservation Office approves are a small or medium stature that's suitable as a street tree. Their distinctive leaves and bright autumn color are especially attractive in cityscapes.

Paperbark maples are known for their cinnamon-colored peeling bark and bright orange autumn foliage. They reach 25' tall, and up to 20' wide.

Crimson Sentry maples grow to around 25' tall, but stay at a narrower 15' in width, making for a dense, oval shaped crown. The purplish leaves (hence 'crimson') darken to a red-brown come fall.

Persian Parrotia (ironwood)
Genus: Olneya Cultivars used in Easton: Persian Parrotia (*) Information on Persian parrotia.

Serviceberry
Genus: Amelanchier Cultivars used in Easton: Autumn Brilliance (*) Information on serviceberry.

Plum
Genus: Prunus Cultivars used in Easton: Crimson Point (*) Information on plums.

Cherry
Genus: Prunus Cultivars used in Easton: Royal Burgundy (), Autumnalis () Information on cherry.

Hawthorne
Genus: Crataegus Cultivars used in Easton: Thornless Cockspur (*) Information on hawthornes.

Oak
Genus: Quercus Cultivars used in Easton: Regal Prince (*) Information on oaks.

Hornbeam
Genus: Carpinus Cultivars used in Easton: Frans Fontaine (), Hop-hornbeam () Information on hornbeams.

Sweetgum
Genus: Liquidambar, Cultivars used in Easton: Slender Silhouette (*) Information on sweetgums.

Zelkova
Genus: Zelkova Cultivars used in Easton: Musashino Zelkova These tree types are well known. Musashino Zelkova Slender, upright shape with small serrated leaves. Medium size, columnar shaped tree.

Why street trees?

Street trees provide an enormous array of benefits. Each of them is unique, and so are their various cultivars.

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