When it comes to planting trees in your Utah landscape, choosing the right ones is crucial for their long-term health and survival. While autumn is the ideal time for tree planting, selecting the appropriate tree species is even more important. Overplanted trees in certain areas can become prone to diseases and pest problems, leading to their demise. To ensure the longevity of your trees, our team of ISA-certified arborists has compiled a list of recommended and not recommended trees to plant in Utah yards.
NOT RECOMMENDED
Ash Trees (Green Ash)
- Pros: Pretty summer and fall foliage
- Cons: Susceptible to the emerald ash borer and lilac borer, susceptible to fungal diseases, overplanted in some parts of Utah
Ash trees, particularly the green ash variety, are undeniably beautiful. However, they are highly vulnerable to insect infestations such as the emerald ash borer and lilac borer, as well as various diseases. Moreover, due to overplanting in many areas of Utah, these trees may struggle to survive attacks from borers and subsequent fungal infections. As a result, our arborists do not recommend planting ash trees in Utah yards.
Aspens
- Pros: Great at high elevations, beautiful bark and foliage
- Cons: Susceptible to disease and insects, send out sucker sprouts
Aspens, Utah’s new state tree, are stunning at their natural elevation above 6,500 ft. However, when planted below their usual elevation, they face a myriad of issues. The hot and dry conditions of Utah’s valleys stress aspens, making them susceptible to leaf scorch, leaf spot, iron chlorosis, borer insects, cankers, and galls. Additionally, they produce runner roots that propagate themselves, causing potential problems for homeowners. If you live at a high elevation, you can still enjoy the beauty of aspen trees, but be prepared for the challenge of managing runner roots.
Autumn Blaze, Autumn Fantasy, Freeman Maple, Silver Maple
- Pros: Lovely fall foliage
- Cons: Weak-wooded, prone to iron chlorosis, upkeep is expensive
Maple trees, especially silver maples and Autumn Blaze/Autumn Fantasy varieties of freeman maple, are popular choices in Utah due to their beautiful fall colors. However, these maple varieties struggle with iron chlorosis in Utah’s alkaline soil and weak wood, making them susceptible to diseases and insect infestations. Iron chlorosis treatment is expensive and must be done annually to sustain the tree’s health. Our arborists do not recommend planting these types of maple trees in Utah.
Elms (Chinese Elm, Siberian Elm)
- Pros: Provide good shade
- Cons: Overplanted in Utah, spread quickly, may cause damage to residential areas
Elm tree varieties, especially Chinese and Siberian elms, are not recommended for planting in Utah landscapes. These trees have weak wood, making them highly susceptible to a range of insect infestations and diseases such as scale and leaf miner disease. Additionally, they produce thousands of seeds that can create problems in your yard. Overplanting elm trees in Utah has led to issues in residential areas where they grow excessively and interfere with power lines, sidewalks, and roads. Explore other shade tree options before considering planting an elm tree.
Evergreens
- Pros: Thrive in high elevations
- Cons: Drop needles throughout the year, require large amounts of water, susceptible to borer insects
While many evergreen trees are native to Utah’s higher elevations and add beauty to yards, they require much more water than what they naturally receive in lower elevations. Most people underestimate the water needs of evergreens, leading to weakened trees susceptible to borer insects. To determine the appropriate amount of water, you can provide 5-10 gallons per week for every inch of trunk diameter. However, our arborists generally advise against planting any type of evergreen in Utah due to the challenges associated with their water requirements and vulnerability to insects.
Flowering Pear (Callery, Bradford Pear)
- Pros: Pretty spring blossoms
- Cons: Weak-wooded, produce an unpleasant smell, overplanted in Utah
Flowering pear trees are visually appealing when they bloom in the spring and display vibrant foliage in the fall. However, their blossoms emit a foul smell, and their weak bark and branch structure make them susceptible to fire blight, frost damage, and other issues. Growing up to 50 feet tall, flowering pear trees often exceed expectations when it comes to size. Due to their widespread overplanting in Utah, our arborists advise against planting these trees.
Honey Locust
- Pros: Lovely fall foliage
- Cons: Send out sucker sprouts, susceptible to insect attacks, weak-wooded
Honey locust trees are considered invasive due to their tendency to produce sucker sprouts. Certain varieties even have thorny branches and are susceptible to aggressive insects that bore into the trunk and main branches. The chances of saving a honey locust tree from a borer attack are slim, especially if the tree’s health has been compromised by other factors. While honey locust trees offer beautiful fall colors and attractive foliage, the associated risks make planting them in your landscape a second thought.
Poplar
- Pros: Provide good shade
- Cons: Send out suckers and seeds, susceptible to diseases and insects, require plenty of space to grow
Poplar trees, known for their shade-providing abilities, are weak-wooded and easily succumb to diseases and insect infestations. Furthermore, certain poplar varieties produce numerous sucker sprouts and seeds, making them a nuisance for homeowners. Their large size also makes them unsuitable for small yards. While poplars can be a decent choice for wide-open areas like parks if properly cared for, our arborists recommend avoiding poplar trees due to the associated hassles they bring.
Sycamore
- Pros: Provide good shade
- Cons: Lose branches every year, may cause damage to residential areas, susceptible to insects and diseases
Sycamore trees, once popular as shade trees, have become a nuisance due to their tendency to lose branches every year. They are also highly susceptible to diseases and insect infestations such as sycamore plant bug, scale, and anthracnose. Additionally, their surface roots can disrupt concrete structures. Considering the widespread occurrence of these problems, our arborists suggest refraining from planting sycamore trees in your yard.
Willow
- Pros: Attractive branch structure
- Cons: Weak-wooded, require lots of water, lose large numbers of branches and twigs
Willow trees, known for their delicate and iconic structure, suffer from various issues that make them challenging to care for in Utah. Like sycamore trees, willows shed branches and twigs regularly. They have weak bark, making them vulnerable to diseases and insects, particularly borers. Furthermore, willows have high water requirements, more than what is typically available in Utah’s climate. Due to these factors, our arborists do not recommend planting willow trees.
RECOMMENDED
Beech
- Pros: Provides good shade, nice shape and foliage
- Cons: Requires space to grow, may struggle with aphids
Beech trees are ideal for creating shade in large, open areas. Their sturdy and attractive shape, along with their foliage, make them excellent choices for years of enjoyment. However, be aware that aphids can occasionally affect the foliage. If aphids become problematic, our team can provide assistance through our tree spraying service.
Chokecherry
- Pros: Attractive summer foliage, fruit-bearing, can thrive in poor soils
- Cons: May send out sucker sprouts
Chokecherry trees are medium-sized trees sought after for their deep purple foliage. Apart from their attractive appearance, certain varieties produce fruits used in jams and jellies. If the small fruits are a concern, barren varieties are available as well. Chokecherry trees make delightful additions to any landscape with their white blossoms in spring and red-leafed foliage throughout summer. While they prefer rich soils, chokecherries can adapt well to poor soils. Keep in mind that they may send out sucker sprouts and be prone to black knot disease. Proper pruning and maintenance can prevent the spread of black knot disease.
Columnar Oak
- Pros: Very strong bark, resistant to damaging pests, drought-tolerant, some varieties have pretty fall foliage
Columnar oaks are excellent choices for establishing sound barriers and privacy when planted around the perimeter of your landscape. While they provide some shade, their primary purpose is not as shade trees. Columnar oaks have robust bark and high resistance to pests, making them well-suited for Utah landscapes. The crimson spire variety, in particular, exhibits vibrant red foliage in the fall, adding to its appeal. Additionally, it is drought-resistant and thrives in clay soils.
Hackberry
- Pros: Beautiful fall foliage, drought-tolerant, tolerant of alkaline soil conditions
- Cons: May struggle with aphids or scale
Hackberry trees are known for their attractive bark and fall foliage. They are highly tolerant of drought conditions, alkaline soils, and wind. Hackberries can grow tall, providing a low-maintenance shade tree option. Although they bear fruit, the small harvest rarely becomes a nuisance. While aphids and scale may occasionally attack, the damage inflicted by these pests is minimal.
Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon)
- Pros: Beautiful flowers and foliage, tolerant of drought, not overplanted in Utah
- Cons: Susceptible to leaf spot and Japanese beetles
Hibiscus, commonly known as rose of Sharon, is a small tree-like shrub that adds a touch of tropical beauty to any landscape. Rose of Sharon boasts stunning summer and fall flowers in blue, pink, or white, making it an excellent border plant for gardens. While not native to Utah, hibiscus is tolerant of drought conditions and poor soil. Although it may be susceptible to leaf spot diseases, cankers, and Japanese beetles, the overall beauty of rose of Sharon makes it a worthwhile addition to your landscape.
Hot Wings Maple (Tatarian)
- Pros: Attractive spring flowers and fall foliage, resistant to iron chlorosis, drought-resistant, disease and insect resistant
Hot wings maples, also known as Tatarian maples, thrive in Utah’s alkaline soil and drought-prone climate, setting them apart from many other maple varieties. These small, manageable trees feature white flowers, vibrant red seed pods, and beautiful fall foliage. Unlike other maples susceptible to iron chlorosis, hot wings maples are exceptionally hardy in Utah. If you’re seeking a hearty and unique maple tree that resists iron chlorosis, hot wings maples are the perfect choice.
Japanese Cherry Blossom
- Pros: Beautiful spring blossoms, attractive fall foliage, accent smaller landscapes well
- Cons: Prone to black knot disease
Japanese cherry blossom trees are renowned for their breathtaking beauty. With their pink flowers, attractive bark, and fall foliage, these trees have become a symbol of elegance. While larger cherry blossom trees are planted around the world, smaller varieties are suitable for smaller landscapes and gardens. However, be aware that these trees are somewhat disease-prone. Proper pruning and maintenance are essential in preventing the spread of black knot disease.
Linden
- Pros: Drought-tolerant, nice shape and fall foliage
- Cons: Some varieties send out suckers, may struggle with aphids
Lindens, also known as basswood trees, are excellent choices for providing shade in your yard. They exhibit beautiful foliage, flowers, or small fruit throughout the year. While lindens prefer healthy soils and ample water, they are tolerant of alkaline soils and dry climates, which are common in Utah. Aphids and sucker sprouts can be occasional issues, but with appropriate care, linden trees offer considerable benefits.
Magnolia (Saucer and Star)
- Pros: Disease-resistant, beautiful spring blossoms, small size
- Cons: Freezing temperatures weaken blossoms
Magnolia trees are renowned for their giant, pink blossoms. They are relatively small in size, making them suitable for smaller areas. Certain varieties are disease-resistant and tolerant of alkaline soils. However, the fragile blossoms can be sensitive to late spring frosts. To protect the tree from freezing temperatures, planting it near your home is recommended. Ensure adequate placement to avoid extreme heat or dryness in the summer. With proper care, your magnolia tree will thrive and grace your landscape for years to come.
Scarlet Regal Petticoat Maple
- Pros: Unique foliage and nice fall colors, thrives in Utah’s alkaline soils, drought-tolerant, resistant to diseases and insects
Scarlet Regal Petticoat maples offer a unique and vibrant display with a range of colors on one tree. These maples stand out for their stunning fall coloring and beautiful foliage throughout the year. Unlike many other maples susceptible to iron chlorosis in Utah’s alkaline soils, this variety thrives. Scarlet Regal Petticoat maples are known for their resilience, drought tolerance, and resistance to diseases and pests. Their hardiness makes them an excellent choice for adding beauty to your landscape.
Zelkova
- Pros: Disease-resistant, medium size, drought-tolerant, beautiful fall foliage
- Cons: None specified
Zelkova trees, native to Japan and other parts of Asia, are well-suited for Utah’s climate. They thrive in city conditions and exhibit disease resistance. These medium-sized trees feature a vase-like branch structure, providing ample shade for their size. Zelkovas are drought-tolerant and adapt well to alkaline soils. Their vibrant fall colors further enhance their appeal. With their disease resistance and attractive features, zelkova trees make an excellent choice for your Utah landscape.
For all your tree-related inquiries, feel free to contact our office at 801-226-2261 to consult with one of our ISA-certified arborists.
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Category: Basic Tree Planting Techniques