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10 Beautiful Trees For Ontario Landscapes

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Trees in Urban Environment

In this article we discuss 10 beautiful trees that you can grow in your Ontario landscape.  All these beautiful trees have been selected for their ability to grow in typical Ontario urban soils and climate conditions.  They have also been selected for their tolerance to common pests and diseases, their availability, and acceptability as compensation trees for cities (such as Toronto).  The following 10 beautiful trees are recommended for landscape sites that have deep, well-drained, fertile soils with an adequate root zone of at least 6 meters radiating out from the trunk.  (We will discuss 10 Trees for Tough Urban Sites in a later article).  

A Note About Names and Terms

Girl Smiling Sitting In Maple LeavesTree species are represented scientifically as a binomial, meaning that they have two names.  The first name is the genus, the second name refers to the species.  The language of science is Latin.  For example, sugar maple is represented by Acer saccharum.  Many tree species are available as Cultivars, clones of individuals that were selected because of their superior characteristics (leaf colour, flower, branch structure) for that species.  Cultivar names are indicated by single quotation marks, e.g. ‘Rose Glow’.  Many popular cultivars also have trademarked with the appropriate symbol and are written in all caps, e.g. SUNSET® or PINK FLAME™.  For more detailed information on landscape trees, check out The Tree Book by Michael A. Dirr and Keith S. Warren.  “Deciduous” trees are trees that shed their foliage each autumn and “Evergreen” trees retain their live foliage all year round. 

At Beautiful Trees, we have both the expertise and reliability to plant and care for your trees, give us a call for a free quote (416)738-4137 or email us at [email protected].     

 

1. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)Sugar maple is an Ontario favorite and one of our most beloved native trees. It is a long-lived, deciduous, broadleaf shade tree with an upright habit that becomes that grows out horizontally with age.  Older, broadly oval specimens can often be seen gracing farm lanes and along rural roadsides in much of the province.   Sugar maples have no serious pests.  Sugar maples are a medium sized to large tree, growing to be 20 metres tall (much taller in the forest) and up to 15 meters wide in full sun.  The leaves are yellowish green with 5 lobes and turn yellow to brilliant orange in the autumn.  Young bark is smooth grey and mature bark has vertical ridges that curl outward.  Sugar maples tolerate our alkaline soils quite well, and can also tolerate shade as a young tree, though the species requires full sun to mature.  This beautiful tree is native here and has co-evolved with other organisms to be a significant source of habitat and food for animals, insects, and microorganisms. When growing in ideal conditions, this species can grow to be several hundred years old (e.g. The Comfort Maple in Niagara is estimated to be 400-500 years old). As the name implies, the sap of this species is used to make maple syrup (40 litres of sap are required to make 1 L of syrup).  Sugar maple is Canada’s national tree, and a stylized version of its leaf is the central feature of the Canadian flag.  We love to plant the species, grown from seed, but some of our favorite cultivar selections include:  AUTUMN FEST®, FALL FIESTA®, ‘Green Mountain’, ‘Legacy’ and FLASHFIRE®

 

Height: 20-30 m

Width: 14-17 m

Fall Colour: Bright Orange to Bright Yellow

Growth Rate:  Medium

2. Freeman Maple (Acer freemanii)

Freeman Maple (Acer freemanii)Freeman maple is another popular deciduous tree for the Ontario landscape.  It is a native, a naturally occurring hybrid between silver maple (Acer saccharinum) and red maple (Acer rubrum). It is named after Oliver Freeman who hybridized them at the U.S. National Arboretum in the 1930’s.  In the last 5 or 6 decades, nursery growers and plant breeders have carefully crossed and selected hybrids that combine the fast-growing, high pH tolerance and intricate leaf shape characteristics of silver maples with the gorgeous red leaf colour and structural strength of the red maple.  Young bark is smooth grey and mature bark has vertical ridges that curl outward at the top and bottom. Several Cultivars of Freeman maples are highly adaptable trees that thrive in our Ontario landscapes and contribute to urban tree canopy cover significantly.  This beautiful tree is virtually seedless, meaning no falling maple keys or seedlings in your yard. They can tolerate both acid and moderately alkaline (high pH) soils and they can grow in some heavier urban soils.  They require lots of space to establish their large canopy and root system.  Avoid planting Freeman maples next to the foundations of any structures or residences since their root systems may disturb the foundation.  Some of our favorite Freeman cultivars include MATADOR™, CELEBRATION®, AUTUMN FANTASY®, FIREFALL™, ‘Marmo’, and SIENNA GLEN® maple.  AUTUMN BLAZE® maple is the most well-known selection and was one of the first cultivars of Freeman maple available.   Autumn Blaze® has since been improved upon by the above-mentioned cultivars but is still a great choice for our Ontario landscapes.     

 

Height: 15-17 m

Width: 11-14 m

Fall Colour: Brilliant Orange to Scarlet Red

Growth Rate:  Fast

3. Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)Bur oaks are a special favorite among tree lovers.  Native to the Great Lakes Region and one of the hardiest oaks, large specimens can be found growing in cottage country.  The leaves of this deciduous tree have 7-9 rounded lobes with deep notches that are characteristic of the white oak group.  This beautiful tree has interesting corky wings on the twigs that mature into deeply furrowed, irregularly ridged bark on large branches and the trunk. Bur oaks grow slowly, resulting in a medium-sized upright tree with impressive structural strength and presence in the landscape.  Bur oaks are native here and have co-evolved with other organisms to be a significant source of habitat and food for animals, insects, and microorganisms.  Bur oaks prefer deep, rich, well-drained organic soils but can tolerate shallower soils and are drought tolerant once established.   This species does not tolerate seasonal flooding or water-logged soils.  When growing in ideal conditions, this species can grow to be two hundred years old.  

 

Height: 15-20 m

Width: 18 m

Fall Colour: Yellow-Brown

Growth Rate: Slow

4. White Oak (Quercus alba)

White Oak (Quercus alba)White oaks are a cherished, native tree species, with many massive, heritage specimens located around southern Ontario.  White oaks are native to forests of Southern Ontario and Quebec.  Leaves of this deciduous species are dark green and have 7-9 rounded lobes with deep notches that are characteristic of the white oak group.  Some juvenile white oaks will retain their dried leaves well into the winter, providing some extra privacy and wind protection. This beautiful tree has pale grey bark that divides into small vertically arranged scales with maturity. White oaks tolerate our alkaline soils quite well, and can also tolerate shade as a young tree, though the species requires full sun to mature. White oaks grow slow-moderate, resulting in a large-sized upright tree with wide-spreading side branches that often become gnarled and twisted.  This species was so abundant on the north shore of Lake Ontario that it inspired the name of a settlement just west of Toronto, called “Oakville”. White oaks are native here and have co-evolved with other organisms to be a significant source of habitat and food for animals, insects, and microorganisms.  You can learn more about the importance of oaks and other native species in Douglas W. Tallamy’s Bringing Nature Home. White oaks prefer deep, rich, well-drained organic soils and lots of space (e.g. 10 meter radius from the trunk). This species does not tolerate seasonal flooding or water-logged soils.  When growing in ideal conditions, this species can grow to be several hundred years old.   

 

Height: 20-35 m

Width: 22 m

Fall Colour: Reddish-Purple

Growth Rate:  Slow-Medium

5. Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)Common hackberry is another deciduous tree that grows well in the Ontario landscape.  Common hackberry (a.k.a. Northern Hackberry) is native from southern Manitoba to southern Quebec.  This small-medium sized tree has an upright-spreading habit, becoming vase-shaped with maturity (it is in the elm family).  Leaves are ovate in shape with a long, tapering tip, and a pleasing light to medium green.  Young bark is light brown, becoming grey-brown and corky-rough with age.  Once established, common hackberry is a tough, cold-tolerant species that can handle our alkaline soils and even some spring flooding.  It is a wonderful tree when used in a mixed species landscape planting. Note: hackberry nipple gall is a leaf gall that is quite common on this species, it does not impact tree health.     

 

Height: 18 m

Width: 16 m

Fall Colour: Golden Yellow

Growth Rate:  Moderate-Fast

6. Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana)

Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana)Ironwood (a.k.a. American hophornbeam) has become a much sought after native deciduous tree that has many uses in the Ontario landscape.  This medium-sized tree has a strong, upright-spreading branching habit when young, the crown becomes broadly oval when mature and the canopy is luxuriously dense.  Leaves are dark-green, ovate in shape and have two series of serrations on their margins. Bark is shaggy grey brown, in strips that curl out at the ends to add texture.  Fruit develop inside creamy green, overlapping clusters of papery bracts that resemble hops fruit.  European hornbeams are virtually pest-free and are very adaptable to many soil conditions including alkaline and dry soils, once established. This beautiful tree prefers full sun but can tolerate shade.  If you have dry shade, ironwood may be an option. 

 

Height: 12 m

Width: 8 m

Fall Colour: Golden Yellow

Growth Rate:  Moderate-Slow

7. European Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

European Beech (Fagus sylvatica)European beech has is another popular non-native deciduous tree that has many uses in the Ontario landscape.  Faster-growing than our native beech, this species is very tolerant to urban areas.  This medium-sized tree has a strong, upright-spreading branching habit, becoming oval to rounded when mature with branches often extending to the ground.  Leaves are dark-green, lustrous, and ovate in shape with prominent veins that form parallel ribs to create a corrugated-like texture.  Dried leaves persist on trees all winter, providing a natural privacy screen and wind protection. Bark is smooth, an attractive light grey.  European beech are virtually pest-free and are very adaptable to many soil conditions including acid, alkaline and dry, well-drained soils, once established.  European beech do NOT tolerate water-logged or poorly-drained soils. This beautiful tree prefers full sun but can handle partial shade and stands up to pruning quite well.   When growing in ideal conditions, this species can grow to be 100 years old.  ‘Riversii’ is a gorgeous European beech cultivar, boasting black-purple foliage, slightly smaller than the species and a little slower growing.         

 

Height: 18 m

Width: 15 m

Fall Colour: Copper-Bronze

Growth Rate: Slow-Moderate 

8. Japanese Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)

Japanese Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)Japanese Katsura is one of our favorite non-native trees to plant in landscapes that have deep, organic soils and locations that receive shade in the hottest part of the afternoon.  As the name implies, Japanese Katsura evolved in a more moderate climate and really struggle in full afternoon sun, just like Japanese maples do.  Leaves are a soft green, with a sweet, broad, heart shape. The bark is smooth and gray-green when young, maturing to rough, grey bark. Juvenile Japanese Katsura have a pyramidal form with upright branches, becoming oval to broadly oval with gracefully arching branches as it matures.  Leaves turn a delicate combination of bright yellows with soft pink and orange tinting. This beautiful tree prefers cooler locations in the landscape, it does not tolerate afternoon sun very well nor does it tolerate dry soils or water-logged soils. Do not plant Japanese Katsura near hardscape surfaces where afternoon sun can reflect off concrete/stone onto the trunk and cause sunscald damage. Japanese Katsura tolerate acid to alkaline soils, making them a popular choice in our high pH soils.  Something unique about Japanese Katsura is that the fall foliage carries the scent of cotton candy, making this tree a lovely addition beside morning sitting areas and gazebos. 

 

Height: 15 m

Width: 5 m

Fall Colour: Bright Yellow, Candy Fragrance

Growth Rate: Moderate

9. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)Ginkgo is one of the oldest tree species. It is quite ancient and considered a living fossil, estimated to have originated at least 190 million years ago. Native to China, Ginkgo is grown worldwide as a landscape and street tree. This beautiful tree has no known pests, it can tolerate a variety of soil and site conditions but performs best in well-drained, moist soils, in full sun. Ginkgo tolerates acid to alkaline soils, making it a popular choice in our high pH soils.  Leaves are bright green, well know for their unique fan-shape and medicinal properties (often brewed as a tea).  Bark is an attractive grey brown with ridges and darker furrows.  Ginkgo is a slow-growing species, often looking sparse and scraggly when first planted.  In time, a juvenile Ginkgo will more than make up for it, with its graceful upright form and regal energy.  Note: female ginkgo trees produce edible seeds but their fleshy coat has an adverse smell when they drop in autumn.  Male cultivars are preferred near sitting areas. When growing in ideal conditions, this species can grow to be two-three hundred years old.   

 

Height: 17 m

Width: 12 m

Fall Colour: Glowing Golden Yellow

Growth Rate:  Slow

10. White Spruce (Picea glauca)

White Spruce (Picea glauca)White spruce is a beloved native evergreen tree, found in all forested regions across Canada and into the Arctic. It is used increasingly as an alternative to non-native spruce and has become more popular in the Ontario landscape.  We appreciate its versatility and the fact that it has no serious pests or diseases. This medium sized evergreen has a broadly conical crown that is slightly irregular and densely foliated.  The leaves are called “needles”, short and stiff, they are greyish green to blue green and covered with a thick layer of wax (“glaucous”). The bark is greyish brown, scaly, shedding small round flakes when mature. White spruce cones are small (~4 cm long) and emerge as purple in spring, changing to green, maturing to brown. The stiff, horizontal branches can extend all the way to the ground.  This beautiful tree grows well in acid and alkaline soils, a wide range of soil types, although it prefers moist soils with good drainage. When growing in ideal conditions, this species can grow to be two hundred years old.   

 

Height: 25

Width: 10

Fall Colour: N/A

Growth Rate: Moderate

Contact Us Today

At Beautiful Trees, we have both the expertise and reliability to plant and care for your trees, give us a call for a free quote (416)738-4137 or email us at [email protected].

10 Beautiful Trees for Ontario Landscapes

Contact Us Today

Contact Us Today for Quality, Professional, and Experienced Tree care. Where you and your green space are our number one priority.

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