Plants that can live (and thrive) in adverse conditions like parking lots and roadway medians are special indeed. Those that do so are prized by landscape designers and their use often is repeated. These same trees might show up on lists of urban (also known as “street”) trees. While maples are often used in these conditions, here are several native oak trees that I have seen recently that fit this bill.
Pin oak (Quercus palustris) has been a parking lot staple for many years around North Atlanta. The trees planted some 30 years ago are now trees of considerable size – in places where they were allowed to remain. Unfortunately in some urban areas, trees are considered expendable when it comes time to expand further. Don’t let the common name fool you – the pin oak does not have slender “pin” shaped leaves. The leaves are broad and usually have 5-7 lobes. Q. palustris tends to retain it’s dried leaves over the winter, allowing for some measure of privacy when planted in a residential area. That characteristic plus slightly drooping lower limbs are key identifiers for me. The acorns are rather small and striped. Like many urban tolerant trees, this species is naturally at home in poorly drained soils with high clay content. I have never noticed this species having any remarkable fall color.
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Quercus palustris |
Pin oak acorns and leaves |
Willow oak (Quercus phellos) is another parking lot staple and continues to be used even in new developments. Perhaps the narrow, linear leaves are more friendly to clean up crews in the fall than other oaks. This is the tree that people think of when you mention “pin oak”. The rapid growth rate and pleasing shape of the mature tree are probably two of the reasons it is still used in design. Again the acorns are rather small (perhaps a plus for high traffic areas) and faintly striped. Again this tree is naturally found in poorly drained areas, making it ideal for use in urban areas. The fall color is yellow and rather unremarkable.
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Quercus phellos, Willow oak leaves and acorns |
Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) is a moderately fast growing tree with handsome lobed leaves. It became popular as an alternative for the overused Pin oak some years ago. The leaves of the two species are very similar in appearance but Shumard oak has better fall color and the dead leaves do not persist. The acorns are much larger and resemble those of Northern red oak (Quercus rubra). I found this example planted as a median tree along an office park throughway, but the trees were not doing very well. My research shows that while this species can do well, it does prefer more moisture than others.
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Quercus shumardii, Shumard oak leaves and acorns |
Nuttall oak (formerly Quercus nuttallii or Quercus shumardii var. texana, now Quercus texana) is perhaps the latest favorite in parking lot oaks. This species is the best looking of the group: the leaves are handsome and lobed and have superb fall color. Couple those looks with a fast growth rate and you have a winner as far as the landscape design folks are concerned. The acorn is similar in looks to Shumard oak, except smaller in size and with a “goblet” shaped cap. I found this example in a supermarket parking lot where the acorns on the ground were numerous.
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Quercus texana, leaves and acorns |
Nuttall oak in parking lot |
Now is a good time in Georgia to plant dormant trees like oaks. So if you’re looking for a good street tree, the four native choices listed above are ones to consider.
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