7 Shade Tree Species that Will Thrive in Your Kansas City Yard

Our Certified Arborists Can Help You Choose the Right Tree for Your Property

They start in a nursery. Many take multiple decades to reach maturity. They require special care when they’re young and new. And you have to be sure you really love them before you decide to add one.

No, we are not talking about babies. We’re talking about trees!

Selecting a tree to plant on your property is a big decision that requires significant commitment. In the Kansas City area, you can choose from an array of shade trees that will thrive in your landscape, but they may not all appeal to you.

With the help from a certified arborist at Arb Tech, learn which tree you’d like to have and how you can provide the best possible tree care as it grows and grows.

Grow a Grand Oak Tree

Of the quercus family, an oak tree grows slowly, but becomes massive over the years to create immense shade in your yard.

These trees grow taller than 60 feet, but can take 30 years to get there, so if you’re playing the landscaping long game with the goal of a stately tree, this one’s for you. If you’re a little less patient, opt for a red oak, which grows faster than other species, like the bur oak, white oak, English oak, and others.

Because an oak grows to be so large, you’ll need plenty of space to plant it so that the roots don’t eventually cause issues with water pipes or your foundation - and so that the branches don’t grow directly over your roof.

Block an Unsightly View with an Eastern Red Cedar

A native evergreen species, the eastern red cedar is ideal as a windbreak or screen. Their dense foliage is beautiful and lush-looking.

It’s tolerant of most conditions and is a low-maintenance choice that doesn’t require frequent trimming or pruning. Plant one to block your view of the neighbor’s yard or your old backyard shed, or to add a lovely bit of texture to your front yard.

Pay Tribute to Missouri with a Flowering Dogwood

The Missouri state tree is small in stature, but big on gorgeous, white flowers and incredible fall foliage colors.

It grows at a moderate pace into a rounded, upright little tree that enjoys light shade, perhaps in the shadow of your house, or beneath a larger tree.

Your dogwood doesn’t have to match your neighbors’. This native tree comes in varieties that flower in different colors, such as the apple blossom, with its pink hue, or the Cherokee chief, with darker red flowers.

Don’t Forget the Kansas State Tree!

The cottonwood is a Kansas native that grows quickly - sometimes 8 feet per year in the right conditions - reaching up to 100 feet high and 70 feet wide at the crown.

It flowers in April, before producing cottony tufts in May or June; “cottonless” cottonwood trees are more ideal if you’re looking for a lower-maintenance tree. Be aware that despite its native status, the cottonwood is prone to pests, and they need plenty of water and sun.

Should you be considering a cottonwood tree for your yard, talk to a certified arborist about whether you and your land can provide it the tree care it needs to survive.

Make Things Interesting with a Kentucky Coffeetree

Horticulture experts agree that the Kentucky coffeetree grows nicely and looks great in yards in Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties in Missouri, and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. It’s a great shade tree that starts with a touch of pink leaves in the spring, before changing to a lush, dark green.

With up to 75 feet in height and a canopy of 50 feet wide, they definitely provide lots of shade. The downside are the large seed pods that can fall from the tree and are seen in winter, but certain cultivars don’t produce them. It’s another tree species that a tree arborist near you can help you select and guide you through necessary tree care.

Grow a Ginkgo in Your Urban Garden

If you live in a densely populated area, like Hyde Park or Waldo, or you’re close to downtown, you might want to choose a tree species that doesn’t mind the pavement, salt, clay soil, or air pollution, like a ginkgo tree. It’s considered both a shade tree and an ornamental tree.

Hailing from Asia, it’s fan-shaped leaves turn a gleaming gold hue in the fall, and they love full sun. Most interestingly, this is an ancient tree species; it’s earliest known leaf fossil dates 270 million years ago!

Just be sure that you’re planting a male ginkgo tree, so you don’t have to deal with messy fruit production.

Add Summer and Autumn Interest with a Black Gum Tree

If you’re a big fan of stunning foliage, then you’ll appreciate having a Black Gum tree.

The Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica), or black tupelo, is a medium to large deciduous tree, native to USDA zones 4 to 9.

Few trees are able to compete with its late summer and fall colors. In late September this tree’s dark foliage gives way to an intense fall red. Within each leaf however you will see hints of orange, yellow, and purple which makes it a wonderful selection for home landscapes.

We’re Green Industry Leaders in Kansas City Tree Care

Before you visit the local nursery to pick out just any tree, contact Arb Tech! We can help you decide on the best tree for your yard space and tree care commitments, and even source a healthy tree and plant it, too!

With professional guidance from our certified arborists in Kansas City, your new tree will thrive, so you can enjoy it for years to come. Give us a call at (913) 954-7004 to learn more about planting trees.