Illinois offers the perfect environment for a wide variety of beautiful and interesting trees. While many non-native trees have made Illinois their home, native trees are always a great selection when designing your landscape. Adaptability, hardiness and longevity of life are just a few reasons to choose trees native to our area. Native tree species have evolved and adapted to the weather and soil conditions unique to our region. A tree that is suited for our environment is better equipped to cope with potential disease and insect problems.
There are a number of ways to narrow down the choices when selecting a tree variety. Soil type, tree height, sun and wind exposure are all elements to evaluate when planting an appropriate tree. Awareness of the soil type at the planting location is very important. For example, a heavy clay soil will require a different tree than a sandy soil location. Northern Illinois has a variety of soil conditions and micro-climate weather conditions. Carefully research the planting site area to determine the ideal tree species. Here are just a few native tree species you could choose from:
-
the Kentucky Coffeetree for urban locations
- the Pagoda Dogwood when a smaller tree is necessary and the location has moist soil
- a Shagbark Hickory for areas where a large shade tree is needed
- an Ironwood tree for dry soil conditions
Local nurseries also offer a wealth of information and advice for homeowners planting native trees. There are many native tree options that offer wonderful landscape characteristics.
Click here for a list of trees recommended specifically for Northern Illinois. There is a native tree that is perfect for every situation!