Growing Shade Trees in Zone 7
Zone 7 may have nippy winters, but summers can be sunny and hot. Homeowners looking for a little backyard shade might think about planting zone 7 shade trees. When you want a shade tree, you want it yesterday. That’s why it’s wise to consider relatively fast-growing trees when you are selecting trees for zone 7 shade. Nothing is quite as impressive or solid as an oak tree, and those with wide canopies create beautiful summer shade. Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) is a classic choice for USDA zones 5 through 9, as long as you live in an area that does not have sudden oak death disease. In areas that do, your better oak choice is Valley oak (Quercus lobata) which shoots up to 75 feet (23 m.) tall and wide in full sun in zones 6 through 11. Or opt for Freeman maple (Acer x freemanii), offering a broad, shade-creating crown and gorgeous fall color in zones 4 through 7. For evergreen shade trees in zone 7, you can’t do better than Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) that grows happily in zones 4 through 9. Its soft needles are blue-green and, as it ages, it develops a crown up to 20 feet (6 m.) wide.
Trees for Zone 7 Shade Areas
If you are looking to plant some trees in a shaded area in your garden or backyard, here are a few to consider. Trees for zone 7 shade in this instance are those that tolerate shade and even thrive in it. Many of the shade tolerant trees for this zone are smaller trees that normally grow in the understory of the forest. They will do best in dappled shade, or a site with morning sun and afternoon shade. These include the beautiful ornamental Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) with brilliant fall colors, flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) with its abundant flowers, and species of holly (Ilex spp.), offering shiny leaves and bright berries. For deep shade trees in zone 7, consider American hornbeam (Carpinus carolina), Allegheny serviceberry (Allegheny laevis), or pawpaw (Asimina triloba).
