McKownville Improvement Association
- Street Trees for McKownville, and Guilderland

Plant McKownville LogoThe lists below were compiled by Laura Barry, using professional sources and with regard to the local climate zone and soils.
These emphasize trees and shrubs that are native species (marked*) and omit those commonly planted some of which are now not recommended.
When choosing trees to plant, either along the street verge, or in your garden, it is most important to plant a variety of species, with not more than 10% of the same single species in any area, in order to minimize the chance of infestation and destruction of many trees by some invasive insect or fungus.
An introductory page lists the important practical considerations for making choices.
We offer references and online resources of some of the sources used to make these selections.
Links in the tables below are all to pages in the Cornell Woody Plants Database, which show photos of each of these trees.

 - pdf file of these lists,  formatted for printing on two letter size pages: Street Trees

Street Trees for Guilderland: Mature Height Over 30’
Scientific name Common Name Height Form Tolerances Wildlife Notes/Cultivars
*Acer rubrum Red Maple 40’-90’ Irregular, Oval, Round Occasional wet site Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, supports 295 species of Butterflies and Moths Armstrong Gold”& ‘Supersonic’ are narrower and smaller, ‘Brandywine’ a seedless selection
Acer x freeman Freeman Maple 40’-50’ Upright, Oval, Columnar
Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, Fast grower
*Acer saccharum Sugar Maple 60’-75’ Oval, Upright, Round
Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, supports 295 species of Butterflies and Moths Many cultivars
Carpinus betulus European Hornbeam 25’-40’ Narrow, Round
Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds. Excellent planted in groupings
*Celtis occidentalis Hackberry 40’-60 Vase, Oval Round Road Salt Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, supports 44 species of Butterflies and Moths Many cultivars
*Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum 30’-50’ Striking Pyramidal Tolerates Road Salt and Drought Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, supports 35 species of Butterflies and Moths One of the most beautiful fall trees. Deep roots.
*Ostrya virginiana American Hophornbeam, Ironwood 25’-40’ Pyramidal, Round Tolerates Dry Gravelly soils and Shade Pollinators, Small Mammals,Birds, supports 90 species of Butterflies and Moths Some cultivars
*Quercus alba White Oak 50’-80’ Broad, Irregular Dry Sites Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, supports 557 species of Butterflies and Moths Many cultivars for smaller size and narrowness
*Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak 70’-80’ Stately Dry Sites Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, supports 557 species of Butterflies and Moths Cultivars developed for smaller size and with fewer acorns.
*Quercus montana Chestnut Oak 60’-70’ Round Dry Sites Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, supports 557 species of Butterflies and Moths No Cultivars. Leaves resemble chestnut tree leaves.
*Quercus phellos Willow Oak 40’-60’ Pyramidal, Round Dry Sites Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, supports 557 species of Butterflies and Moths
*Quercus rubra Red Oak 60’-75’ Round Dry Sites Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, supports 521 species of Butterflies and Moths Many cultivars. Spectacular fall color.
Quercus x warei Ware’s Oak 30’-45’ Columnar Tolerates occasional drought or wetness Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, Many cultivars, ‘Regal Prince’ is narrower.
*Tilia americana American Basswood 60’-80’ Oval, Pyramidal, Round Dry Sites Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, supports 153 species of Butterflies and Moths Many cultivars
Tilia cordata x mongolica ‘Harvest Gold’ Littleleaf Linden Hybrid 40’ Pyramidal
Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, Beautiful flowers. Many cultivars, ‘Harvest Gold’ recommended.
Ulmus Elm Hybrids 40’-70’ Arching, Oval, Upright Dry Sites Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds, Many cultivars, ‘Accolade’, ‘Frontier’, ‘Homestead’, ‘Jefferson’. Deep tap root.

Street Trees for Guilderland: Mature Height Under 30’
Scientific Name Common Name Form Tolerances Wildlife Notes/Cultivars
*Amelanchier species Serviceberry Rounded, Multi-Stemmed or Single Stemmed Shade and wet site tolerant Pollinators,Small Mammals, Birds, 124 species of Butterflies and Moths Many cultivars, ‘Princess Diana, ‘Autumn Sunset’
*Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud Rounded Tolerates some shade Pollinators,Small Mammals, Birds, 12 species of Butterflies and Moths Early bloomer. Many cultivars. One of the top 10 most important native trees for pollinators
*Carpinus caroliniana American Hornbeam, Musclewood Rounded Shade tolerant Pollinators,Small Mammals, Birds, 78 species of Butterflies and Moths Many cultivars
Crataegus phaenopyrum Washington Hawthorn Broad, Rounded Tolerates Pollution Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds Spectacular spring flowers and red berries through the winter. Thorns
Crataegus virdis Winter King Hawthorn Broad, Rounded Occasional Drought Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds Few or no thorns.
*Malus spp. Crabapples Broad Dry sites Pollinators,Small Mammals, Birds, 309 species of Butterflies and Moths Choose disease resistant cultivars, ‘Adirondak’, ‘Donald Wyman’
Cornus mas Cornelian-cherry dogwood Rounded, Multi-stemmed Salt tolerant Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds Early bloomer. ‘Golden Glory’
Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry Vase
Pollinators, Small Mammals, Birds Many cultivars, ‘Pink Flair’, ‘Columnaris’

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