CAUTION: MAY HAVE INVASIVE TENDENCIES. The Koelreuteria paniculata or golden rain tree is not recommended to plant, due to its aggressive tendencies. This tree species originates from Asia, more specifically China, Japan and Korea. It prefers well-drained soil, and full sun to partial shade. Golden rain trees grow quickly and are self-pollinated, allowing them to escape cultivation and threaten native vegetation. Better alternatives to plant include Celtis occidentalis, Ostrya virginiana or Carpinus caroliniana.

CAUTION: MAY HAVE INVASIVE TENDENCIES. Laburnum x watereri, or golden chain tree, is a hybrid, non-native species from Europe, thriving in full sun to partial shade, with well-drained soil that is alkaline soil tolerant. This tree species is not recommended to plant as the tree produces chemical compounds that are highly toxic, especially the fruit and can cause symptoms such as vomiting, drowsiness, weakness, sweating, pallor, and headaches. Although poisonous, this hybrid is known for its striking yellow flowers, which fall in spring and can create a blanket of petals on the ground. Better alternatives to plant include Celtis occidentalis, Ostrya virginiana, Cercis canadensis or Carpinus caroliniana.

Larix decidua, or European larch, is a non-native species with its native range primarily in the mountainous regions of central and eastern Europe, particularly in the Alps and Carpathian Mountains. Unlike most conifers, it sheds its needles in the winter. It prefers deep, well-structured and aerated soils, but can also grow on shallow stony soils. Young trees establish slowly, but once established will have quicker growth rates. It is tolerant of temporary flooding and wet conditions but requires ample space to fully develop. In the fall, it sheds a large number of golden-yellow needles, creating a blanket of foliage on the ground.

Larix kaempferi, or Japanese larch, is a non-native species, with its native range in Japan. It prefers well-drained soils, but can adapt to different soil conditions, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It can also tolerate pH ranges between 4.5 - 8.5. This tree species thrives in sunny, spacious locations but struggles in shaded, dry, or polluted urban environments.

Larix laricina, or tamarack, also known as eastern larch or American larch, is native to Ontario, and found across Canada and thrives in moist, well-drained soils with full sun, preferring cooler climates, which makes it ideal for northern regions. Commonly found in wetlands, it grows best with consistent moisture and in natural, less disturbed areas. Tamarack tolerates light shade but needs full sun to grow with quick growth rates. It can struggle in hot, humid conditions and urban environments. Its shallow root system makes it prone to wind throw, so it should be planted in sheltered locations. Tamarack is low-maintenance, fast-growing once established, and great for naturalizing areas, though it sheds a significant number of golden needles in the fall, adding to debris.

Liquidambar styracifula, or sweetgum, is native to regions just outside Ontario, and thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soils, and is adaptable to various soil types, with the exception of alkaline soils. Its sap has been used for products like chewing gum, perfume, and medicines. Sweetgum is a great choice for parks, offering shade and versatility, as it is resistant to deer and rabbits, and tolerant of salt and black walnut toxicity. Though the tree sheds spiky seed pods in fall and winter, making it challenging to maintain near sidewalks, the cultivar 'cherokee' can reduce seed pod litter.

Liriodendron tulipifera, or tulip tree, is native to Ontario and thrives in moist, organically rich, well-drained loams. As one of the largest native species in eastern North America, specifically from southern Ontario and Vermont, west to Michigan and Illinois, south to Louisiana and east to northern Florida, it requires consistent moisture to stay healthy and avoid leaf yellowing. While generally low maintenance, continual pruning is recommended due to its quick growth and sometimes weak branch architecture. Despite these challenges, tulip trees are adaptable to various environments and are excellent shade trees.

Maackia amurensis, or amur maackia, native to Manchuria and Korea and is an excellent choice for smaller landscapes, especially under power lines. It prefers well-drained soil that is either acidic or alkaline, including rocky terrain, and does best in full sun to part shade. This tree produces lightly fragrant white flowers in early summer that attract pollinators.. With minimal maintenance required beyond some initial pruning, it adapts well to a variety of conditions and is free from serious pest or disease issues. As a legume, it also helps enrich the soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. While it can be messy, shedding bark, large leaves, long seed pods, and small pea-like flowers, its unique qualities make it a great addition to the landscape.

Maclura pomifera, or osage orange, is native to regions near Ontario. This species is highly adaptable, tolerating urban pollution, a wide range of pH levels, heat, drought, and various soil types. This species is typically not recommended for planting due to its large, rough, inedible fruit that creates significant litter, along with its sharp thorns. This species can form a dense, thorny barrier and suckers freely, forming potential colonies of plants. Although this is a deterring factor, the thornless and fruitless cultivar White Shield 'White Shield' osage orange is a great choice for urban landscapes. This species is highly adaptable, tolerating urban pollution, a wide range of pH levels, heat, drought, and various soil types. Another cultivar includes Wichita 'wichita', which is a mostly thornless variety.

Magnolia acuminata, or cucumber tree magnolia, is native and endangered in Ontario and thrives in moist, organically rich, well-drained loams with full sun to part shade. The native range of the cucumber tree extends across eastern North America, from southern Ontario and western New York southward to Georgia and westward to Arkansas. It is sensitive to soil extremes and urban pollutants, making it best suited for parks or large lawns rather than urban streets. While it can be messy due to its large leaves, flowers, and long cucumber-like seeds, it is a valuable addition to landscapes.

Magnolia macrophylla, or bigleaf magnolia, native to southeastern US and eastern Mexico, is known for its showy, fragrant flowers and fruit that attract birds, although it typically takes 12 to 15 years for flowers to begin blooming. It thrives in moist, well-drained, organic-rich soils and prefers sun to part shade in sheltered environments. While low maintenance, it can be messy due to large leaves, flowers, and fruit that create litter, especially in fall. The tree can suffer from branch breakage in windstorms, but it has no major insect or disease issues. It tolerates both acidic and alkaline soils, making it a good choice for residential landscapes.

Magnolia virginiana, or sweetbay magnolia, is native to lowlands and swamps of the Atlantic coastal plain of the eastern United States, from Florida to Long Island, New York. This species is known for its fragrant flowers that bloom over an extended period and attract the sweetbay silkmoth as a larval host. Tolerant of wet, swampy, and boggy soils, it thrives in conditions where most other magnolias cannot. While it faces minimal pest and disease issues, it may be susceptible to magnolia scale and chlorosis in alkaline soils. Pruning should be done after blooming, as dormant magnolias do not heal well. The tree is considered somewhat messy due to its large leaves, sticky flowers, and cone-like fruits that create litter in the fall.

Malus baccata, or Siberian crab apple, is a non-native tree species originating from Siberia, China, and Mongolia, is a hardy tree known for its fragrant blooms and edible fruit, which attract birds. It thrives in full sun with moist, well-drained soil and adapts to a variety of soil conditions. While resistant to common crabapple diseases like fireblight, cedar-apple rust, and leaf spot, it can be susceptible to apple scab. Its large size makes it less suited for small spaces or roadside landscapes. Though somewhat messy with fallen fruit, it offers beauty and benefits in the right setting.

Malus spp., or flowering crabapple, is a popular ornamental tree prized for its blossoms but prone to pests and diseases, including fire blight, scab, cedar-apple rust, and aphids. To thrive, they should be planted in full sunlight with moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and prefer regions with cold winters and cooler summers. They are moderately drought-tolerant once established and can tolerate a range of pH levels. Regular pruning to thin the crown and improve air circulation helps prevent disease. Most crabapples are grafted, so ensure the graft union stays above the soil line. Though somewhat messy due to fallen fruit, crabapples are well suited in a variety of conditions.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides, or dawn redwood, is a large, non-native deciduous tree from China. Known for its striking foliage and impressive height, making it perfect for spacious landscapes or as a statement tree. It thrives in full sun and well-drained, moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil. While it tolerates occasional wet soils, well-drained soil with frequent moisture addition supports its growth. This low-maintenance tree requires minimal pruning and is generally free of serious pests or diseases. Despite its evergreen appearance, dawn redwood sheds its needle-like leaves each fall and produces small cones, which can create some litter. It is best suited to large lawns and open spaces due to its extremely large size at maturity.

NOT RECOMMENDED TO PLANT: INVASIVE TENDENCIES. Morus alba, or white mulberry, is not recommended to plant as it has invasive tendencies. It aggressively spreads through wildlife, outcompeting native species and hybridizing with the endangered red mulberry. It prefers warm, moist, well-drained loamy soils, in a sunny location, and can withstand drought once well established. Even when selecting male or fruitless cultivars to avoid seed spread, the species has extremely fast growth rates and will require continual pruning. The tree is messy, dropping fruit that stains surfaces and leaves in the fall. The Auditor General of Ontario has specifically flagged this tree species as a concern in the nursery trades ("Value-for-Money Audit Management of Invasive Species," 2022) and as such should not be recommended for planting. As an alternative native to North America, consider Morus rubra or Nyssa sylvatica.

Morus rubra, or red mulberry, is Canada's only native mulberry species and is a valuable addition to landscapes, particularly in Ontario, where it is considered threatened. It grows best in moist, rich, loamy soils. It is fast growing and drought-tolerant, attracting a variety of pollinators and supports local biodiversity. However, it requires ample space, and while the fruit is edible, it can be messy, with the potential to stain surfaces.Despite its occasional messiness due to falling fruit and leaves, this tree is a great choice for those looking to support native ecosystems.

Nyssa sylvatica, or black gum, is a versatile tree that thrives in a variety of conditions, from medium to wet soils, and can grow in both full sun and part shade. Native to southern Ontario and southwestern Maine south to central Florida, and extending west to eastern Texas and into upland areas of central MexicoIt prefers moist, acidic soil but is adaptable to poorly drained areas and even standing water. It tolerates drought and is ideal for urban plantings, lawns, or areas prone to flooding. A slow grower, it's perfect for ornamental shade and woodland gardens. Though moderately messy with fallen leaves, fruit litter, and exfoliating bark, it adds resilience to landscapes, including tolerance to black walnut toxicity.

Ostrya virginiana, or ironwood, also known as eastern hophornbeam, is a native tree to Ontario with a natural range from Nova Scotia west to southern Manitoba and eastern Wyoming, southeast to northern Florida and southwest to eastern Texas. Thriving in full sun to partial shade, it prefers slightly acidic, moist, fertile, well-drained soils but can tolerate dry, gravelly soils once established. It is slow to establish and difficult to transplant, so careful site selection is key. Though it may drop papery seed clusters, leaves, and peel bark, it's a resilient and adaptable tree perfect for shaded, undisturbed areas. It is not salt-tolerant, so avoid planting in areas with high salinity.

Oxydendrum arboreum, or sourwood, is an ornamental shade tree that is native to the eastern USA , known for its year-round visual appeal. It thrives in acidic, moist, well-drained soils and is drought-tolerant with long blooming periods. While it generally faces few disease or pest issues, it can be sensitive to pollution, soil compaction, and root disturbance, making it best suited for less urbanized areas. Sourwood is slow-growing and not tolerant of transplantation, so it’s best moved when young and through containers in spring. Though somewhat messy with fallen leaves, fruit clusters, and some flower debris, it adds charm to landscapes.

Parrotia persica, or Persian parrotia, is a non-native tree from Iran prized for its striking foliage and bark. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil but is also tolerant of dry conditions and salt. While it has minimal pest and disease issues, Japanese beetles can occasionally be a concern. As a slow grower, it's best pruned after flowering in the spring. Ideal for urban roadside plantings, it does not attract wildlife but offers year-round visual interest. Though somewhat messy with fallen leaves, persistent fruits, and exfoliating bark, it adds character to landscapes.

CAUTION: INVASIVE TENDENCIES. Phellodendron amurense, or amur cork tree, is not recommended due to invasive tendencies. It prefers well-draining loam soil, and can tolerate a range of pH levels, however it prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions. Native to northern China, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, it often replaces native hardwoods and is classified as invasive in New York. The tree emits an unpleasant turpentine-like odor when its foliage is bruised or fruit crushed. Though it typically faces few pests or diseases, the tree is somewhat messy, with falling leaves, sticky fruit, and peeling bark adding to debris. An alternative to consider planting instead is Cercis canadensis or Celtis occidentalis.

Picea abies, or Norway spruce, is a fast-growing, non-native tree from Europe, perfect for large lawns, parks, open areas. Its impressive size, drought tolerance, and deer resistance make it an excellent low-maintenance choice. Though it thrives in full sun, and loamy soils, and benefits from a 3-4 inch layer of mulch to support its shallow root system. Norway spruce attracts wildlife, including birds and small mammals, and can be a beautiful addition to your landscape. While it may occasionally shed needles, cones, or small twigs, its year-round beauty and fast growth make it a great choice for creating a natural, forest-like atmosphere.

Picea glauca, or white spruce, native to Ontario, is a long-lived, attractive tree perfect for landscapes, windbreaks, or privacy screens. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil and full sun but can tolerate light shade. Best suited for cold winter climates with cool summers, it is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and low-maintenance. It can thrive in clay soil with moderate drainage. Due to climate change white spruce are better suited to climates further north.

Picea mariana, or black spruce, is native to North America, primarily found in Canada and extending into the northern parts of the United States, including Alaska, the Great Lakes region, and the upper Northeast and excels in wet landscapes. Its shallow root system and slow growth make it ideal for partial shade to full sun, though it can be vulnerable to wind throw. It prefers wet organic soils, but can tolerate a range of soil types including clays, loams, sand, and coarse till. Black spruce is valuable for wildlife, providing a nesting site for birds and food for small mammals like red squirrels. Its cones open with fire, aiding in seed dispersal. This tree is an excellent addition to naturalized areas in northern areas with cold winters and wet ground.