Landscape
Chanticleer pear. Pyrus calleryana, or chanticleer pear, is considered by many to be a good street tree because of its tendency not to "litter" leaves. It grows in a pyramidal shape, so it's easy to fit in narrow areas. "For the front yard, my favorite kind of allée [line of trees] is with the chanticleer pear," says Sims. "It softens the expanse of a driveway to help minimize hardscape and provides the visitor with direction to the front door." This allée of chanticleer pear trees is part of a project by Milieu Design. USDA zones: 5 to 8 Height: 24 to 35 feet Color: Dark green leaves in summer; turns fiery orange in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Regular
Forest pansy redbud. With four-season interest Cercis canadensis, or forest pansy redbud, provides a great focal point in any yard. "This is especially true in the front yard," notes Sims, "where land mass tends to be smaller." Redbuds, like the one in this project by The American Gardener, are rated for full sun but, according to Sims, prefer afternoon shade. USDA zones: 5 to 9 Height: 20 feet Color: Blooms pink in early spring; turns purple in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Regular
River birch. "River birch is one of my favorites," says Terry Sims of The Garden Artist in Idaho. "During fall the leaves turn yellow, which is a nice contrast to the reds. The exfoliating cinnamon- and cream-colored bark becomes prominent as the tree loses its leaves." The birches shown here are part of a project designed by Windsor Companies. USDA zones: 3 to 9 Height: 40 to 70 feet Color: Green leaves in spring and summer; turns golden in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Will tolerate moderate flooding; drought resistant
Bloodgood Japanese maple. Sandy Ayers of The Garden Route Company in California loves the ruby-red tones of Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’, or Bloodgood Japanese maple. USDA zones: 5 to 8 (find your zone) Height: 15 to 25 feet Color: Deep red in spring and summer, turns scarlet in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Water requirement: Moderate to regular
Kwanzan cherry. This double pink flowering tree is a favorite of Robert Welsch's of Westover Landscape Design in New York because it makes a graceful, colorful display along a walkway or street. USDA zones: 5 to 9 Height: 30 to 40 feet Color: Green leaves in summer; turns copper in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Regular
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