For the last seven years, I’ve been nurturing a silver maple (acer saccharinum) seedling that I found growing in the backyard. The Siberian elms (ulmus pumila) that came with our house were nearing the end of their 60-year life span, and I wanted a replacement. We carefully moved the seedling to a spot away from power lines and older trees, and waited. It’s now about 15 feet tall.
When I started researching native plants, I was happy to find out that my little silver maple is a species that is originally from the United States. It is, in fact, one of the most common trees in the country. It’s also on the City of Elmhurst’s list of prohibited parkway trees and cannot legally be planted on the parkway. Silver maples apparently have wood that is susceptible to storm damage, and fibrous roots that can crack sidewalks or invade city sewer systems. My tree is nowhere near a sewer line, sidewalk, or house.
Elmhurst code prohibits nine different types of trees, as well as trees that produce fruit for human consumption. The prohibition seems to have more to do with issues of convenience or safety than ecological concerns. Many of the trees on the list grow quickly, resulting in weaker-wooded trees more likely to drop limbs, have vigorous root systems, or produce fruits that might be “messy.”
Some species on the approved tree list, such as the Norway maple (acer platenoides) and Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana cultivars) are cited by native plant experts as problematic because of their tendency to become invasive, choking out plant life in wild areas.
The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health notes that non-sterile species of the Callery pear have escaped and are invading natural areas throughout the eastern United States. In Maryland, it is listed as an invasive species of concern, and can be seen covering roadsides there. In 2005, the city of Champaign, IL, decided to no longer allow Callery pears to be planted on public rights-of-way. Though Elmhurst, IL allows the tree, it’s best to plant another type as an alternative.
The Norway maple, like the Callery pear, has invaded natural areas. This tree’s dense canopy and shallow root system make life very difficult for any plants that must grow beneath it. Often, Norway maples are surrounded by bare ground. The National Park Service and numerous other environmental preservation organizations list Norway maple as a species that has invaded forests, fields, and other habitats.
The Morton Arboretum recently recommended Ten Tough Trees for planting in the Chicago area. Of these, several are on the City of Elmhurst’s list of approved trees for parkways. Instead of the Callery pear or Norway maple, consider the hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), Kentucky coffeetree (gymnoclaudus dioicus), bur oak (quercus macrocarpa), or gingko (Gingko biloba) from the Morton Arboretum’s list.
Other trees not on the City of Elmhurst’s approved list, but which are native species, are the swamp white oak (quercus bicolor), sugar maple (acer saccharum), and red maple (acer rubrum). The liberty elm (ulmus Americana) is a variety of the American elm that is resistant to Dutch elm disease, and may be a good choice if you like elm trees.
When I started researching native plants, I was happy to find out that my little silver maple is a species that is originally from the United States. It is, in fact, one of the most common trees in the country. It’s also on the City of Elmhurst’s list of prohibited parkway trees and cannot legally be planted on the parkway. Silver maples apparently have wood that is susceptible to storm damage, and fibrous roots that can crack sidewalks or invade city sewer systems. My tree is nowhere near a sewer line, sidewalk, or house.
Elmhurst code prohibits nine different types of trees, as well as trees that produce fruit for human consumption. The prohibition seems to have more to do with issues of convenience or safety than ecological concerns. Many of the trees on the list grow quickly, resulting in weaker-wooded trees more likely to drop limbs, have vigorous root systems, or produce fruits that might be “messy.”
Some species on the approved tree list, such as the Norway maple (acer platenoides) and Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana cultivars) are cited by native plant experts as problematic because of their tendency to become invasive, choking out plant life in wild areas.
The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health notes that non-sterile species of the Callery pear have escaped and are invading natural areas throughout the eastern United States. In Maryland, it is listed as an invasive species of concern, and can be seen covering roadsides there. In 2005, the city of Champaign, IL, decided to no longer allow Callery pears to be planted on public rights-of-way. Though Elmhurst, IL allows the tree, it’s best to plant another type as an alternative.
The Norway maple, like the Callery pear, has invaded natural areas. This tree’s dense canopy and shallow root system make life very difficult for any plants that must grow beneath it. Often, Norway maples are surrounded by bare ground. The National Park Service and numerous other environmental preservation organizations list Norway maple as a species that has invaded forests, fields, and other habitats.
The Morton Arboretum recently recommended Ten Tough Trees for planting in the Chicago area. Of these, several are on the City of Elmhurst’s list of approved trees for parkways. Instead of the Callery pear or Norway maple, consider the hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), Kentucky coffeetree (gymnoclaudus dioicus), bur oak (quercus macrocarpa), or gingko (Gingko biloba) from the Morton Arboretum’s list.
Other trees not on the City of Elmhurst’s approved list, but which are native species, are the swamp white oak (quercus bicolor), sugar maple (acer saccharum), and red maple (acer rubrum). The liberty elm (ulmus Americana) is a variety of the American elm that is resistant to Dutch elm disease, and may be a good choice if you like elm trees.
The City of Elmhurst says on its web site that it plants 300 to 400 trees annually, 90% of them replacement trees, at an average cost of $110.00 per tree. About 250 to 300 trees are removed each year.
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