Tree Canopy Spread & Coverage in Urban Landscapes

Database Purpose

The purpose of this database is to provide horticulturists, landscape designers, urban foresters, and urban planners with information on the typical canopy dimensions of common landscape trees in the Mid-Atlantic Region. This information has many applications for planning and designing urban landscapes. In particular, the information is useful for tree species selection and specifying tree spacing and planting densities. The information is also useful for projecting the future canopy coverage of tree planting plans. The database is provided as a sortable table below and can be downloaded as an Excel spreadsheet here.

+ Database History

This database was originally developed by the late Dr. Bonnie Appleton and her colleagues at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. The database was compiled through field observations, expert opinions, and literature sources. The Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association (VNLA) distributed the database to the public through its website for many years. The database is now maintained by Dr. Eric Wiseman and his colleagues in the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. Questions about the database may be sent to vtuf@vt.edu.

+ Database Sources

Information in this database represents the best-available science about expected tree growth in urban landscapes of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Most of the values are based on personal observations of horticulturists published in a wide range of textbooks, bulletins, journals, and websites. Some values are based on controlled studies of tree growth. Caution must be exercised in applying this information. Tree growth rates vary considerably across the Mid-Atlantic Region due to differences in climate, soil quality, nursery stock quality, and cultivation practices. The information provided here is conservative estimates of tree growth for a typical urban environment of the Mid-Atlantic Region where soils have been degraded during land development and minimal maintenance is provided after planting. The database assumes typical nursery stock of 1”-2” trunk caliper or 5’-7’ plant height, depending on species.

This database may be sorted by clicking on any of the column headers. To learn more, click “info” which is linked to an information page published by other academic institutions.

Tree specieslinkTypePlanting Spread (ft.)10 year spread (ft.)10 year cover (sq. ft.)20 year spread (ft.)20 year cover (sq. ft.)
Acer floridanuminfodeciduous4-610-1261-10613-17132-228
Acer buergeranuminfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Acer campestreinfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Acer tataricum subsp. ginnalainfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Acer palmatuminfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Acer platanoidesinfodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-20177-314
Acer pseudoplatanusinfodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-20177-314
Acer rubruminfodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-20177-314
Acer saccharinuminfodeciduous5-715-17176-22618-25280-491
Acer saccharuminfodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-20177-314
Acer truncatum 'Pacific Sunset'infodeciduous5-714-16159-19819-21291-344
Acer × freemanii 'Autumn Blaze'infodeciduous5-713-15133-17618-21254-346
Aesculus flavainfodeciduous4-68-1051-8513-17128-240
Aesculus glabrainfodeciduous4-68-1047-7812-16110-208
Aesculus hippocastanuminfodeciduous5-712-15113-17617-22254-380
Aesculus paviainfodeciduous3-58-1155-8811-1588-177
Albizia julibrissininfodeciduous3-410-1278-11311-15113-177
Alnus glutinosainfodeciduous5-710-1278-11315-17177-254
Amelanchier arboreainfodeciduous4-610-1278-11314-16154-201
Amelanchier canadensisinfodeciduous2-36-728-3810-1379-132
Amelanchier laevisinfodeciduous4-610-1278-11314-16154-201
Amelanchier × grandiflorainfodeciduous2-37-838-5011-1395-132
Betula maximowiczianainfodeciduous3-510-1278-11315-17177-254
Betula nigrainfodeciduous5-713-16132-20117-20254-314
Betula papyriferainfodeciduous4-610-1278-11315-17177-254
Betula pendulainfodeciduous3-510-1278-11317-20254-314
Betula platyphyllainfodeciduous3-510-1278-11315-17177-254
Betula populifoliainfodeciduous3-57-1139-889-1670-192
Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata'infodeciduous2-36-828-5010-1179-113
Carpinus carolinianainfodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Carya illinoiensisinfodeciduous5-715-17176-22620-25314-491
Carya ovatainfodeciduous5-710-1378-13211-15113-177
Carya tomentosainfodeciduous7-99-1169-10212-14118-210
Castanea mollissimainfodeciduous5-710-1278-11311-15113-177
Celtis laevigatainfodeciduous5-712-14113-15315-17177-254
Celtis occidentalisinfodeciduous5-713-16132-20117-22254-380
Cercidiphyllum japonicuminfodeciduous2-38-1050-7811-15113-177
Cercis canadensisinfodeciduous2-310-1278-11313-16133-201
Cercis chinensisinfodeciduous2-38-1050-789-1370-133
Chioanthus virginicusinfodeciduous2-38-1050-7810-1179-113
Chionanthus retususinfodeciduous2-39-1263-11314-19153-283
Cladrastis luteainfodeciduous3-512-15113-17615-17177-254
Cornus floridainfodeciduous2-38-1050-7811-15113-177
Cornus kousainfodeciduous2-310-1278-11311-15113-177
Cornus masinfodeciduous2-36-828-507-1150-113
Corylus colurnainfodeciduous3-58-1045-6211-15101-167
Cotinus coggygriainfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Crataegus crus-galliinfodeciduous3-411-1295-11311-15113-177
Crataegus phaenopyruminfodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-3779-113
Crataegus viridisinfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Diospyros virginianainfodeciduous4-610-1278-11311-15113-177
Elaeagnus angustifoliainfodeciduous3-410-1278-11315-17177-254
Eucommia ulmoidesinfodeciduous4-610-1278-11311-15113-177
Fagus grandifoliainfodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Fagus sylvaticainfodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Franklinia alatamahainfodeciduous2-38-1050-7810-1379-133
Fraxinus americanainfodeciduous4-512-15113-17615-17177-254
Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpainfodeciduous4-611-1292-11917-20217-299
Fraxinus pennsylvanicainfodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Marshall's Seedless'infodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Patmore'infodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Summit'infodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Ginkgo bilobainfodeciduous3-58-1050-7810-1379-133
Ginkgo biloba 'Autumn Gold'infodeciduous3-510-1178-9512-14113-154
Ginkgo biloba 'Sentry'infodeciduous2-36-828-507-1050-79
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermisinfodeciduous3-513-16132-20116-20201-314
Gleditsia triacanthos 'Imperial'infodeciduous3-513-16132-20116-20201-314
Gleditsia triacanthos 'Shademaster'infodeciduous3-513-16132-20116-20201-314
Gleditsia triacanthos 'Skyline'infodeciduous3-513-16132-20116-20201-314
Gymnocladus dioicusinfodeciduous5-710-1278-11311-15113-177
Halesia tetrapterainfodeciduous2-38-1050-7814-17153-227
Hamamelis virginianainfodeciduous3-49-1263-11314-18153-254
Juglans nigrainfodeciduous5-712-15113-17617-20254-314
Juglans regiainfodeciduous5-714-16163-20721-25337-500
Koelreuteria paniculatainfodeciduous2-38-1050-7811-15113-177
Lagerstroemia indicainfodeciduous3-46-828-5011-15113-177
Larix deciduainfodeciduous5-712-14113-15415-17177-254
Larix kaempferiinfodeciduous2-48-953-6514-16160-201
Liquidambar styracifluainfodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-17177-254
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba'infodeciduous5-710-1178-9515-16176-201
Liriodendron tulipiferainfodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-17177-254
Maclura pomiferainfodeciduous5-713-15132-17617-20254-314
Magnolia acuminatainfodeciduous5-78-1050-7811-15113-177
Magnolia macrophyllainfodeciduous3-47-938-6310-1179-113
Magnolia stellatainfodeciduous3-45-719-387-1050-79
Magnolia virginianainfodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-1179-113
Magnolia × soulangianainfodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-1579-177
Malus spp.infodeciduous3-48-1250-11310-1579-177
Metasequoia glyptostroboidesinfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Morus spp.infodeciduous5-712-15113-17612-20117-314
Nyssa sylvaticainfodeciduous3-58-1050-7811-15113-177
Ostrya virginianainfodeciduous4-68-946-6612-16117-202
Oxydendron arboreuminfodeciduous2-38-1050-7810-1179-113
Parrotia persicainfodeciduous5-77-1342-13210-1875-250
Phellodendron amurenseinfodeciduous5-712-14113-15315-17177-254
Pistacia chinensisinfodeciduous4-513-15132-17615-18176-254
Platanus occidentalisinfodeciduous5-716-18201-25420-25314-491
Platanus × acerifoliainfodeciduous5-714-16153-20117-22254-380
Prunus cerasiferainfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Prunus persicainfodeciduous3-46-828-5010-1179-112
Prunus sargentiiinfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Prunus serotinainfodeciduous5-710-1278-11313-16133-201
Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan'infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Prunus subhirtellainfodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Prunus × yedoensisinfodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat'infodeciduous4-512-15113-17617-20254-314
Pyrus calleryana 'Autumn Blaze'infodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'infodeciduous4-512-15113-17615-17177-254
Pyrus calleryana 'Capital'infodeciduous3-56-828-507-1050-79
Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer'infodeciduous3-56-828-507-1050-79
Pyrus calleryana 'Redspire'infodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Pyrus calleryana 'Whitehouse'infodeciduous3-58-1050-7810-1179-113
Quercus acutissimainfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Quercus albainfodeciduous4-510-1278-11315-17177-254
Quercus bicolorinfodeciduous4-510-1278-11315-17177-254
Quercus coccineainfodeciduous4-510-1278-11315-17177-254
Quercus falcatainfodeciduous5-716-18193-25921-26334-514
Quercus imbricariainfodeciduous4-512-14113-15415-17177-254
Quercus laurifoliainfodeciduous3-510-1279-11311-15113-177
Quercus laurifolia 'Darlington'infodeciduous3-58-1050-7810-1179-113
Quercus lyratainfodeciduous4-513-17133-22617-22226-380
Quercus macrocarpainfodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Quercus michauxiiinfodeciduous4-516-17201-22622-25380-491
Quercus muehlenbergiiinfodeciduous5-717-19233-29122-26372-524
Quercus nigrainfodeciduous4-512-14113-15315-17177-254
Quercus texanainfodeciduous4-511-1295-11313-16132-201
Quercus palustrisinfodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-17177-254
Quercus phellosinfodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Quercus prinusinfodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Quercus roburinfodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Quercus robur 'Fastigiata'infodeciduous2-36-828-507-1050-79
Quercus rubrainfodeciduous4-512-15113-17615-17177-254
Quercus shumardiiinfodeciduous4-512-13113-13218-19254-283
Quercus velutinainfodeciduous5-713-14139-17018-21281-370
Robinia pseudoacaciainfodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Salix babylonicainfodeciduous4-515-17177-22620-25314-491
Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa'infodeciduous3-410-1278-11311-15113-177
Salix nigrainfodeciduous3-512-15113-17615-17177-254
Sassafras albiduminfodeciduous4-68-1151-9412-18107-241
Sophora japonicainfodeciduous3-410-1278-11315-17177-254
Sorbus alnifoliainfodeciduous3-410-1278-11315-17177-254
Stewartia koreanainfodeciduous2-36-828-5010-1179-113
Stewartia ovatainfodeciduous2-36-828-5010-1179-113
Stewartia pseudocamelliainfodeciduous2-36-828-5010-1179-113
Styrax japonicusinfodeciduous2-38-1050-7811-15113-177
Syringa reticulatainfodeciduous2-36-828-5010-1179-113
Taxodium distichum var. imbricariuminfodeciduous1-32-48-105-621-26
Taxodium disticuminfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Tilia americana 'Legend'infodeciduous3-412-15113-17617-20227-314
Tilia americana 'Redmond'infodeciduous3-412-15113-17617-20227-314
Tilia cordata 'Glenleven'infodeciduous3-410-1278-11311-15113-177
Tilia cordata 'Greenspire'infodeciduous3-410-1278-11311-15113-177
Tilia tomentosainfodeciduous3-413-14133-15317-20226-314
Ulmus americanainfodeciduous3-515-17176-22620-25314-491
Ulmus americana 'Princeton'infodeciduous3-513-15133-17619-21283-346
Ulmus hollandica 'Groenveldt'infodeciduous3-512-15113-17617-22254-380
Ulmus japonica × wilsoniana 'Accolade'infodeciduous5-711-12101-12014-17161-218
Ulmus parvifoliainfodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Viburnum prunifoliuminfodeciduous2-43-48-164-816-46
Zelkova serratainfodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Abies concolorinfoevergreen2-46-828-507-1050-79
Abies fraseriinfoevergreen2-46-828-507-1050-79
Calocedrus decurrensinfoevergreen2-33-57-194-513-28
Cedrus atlanticainfoevergreen3-46-828-5010-1179-113
Cedrus deodarainfoevergreen3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Chamaecyparis lawsonianainfoevergreen2-46-828-507-1050-79
Chamaecyparis obtusainfoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Plumosa'infoevergreen2-35-719-387-1050-79
Chamaecyparis thyoidesinfoevergreen2-35-719-387-1050-79
Cryptomeria japonicainfoevergreen2-36-828-507-1050-79
Cunninghamia lanceolatainfoevergreen3-46-828-5011-15113-177
× Hesperotropsis leylandiiinfoevergreen3-58-1050-7810-1179-113
Ilex aquifoliuminfoevergreen2-44-612-285-728-50
Ilex opacainfoevergreen2-45-719-386-1038-79
Ilex vomitoriainfoevergreen2-45-719-386-1038-79
Ilex × attenuata 'Fosteri'infoevergreen2-46-828-507-1050-79
Ilex × 'Nellie R. Stevens'infoevergreen3-57-938-6310-1179-113
Juniperus chinensisinfoevergreen3-56-828-507-1150-113
Juniperus chinensis 'Denserecta'infoevergreen3-52-43-122-57-20
Juniperus chinensis 'Hetzii Columnaris'infoevergreen3-52-43-122-57-20
Juniperus chinensis 'Keteleeri'infoevergreen3-54-612-285-728-50
Juniperus chinensis 'Robusta Green'infoevergreen3-53-57-195-620-38
Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa'infoevergreen3-52-43-122-57-20
Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Heaven'infoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
Juniperus scopulorum 'Cologreen'infoevergreen2-32-43-122-57-20
Juniperus scopulorum 'Columnaris'infoevergreen2-32-43-122-57-20
Juniperus scopulorum 'Erecta Glauca'infoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
Juniperus scopulorum 'Gray Gleam'infoevergreen2-32-43-122-57-20
Juniperus scopulorum 'Moonglow'infoevergreen2-32-43-122-57-20
Juniperus virginianainfoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
Juniperus virginiana 'Canaertii'infoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
Juniperus virginiana 'Manhattan Blue'infoevergreen2-32-43-124-513-28
Juniperus virginiana 'Princeton Sentry'infoevergreen2-32-43-124-513-28
Magnolia grandiflorainfoevergreen5-712-14113-15315-20177-314
Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'infoevergreen1-23-47-126-728-38
Picea abiesinfoevergreen3-410-1279-11311-15113-177
Picea glaucainfoevergreen3-48-1050-7810-1179-113
Picea laxa 'Conica'infoevergreen1-22-33-72-47-13
Picea omorikainfoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
Picea pungensinfoevergreen3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Picea pungens 'Hoopsii'infoevergreen3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Picea pungens 'Thompsenii'infoevergreen3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Pinus bungeanainfoevergreen3-56-828-507-1050-79
Pinus echinatainfoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Pinus elliottiinfoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Pinus nigrainfoevergreen3-58-1050-7810-1379-133
Pinus rigidainfoevergreen3-58-1050-7811-11113-113
Pinus strobusinfoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Pinus sylvestrisinfoevergreen3-58-1050-7811-15113-177
Pinus taedainfoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Pinus thunbergiiinfoevergreen3-58-1050-789-1370-133
Pinus virginianainfoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Platycladus orientalisinfoevergreen3-43-57-195-720-50
Pseudotsuga menziesiiinfoevergreen3-48-1050-7810-1179-113
Quercus virginianainfoevergreen4-510-1578-17615-20177-314
Taxus baccatainfoevergreen2-35-719-386-1038-79
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'infoevergreen3-73-47-12--
Taxus cuspidatainfoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata'infoevergreen2-36-828-50--
Thuja occidentalisinfoevergreen3-43-57-195-720-50
Thuja plicata 'Green Giant'infoevergreen2-32-46-86-728-38
Tsuga canadensisinfoevergreen3-58-1050-7811-15113-177
Tsuga carolinianainfoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177