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 barbatum infodeciduous4-610-1261-10613-17132-228
Acer buergeranuminfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Acer campestreinfodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Acer ginnala infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Acer palmatum infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Acer platanoidesinfodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-20177-314
Acer pseudoplatanusinfodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-20177-314
Acer rubrum infodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-20177-314
Acer saccharinuminfodeciduous5-715-17176-22618-25280-491
Acer saccharum infodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-20177-314
Acer truncatum 'Pacific Sunset'infodeciduous5-714-16159-19819-21291-344
Acer × freemanii 'Autumn Blaze' infodeciduous5-713-15133-17618-21254-346
Aesculus flava infodeciduous4-68-1051-8513-17128-240
Aesculus glabra infodeciduous4-68-1047-7812-16110-208
Aesculus hippocastanum infodeciduous5-712-15113-17617-22254-380
Aesculus pavia infodeciduous3-58-1155-8811-1588-177
Albizia julibrissin infodeciduous3-410-1278-11311-15113-177
Alnus glutinosa infodeciduous5-710-1278-11315-17177-254
Amelanchier arborea infodeciduous4-610-1278-11314-16154-201
Amelanchier canadensis infodeciduous2-36-728-3810-1379-132
Amelanchier laevis infodeciduous4-610-1278-11314-16154-201
Amelanchier × grandiflora infodeciduous2-37-838-5011-1395-132
Betula maximowiczianainfodeciduous3-510-1278-11315-17177-254
Betula nigra infodeciduous5-713-16132-20117-20254-314
Betula papyrifera infodeciduous4-610-1278-11315-17177-254
Betula pendula infodeciduous3-510-1278-11317-20254-314
Betula platyphyllainfodeciduous3-510-1278-11315-17177-254
Betula populifolia infodeciduous3-57-1139-889-1670-192
Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' infodeciduous2-36-828-5010-1179-113
Carpinus caroliniana infodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Carya illinoiensis infodeciduous5-715-17176-22620-25314-491
Carya ovata infodeciduous5-710-1378-13211-15113-177
Carya tomentosainfodeciduous7-99-1169-10212-14118-210
Castanea mollissima infodeciduous5-710-1278-11311-15113-177
Celtis laevigata infodeciduous5-712-14113-15315-17177-254
Celtis occidentalis infodeciduous5-713-16132-20117-22254-380
Cercidiphyllum japonicum infodeciduous2-38-1050-7811-15113-177
Cercis canadensis infodeciduous2-310-1278-11313-16133-201
Cercis chinensisinfodeciduous2-38-1050-789-1370-133
Chioanthus virginicus infodeciduous2-38-1050-7810-1179-113
Chionanthus retusus infodeciduous2-39-1263-11314-19153-283
Cladrastis lutea infodeciduous3-512-15113-17615-17177-254
Cornus florida infodeciduous2-38-1050-7811-15113-177
Cornus kousa infodeciduous2-310-1278-11311-15113-177
Cornus mas infodeciduous2-36-828-507-1150-113
Corylus colurna infodeciduous3-58-1045-6211-15101-167
Cotinus coggygria infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Crataegus crus-galliinfodeciduous3-411-1295-11311-15113-177
Crataegus phaenopyrum infodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-3779-113
Crataegus viridis infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Diospyros virginiana infodeciduous4-610-1278-11311-15113-177
Elaeagnus angustifolia infodeciduous3-410-1278-11315-17177-254
Eucommia ulmoides infodeciduous4-610-1278-11311-15113-177
Fagus grandifolia infodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Fagus sylvatica infodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Franklinia alatamaha infodeciduous2-38-1050-7810-1379-133
Fraxinus americana infodeciduous4-512-15113-17615-17177-254
Fraxinus angustifoliainfodeciduous4-611-1292-11917-20217-299
Fraxinus pennsylvanica infodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
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 biloba infodeciduous3-58-1050-7810-1379-133
Ginkgo biloba 'Autumn Gold' infodeciduous3-510-1178-9512-14113-154
Ginkgo biloba 'Sentry' infodeciduous2-36-828-507-1050-79
Gleditsia triacanthosvar.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 dioicus infodeciduous5-710-1278-11311-15113-177
Halesia tetraptera infodeciduous2-38-1050-7814-17153-227
Hammamelis virginiana infodeciduous3-49-1263-11314-18153-254
Juglans nigra infodeciduous5-712-15113-17617-20254-314
Juglans regiainfodeciduous5-714-16163-20721-25337-500
Koelreuteria paniculata infodeciduous2-38-1050-7811-15113-177
Lagerstroemia indica infodeciduous3-46-828-5011-15113-177
Larix decidua infodeciduous5-712-14113-15415-17177-254
Larix kaempferiinfodeciduous2-48-953-6514-16160-201
Liquidamber styraciflua infodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-17177-254
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba' infodeciduous5-710-1178-9515-16176-201
Liriodendron tulipifera infodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-17177-254
Liriodendron tulipifera infodeciduous4-510-1278-11317-21226-346
Maclura pomifera infodeciduous5-713-15132-17617-20254-314
Magnolia acuminata infodeciduous5-78-1050-7811-15113-177
Magnolia macrophylla infodeciduous3-47-938-6310-1179-113
Magnolia stellata infodeciduous3-45-719-387-1050-79
Magnolia virginiana infodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-1179-113
Magnolia × soulangiana infodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-1579-177
Malus spp. infodeciduous3-48-1250-11310-1579-177
Metasequoia glyptostroboides infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Morus spp. infodeciduous5-712-15113-17612-20117-314
Nyssa sylvatica infodeciduous3-58-1050-7811-15113-177
Ostrya virginiana infodeciduous4-68-946-6612-16117-202
Oxydendron arboreum infodeciduous2-38-1050-7810-1179-113
Parrotia persica infodeciduous5-77-1342-13210-1875-250
Phellodendron amurense infodeciduous5-712-14113-15315-17177-254
Pistacia chinensis infodeciduous4-513-15132-17615-18176-254
Platanus occidentalis infodeciduous5-716-18201-25420-25314-491
Platanus × acerifolia infodeciduous5-714-16153-20117-22254-380
Prunus cerasifera infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Prunus persica infodeciduous3-46-828-5010-1179-112
Prunus sargentii infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Prunus serotina infodeciduous5-710-1278-11313-16133-201
Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan' infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Prunus subhirtella infodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Prunus × yedoensis infodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
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 acutissima infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Quercus alba infodeciduous4-510-1278-11315-17177-254
Quercus bicolor infodeciduous4-510-1278-11315-17177-254
Quercus coccinea infodeciduous4-510-1278-11315-17177-254
Quercus falcata infodeciduous5-716-18193-25921-26334-514
Quercus imbricaria infodeciduous4-512-14113-15415-17177-254
Quercus laurifolia infodeciduous3-510-1279-11311-15113-177
Quercus laurifolia 'Darlington' infodeciduous3-58-1050-7810-1179-113
Quercus lyrata infodeciduous4-513-17133-22617-22226-380
Quercus macrocarpa infodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Quercus michauxiiinfodeciduous4-516-17201-22622-25380-491
Quercus muehlenbergii infodeciduous5-717-19233-29122-26372-524
Quercus nigra infodeciduous4-512-14113-15315-17177-254
Quercus nuttallii infodeciduous4-511-1295-11313-16132-201
Quercus palustris infodeciduous5-712-15113-17615-17177-254
Quercus phellos infodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Quercus prinus infodeciduous4-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Quercus robur infodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Quercus robur 'Fastigiata' infodeciduous2-36-828-507-1050-79
Quercus rubra infodeciduous4-512-15113-17615-17177-254
Quercus shumardii infodeciduous4-512-13113-13218-19254-283
Quercus velutina infodeciduous5-713-14139-17018-21281-370
Robinia pseudoacacia infodeciduous3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Salix babylonica infodeciduous4-515-17177-22620-25314-491
Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa' infodeciduous3-410-1278-11311-15113-177
Salix nigrainfodeciduous3-512-15113-17615-17177-254
Sassafras albidum infodeciduous4-68-1151-9412-18107-241
Sophora japonica infodeciduous3-410-1278-11315-17177-254
Sorbus alnifolia infodeciduous3-410-1278-11315-17177-254
Stewartia koreana infodeciduous2-36-828-5010-1179-113
Stewartia ovatainfodeciduous2-36-828-5010-1179-113
Stewartia pseudocamellia infodeciduous2-36-828-5010-1179-113
Styrax japonicus infodeciduous2-38-1050-7811-15113-177
Syringa reticulata infodeciduous2-36-828-5010-1179-113
Taxodium ascendens infodeciduous1-32-48-105-621-26
Taxodium disticum infodeciduous3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
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 tomentosa infodeciduous3-413-14133-15317-20226-314
Ulmus americana infodeciduous3-515-17176-22620-25314-491
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 parvifolia infodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Viburnum prunifoliuminfodeciduous2-43-48-164-816-46
Zelkova serrata infodeciduous3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Abies concolor infoevergreen2-46-828-507-1050-79
Abies fraseriinfoevergreen2-46-828-507-1050-79
Calocedrus decurrens infoevergreen2-33-57-194-513-28
Cedrus atlantica infoevergreen3-46-828-5010-1179-113
Cedrus deodara infoevergreen3-48-1050-7811-15113-177
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana infoevergreen2-46-828-507-1050-79
Chamaecyparis obtusa infoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Plumosa'infoevergreen2-35-719-387-1050-79
Chamaecyparis thyoidesinfoevergreen2-35-719-387-1050-79
Cryptomeria japonica infoevergreen2-36-828-507-1050-79
Cunninghamia lanceolata infoevergreen3-46-828-5011-15113-177
× Cupressocyparis Leylandii infoevergreen3-58-1050-7810-1179-113
Ilex aquifoliuminfoevergreen2-44-612-285-728-50
Ilex opaca infoevergreen2-45-719-386-1038-79
Ilex vomitoria infoevergreen2-45-719-386-1038-79
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 virginiana infoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
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 grandiflora infoevergreen5-712-14113-15315-20177-314
Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' infoevergreen1-23-47-126-728-38
Picea abies infoevergreen3-410-1279-11311-15113-177
Picea glauca infoevergreen3-48-1050-7810-1179-113
Picea glauca 'Conica'infoevergreen1-22-33-72-47-13
Picea omorika infoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
Picea pungens infoevergreen3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Picea pungens 'Hoopsii'infoevergreen3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Picea pungens 'Thompsenii'infoevergreen3-48-1050-7810-1379-133
Pinus bungeana infoevergreen3-56-828-507-1050-79
Pinus echinatainfoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Pinus elliotti infoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Pinus nigra infoevergreen3-58-1050-7810-1379-133
Pinus rigidainfoevergreen3-58-1050-7811-11113-113
Pinus strobus infoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Pinus sylvestris infoevergreen3-58-1050-7811-15113-177
Pinus taeda infoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Pinus thunbergiana infoevergreen3-58-1050-789-1370-133
Pinus virginiana infoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177
Platycladus orientalisinfoevergreen3-43-57-195-720-50
Pseudotsuga menziesii infoevergreen3-48-1050-7810-1179-113
Quercus virginiana infoevergreen4-510-1578-17615-20177-314
Taxus baccata infoevergreen2-35-719-386-1038-79
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'infoevergreen3-73-47-12--
Taxus cuspidata infoevergreen2-33-57-195-620-38
Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata'infoevergreen2-36-828-50--
Thuja occidentalis infoevergreen3-43-57-195-720-50
Thuja plicata 'Green Giant' infoevergreen2-32-46-86-728-38
Tsuga canadensis infoevergreen3-58-1050-7811-15113-177
Tsuga caroliniana infoevergreen3-510-1278-11311-15113-177