Common Trees in Edmonton

Evergreen trees should not be planted close to walkways, streets, or buildings because of their broad base that will become an obstruction as the tree matures. The City of Edmonton no longer plants spruce or pine on residential boulevards for this reason.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list of trees found in Edmonton.

American basswood (Linden)

Tilia americana

  • Maximum height 20m 
  • Spread 12m 
  • Large shade tree 
  • Moderate growth rate 
  • Fragrant yellow flowers
Amur cherry

Prunus maackii

  • Mature height 15m 
  • Prefers a well-drained site
  • Susceptible to winter injury, requires a sheltered location
  • Distinct reddish bark with white spring flowers
  • Vulnerable to fungal disease

Amur cherry tree

Photo Credit:
Dow Gardens, Bugwood.org

Amur maple

Acer ginnala

  • Mature height 5m 
  • Spread 5m 
  • Adapts to a wide range of soil and pH levels 
  • Low-headed ornamental 
  • Beautiful fall foliage colour 
Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa

  • Mature height 15-20m 
  • Spread 10m 
  • High-headed shade tree 
  • Corky branches and lobed leaves 
  • Slow growing makes it a good boulevard tree 
  • Drought and salt tolerant 
Colorado spruce

Picea pungens

  • Maximum height 12m
  • Maximum branch spread 5m
  • Blue or green colour
  • Rigid needles
  • Symmetrical shape
European mountain ash

Sorbus aucuparia

  • Mature height 8m
  • Spread 6m
  • Showy orange-red fruit that attracts birds
  • It can be either single stemmed or multi-stemmed
  • Not good by walkways or on boulevards
  • Susceptible to fire blight
  • ‘Rossica' (Russian) cultivar is a small ornamental variety; dense crown; fast growing
Ivory silk Japanese lilac

Syringa reticulate ‘Ivory Silk'

  • Maximum height 8m
  • Spread 6m
  • Cream coloured flowers
  • Dense canopy
  • Bark is a deep brown that resembles a cherry
Laurel-leaf willow

Salix pentandra

  • Maximum height 15m
  • Spread 15m
  • Distinct yellow bark
  • Large spreading crown
  • Dark glossy green foliage
Little leaf linden

Tilia cordata

  • Maximum height 15m
  • Spread 10m
  • Excellent shade tree
  • Suited for urban planting
  • Fragrant yellow flowers
  • ‘Dropmore' hybrid has a dense pyramidal shape: Little Leaf Linden crossed with Basswood
Lodgepole pine

Pinus contorta var. latifolia

  • Maximum height 25m
  • Tall and narrow form (4m spread)
  • Not commonly used for landscaping purposes
  • Cones remain on branches for many years
  • Alberta's provincial tree
Morden hawthorn

Crataegus x mordenensis ‘Toba'

  • Mature height 4m
  • Spread 3m
  • Glossy dark green foliage
  • Light pink flower clusters
  • Has some thorns
Ohio buckeye

Aesculus glabra

  • Mature height 12m
  • Form is low-headed and has a dense canopy
  • Palmate leaf with the leaflets about 10-15cm long
  • It is fully hardy and slow growing
  • Light orange fall colour
Russian olive

Elaeagnus angustifolia

  • Mature height 7m
  • Spread 7m
  • Has grey foliage
  • Very fragrant yellow flowers
  • Drought and salt tolerant
Scots pine

Pinus sylvestris

  • Maximum height 15m
  • Maximum branch spread 8m
  • Rapid growth
  • Orange-brown bark
  • Great for the urban landscape
Siberian larch

Larix sibirica

  • Maximum size 30m
  • Form is a broad pyramid (15m spread)
  • Needles are soft and turn bright yellow in the fall
  • Adapts to dry sites and is fully hardy
  • Good landscape tree
Swiss stone pine

Pinus cembra

  • Maximum height 10m
  • Maximum branch spread 3m
  • Symmetrical shape
White spruce

Picea glauca

  • Mature size 15m
  • Spread 5m
  • Hardy native tree
  • Needles are softer than the Colorado spruce
  • Prefers sites with more available moisture than the Colorado spruce