- How will you be using the tree and what kind of shade will it produce? Will the shade allow light, dappled sunlight to filter through the leaves during the summer? Or will it be a dense, deep shade that very few plants will grow under?
- What kind of plants will you want to plant under this shade tree and what are their light requirements? You should plan both the tree and underlying plants together, if possible.
- What kind of root structure does the tree variety have? You should avoid trees that have aggressive root structure if you are planning on making other plantings underneath it, as they will choke out all the other vegetation nearby.
- Japanese maples (Acer palmatum). Usually growing between 15 and 25 feet in height, with a similar spread, this tree is good for Zones 6-8.
- Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). Grows 12-20 feet in height (similar spread), and suitable for zones 4-9. It has beautiful white flowers in the spring, and then black berries which are excellent for attracting birds to your garden. It also has a rounded, open habit, making it excellent for plantings underneath.
- Saucer magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana). Grows up to thirty feet high and wide, good for zones 5-9. Has beautiful, large pink flowers that open early in spring. Their open branch structure makes these ideal for shade perennial gardens as well.
- Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). Can be anywhere from forty to eighty feet tall, and twenty to forty feet wide. This is a good evergreen selection for your shade perennial garden, suitable for zones 4-8. The long, blue-green needles will let light through, and it also produces nice large cones for craft projects and other uses.
- Lacebark elm (Ulmus parvifolia). This is a disease resistant elm variey whose leaves turn beautiful yellow and red colors in the fall. It has a spreading habit, grows 40-70 feet tall, and is suitable for zones 5-9.
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