13 Best Trees for Hot Dry Summers Days
Many trees often overheat and can quickly die. Protect your garden and plants by choosing from our curated list of heat-tolerant trees. Create your ideal garden today that will stand the test of time.
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is a long-lived evergreen tree native to mixed forests of temperate zones in eastern North America. It is considered one of the tallest trees in its native area. Eastern white pine has a straight-grained lightweight wood, highly valued in construction.
American basswood (Tilia americana) is a deciduous tree with a wide, rounded crown, very similar to its European cousin Tilia cordata. A subtle difference between the species can be found on the bark – if an orange hue is present in the valleys on the bark, then it is T. cordata.
The Cider gum is a hardy evergreen tree that can be grown as a sound barrier and privacy screen. Juvenile branches are often used in cut floral arrangements for their sweet aroma. These trees are easy to grow, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, and deer resistant.
Silver wattle is a fast-growing evergreen tree or shrub growing up to 50 feet (15 meters) tall. The leaves are blue-green to silvery grey and thinly divided, which makes them attractive all year long. The flowers of the Silver wattle are bright balls of color made up of yellow flowerheads of 13–42 individual flowers.
Black poplar (Populus nigra) is a medium- to large-sized deciduous tree which can be naturally found in many alluvial European forests. It is a fast-growing tree, with a wide crown which is a common nesting place for different species of birds. Due to the degradation of its natural habitat, Black poplar has become an endangered species in certain areas.
Eastern red cedar is a coniferous evergreen tree that is native to North America. The fruit of this tree, juniper berries, is an important food source for birds in the winter. The wood of the Eastern red cedar is used in fencing as it is resistant to heat and rot, and it is also used to line closets and chests since it also resists moths.
Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a medium-sized deciduous tree, native to North America. It looks similar to elms and some other hackberry trees at first glance, but you can distinguish it by looking at the bark – if it is verrucous and has corky texture, then it is probably Common hackberry.
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a flowering plant native to the midwestern and southern United States. Red buckeye is also called the firecracker plant. This plant attracts bees while its seeds are poisonous. The Red buckeye can be used to make soap.
Common juniper (Juniperus communis) has the largest geographical range of any woody type of plant. It grows on every inhabited continent. It is cultivated for ornamentation, essential oil, and lumber. Common juniper berries and twigs are used as a culinary flavoring, perhaps most popularly in gin. The berries can cause stomach discomfort if eaten in large quantities, however.
Catalpa bignonioides, commonly known as Cigartree, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to North America. This species is widely used for ornamental purposes due to its favorable growing qualities and magnificent clusters of showy flowers.
Arguably the most popular hardwood in the US, lumber from Northern red oak is used for cabinets, flooring, veneers, trim, and more. When growing, the tree is large and reaches between 50 to 75 feet (15 to 23 meters) tall. The foliage on this tree is stunning, with dark green leaves in summer giving away to brilliant red in the fall.
Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is a large deciduous tree featured in Norse mythology and Scottish folklore. Common ash is native to mainland Europe. This species is susceptible to the disease Ash dieback which is caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Common ash often grows in basic soils on calcareous substrates.
Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a highly ornamental small tropical tree or shrub, often multi-stemmed. It is native to India, Southeastern Asia, and Japan, and features a characteristic vase-shaped crown and beautifully-ruffled pink blooms that can last from early summer to autumn. It is also a popular nesting shrub for small birds.