Tree Profiles

Currently, Chattanooga is home to over 100 distinct tree species. To celebrate this biological diversity, and to contribute to it in a meaningful, sustainable way, Take Root has identified 33 species of trees to plant in Chattanooga’s urban center.

Trees are generally planted between November and March.

Autumn Blaze Maple Acer x freemanii: Vivid fall colors, with a low canopy that provides substantial shade. Plantings in the Rossville neighborhood, along South Market and throughout Riverside. Back to the top
Black Tupelo Nyssa sylvatica: Also known as the “swamp tree”, though not limited to that environment. The nectar of these flowering trees is prized by beekeepers, and its brilliant red color in the fall makes it appealing to all. Plantings in the South Market, Rossville, McCallie and Riverside neighborhoods. Back to the top
Bosque Elm Ulmus parvifolia: With puzzle-like, exfoliating bark, these trees are native to the Southeast. Plantings in the Westside. Back to the top
Chinese Pistache Pistacia chinensis: Outstanding heat, drought, soil and pest resistance. Their height, just under 40 ft at full maturity, makes them ideal shade trees for one-story buildings. Plantings in the Westside. Back to the top
Dynamite Crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia indica: With bright red flowers, this tree leads the Crapemyrtle family in showiness. Plantings in South Market and Riverside. Back to the top
Eastern Dogwood Cornus florida: White blossoms surrounding a cluster of yellow flowers, these trees are native to—and evocative of—the Southeast. Plantings in McCallie. Back to the top
English Oak Fastigiata Quercus robur: A striking landscape tree, with a very short trunk and winter acorns. Plantings in the Chestnut neighborhood. Back to the top
Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba: Its Latin name means “living fossil.” These trees date back 270 million years, and produce fragrant nuts in the fall. Plantings in the Chestnut neighborhood. Back to the top
Goldenrain Tree Koelreuteria paniculata: Bright yellow blooms in the summer and early fall. Plantings in the Miller Park neighborhood. Back to the top
Hightower Willow Oak Quercus phellos: With lustrous, dark green summer leaves, these trees are known to be ideal for street plantings. Plantings in the Chestnut, Central and Riverside neighborhoods, and throughout the Westside. Back to the top
Kentucky Coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus: With particularly large leaves, these trees also produce dark red pods in the early fall, which were used as a coffee bean substitute by early settlers. Plantings in Riverside. Back to the top
Muskogee Crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia muskogee: Lavender blossoms in the spring and summer. Plantings in the Rossville neighborhood. Back to the top
Natchez Crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia natchez: A particularly resistant variety of Crapemyrtle, with white blossoms. Dense plantings in the Rossville neighborhood. Back to the top
Overcup Oak Quercus lyrata: A slow-growing but potentially enormous species of tree. Ranging anywhere from 40 to 100 feet at maturity, these large-diameter trees are characterized by a twisted trunk. Plantings in the Miller Park neighborhood. Back to the top
Pin Oak Quercus palustris: This tree is better adapted to wet environments than other oaks. It’s bark has been used medicinally in the past. Plantings in the Rossville, Miller Park and Central neighborhoods. Back to the top
Princeton American Elm Ulmus Americana ‘Princeton’: In cultivation since the 1920s, these shade trees are essentially self-pruning and ideal for street plantings. Plantings in the Miller Park neighborhood. Back to the top
Princeton Sentry Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba ‘Princeton Sentry’: These trees are well adapted to live in urban areas with substantial air pollution. Plantings in the Westside. Back to the top
Red Maple Acer rubrum: A particularly vibrant variety of maple in the fall. Plantings in McCallie. Back to the top
Redbud Cercis canadensis: This tree features showy, magenta flowers in the summer, and dark red buds in the winter. Dense plantings throughout the South Market, Miller Park and McCallie neighborhoods. Back to the top
Redmond Linden Tilia x euchlora: These trees produce very fragrant, light yellow blooms ideal for bees and honey cultivation. Plantings in McCallie. Back to the top
Regal Prince Oak Quercus x warei: These trees feature green leaves with a silver underside and tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. Plantings throughout the South Market neighborhood. Back to the top
Saucer Magnolia Magnolia x soulangiana: Fuzzy green buds in winter and bright white blossoms with pink shading in the summer. Plantings in the Miller Park neighborhood. Back to the top
Seedless Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Rotundiloba’: Glossy, star-shaped leaves make this tree an ornamental favorite, in addition to its bright fall colors. Dense plantings in the Westside. Back to the top
Sioux Crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia indica: A Crapemyrtle with deep pink flowers. Fall colors range from orange to deep red. Plantings in the Rossville neighborhood. Back to the top
Strawberry Parfait Crabapple Malus ‘Strawberry Parfait’: Large, long-lasting pink blossoms with deep red fruit through the fall. Plantings in McCallie. Back to the top
Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua: With small, dense clusters of flowers, these trees are most well known for producing woody, spiked seedpods. Plantings in McCallie. Back to the top
Tuskegee Crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei: Known among the Crapemyrtles for its wide canopy. Branches at the base of the tree can spread to 20 feet. Plantings throughout the South Market, Rossville, Miller Park, McCallie and Riverside neighborhoods. Back to the top
Trident Maple Acer buergeranum: A particularly resistant tree. On a smaller scale, it’s popular as a Bonsai plant. Plantings in the Rossville, Westside and Riverside neighborhoods. Back to the top
Village Green Zelkova Zelkova serrata ‘Village Green’: This tree does best in sunny spots, and puts on a rusty, bronze display in the fall. Plantings throughout South Market. Back to the top
Winter King Hawthorne Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’: Known for its bright white blossoms and small crabapple-like fruit. Plantings in the Rossville and Miller Park neighborhoods. Back to the top
Yellow-Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera: The Tennessee State Tree is also a valued shade tree throughout the Southeast. Plantings in McCallie. Back to the top
Yellowwood Cladrastis lutea: Nearly endangered, this tree produces attractive pods in the early fall and has broad, flat leaves. Plantings the Rossville, Chestnut and McCallie neighborhoods. Back to the top
Yoshino Cherry Prunus x yedoensis: These trees are valued for latticed bark and showy pink blooms in the spring. Dense plantings in the Rossville, South Market, Chestnut and McCallie neighborhoods. Back to the top