"Use with Caution" Tree List

Before selecting a tree, determine the intended use, any size restrictions and the planting site conditions. When selecting trees, be sure to consider the mature size of the tree, any insect or disease problems, flowers, fruits, growth rate, overall shape, and the site conditions necessary for tree survival such as wet or dry soils and sun or shade. Trees that are useful in naturalized areas may not be desirable in more highly maintained landscapes. These are a few of the trees that should be used with caution in landscaped areas in central Illinois.

Ash, Green Fraxinus pennsylvanica - narrow branch angles, prone to storm damage, ash borer, ash decline disease.

Birch, European White Betula pendula - prone to bronze birch borer insect, prone to storm damage, needs high soil moisture.

Birch, Paper Betula papyrifera - same as above.

Birch, River Betula nigra - leaf yellowing due to iron deficiency, tends to drop twigs, susceptible to storm damage.

Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia - borers, root suckers, weedy seedlings.

Black Walnut Juglans nigra- large fruits, keeps other plants from growing around it.

Boxelder Acer negundo — weak wood therefore prone to storm damage, attracts boxelder bugs that can be a nuisance in homes.

Bradford Pear Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’ - poor branch structure, too many branches arising from common site on trunk, narrow branch angles, tends to split apart as it ages, needs regular pruning to develop structure.

Buckthorn, Common Rhamnus cathartica - extremely aggressive, reseeds into native areas.

Catalpa Catalpa speciosa and C. bignonioides - large flowers, leaves and fruits.

Cherry, Black Prunus serotina - borers, black knot disease, messy fruits, weedy.

Cherry, Choke Prunus virginiana - black knot disease, messy fruits.

Chestnut, American Castanea dentata — chestnut blight disease.

Cottonwood Populus deltoides — weak wood therefore prone to storm damage, female trees have nuisance "cotton" seeds.

Elm, American Ulmus americana - Dutch elm disease.

Elm, Red Ulmus rubra - Dutch elm disease, weedy.

Elm, Siberian Ulmus pumila - weak wood therefore prone to storm damage, elm leaf beetles.

European Mountainash Sorbus aucuparia or American Mountainash Sorbus americana - borer insects, fire blight disease.

Maple, Silver Acer saccharinum - weak wooded.

Oak, Pin Quercus palustris - iron deficiency in alkaline soils.

Pine, Scotch Pinus sylvestris - pine wilt disease.

Poplar, Lombardy Populus nigra ‘Italica’ - canker disease.

Poplar, White Populus alba - root suckers.

Princess Tree Paulownia tomentosa — brittle wood, drops leaves, twigs, flowers and seeds. Flower buds often get killed by frost in central Illinois.

Russian-olive Elaeagnus angustifolia - canker and verticillium fungus wilt disease.

Sweet Gum Liquidambar styraciflua — large seed capsules.

Sycamore Platanus occidentalis- drops twigs, seeds and bark.

Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima - prone to storm damage, weedy seedlings.

White Mulberry Morus alba - messy fruits, weedy seedlings.