Shade tree for zone 7

[Michie]

I know absolutely nothing about gardening I would like to plant a shade tree for my back yard. I live in zone 7. My back yard is aproximately 1/4 of an acre. Any ideas, point me the right direction to start.

 

[nocnurse]

I love European beech. White Flower Farm nursery in CT has a spectacular Asplenifolia variety on their grounds. What a gorgeous tree. The link I'm including shows a picture of a not fully mature beech. It will spread substantially more than that. European beech

 

[amid chaos]

Google Austrees..they are fast growing trees and there is a shade tree variety.

 

[rockyroad]

An oak.
Some varieties can live for hundreds of years and they grow much faster than you might think. If you start with an acorn in 10-15 years you'll have a true shade tree. A tulip poplar is also a great tree.

I also live in zone 7.

 

[chessie]

I love my sugar maple. They turn bright orange in the fall. I also have tulip poplars and oak trees. I think my maple is my favorite.

 

[pjshaff]

I have a Red Maple in my front yard, and my MIL has a River Birch that is doing very nicely in her front yard. Have you thought about a Cleveland Select Pear? A much better/stronger pear variety than the Bradford Pear.

If you live in Ga, go to Walterreeves.com for an excellent website.

Good luck in your search.