10 shade trees, perfect for warm or temperate climates


Image – Flickr / FD Richards // Fagus sylvatica »Pendula»

When designing a garden, it is common to consider having one or more shade treeseither as a hedge or as an isolated specimen. Although there are many who once adults provide good shade, it is important to choose the one that, of course, we like the most, but also the one best suits our climate. This way we will avoid wasting money and time, and we will be able to enjoy our garden even more.

That is why we have made for you a small selection of shade trees for different climates: from tropical to temperate.

Related article:

Selection of the best low root and shade trees for small gardens

deciduous shade trees

Trees that cast a very pleasant shade are usually deciduous. These lose their leaves at some time of the year (in winter or summer, depending on the species and the climate of the area), and recover them after a few weeks, like these:

Aesculus hippocastanus

To start with, we have the Horse Chestnutwhose scientific name is Aesculus hippocastanus. It is a deciduous tree that can reach 30 meters in height, fast growing. Originally from Albania, Bulgaria, and the former Yugoslavia. Currently acclimatized by all places that enjoy a temperate climate.

Likes acidic or neutral soils, and above all spacious. It does not resist drought, nor the hot or dry winds typical of more coastal climates. But it withstands moderate frosts very well.

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Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

Delonix regia (Flamboyant)

Image – Flickr / Mauricio Mercadante

The Flamboyant It is a very ornamental tree, very fast growing in climates without frost, whose red flowers are very striking. It grows to a height of 12 meters. Although the young specimens do not provide much shade (as can be seen in the photo above), the adults do provide a lot, since the Delonix directionalready from an early age, has more tendency to grow in width, taking out increasingly longer branches, than thickening the trunk.

So much if you have a small garden like a big onethe flamboyant will be an ideal choice for you. Of course, think that it does not resist frost. In fact, it is a plant that only drops its leaves if temperatures drop below 10ºC, or if it is in a tropical place with a marked dry season.

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Flamboyant

Fagus sylvatica (Is)

Image – Flickr / Peter O’Connor aka anemoneprojectors

The beech is one of the most beautiful shade trees that can be had in the garden. Its growth is quite slow, but over time it reaches a height of up to 40 meters.with a wide canopy of several meters. In addition, it is important to say that there are different varieties and cultivars, such as ‘Atropurpurea’, which has leaves of that color (purple), or ‘Tortuosa’, whose trunk tends to twist a little.

Requires fresh, moist, acidic soil. It is a plant that lives in temperate regions, where it is neither very hot nor extremely cold. It can withstand frost down to -18ºC.

jacaranda mimosifolia (Jacaranda)

El rosewood It is a deciduous or semi-deciduous tree that can measure a maximum height of 20 meters. It can grow relatively quickly if conditions are favourable. The most interesting thing is that its top gives a lot of shade, so we recommend that you plant it in the area of ​​the garden where you are going to spend more time.

But if there is something negative (or not too good) that we have to say about this plant, it is that does not support strong winds. In addition, moderate frosts also harm it.

Calleryan Pyrus (flower pear)

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Bruce Marlin

El flower pear tree It is one of the most recommended shade trees for the garden. It reaches 20 meters in height, and develops a crown of about 3-4 meters wide.. The leaves are green, but turn a very pretty red color in the fall.

Its flowers are white and very aromatic.. These sprout in spring, shortly after the leaves have done so. It withstands cold and frost well, but it is convenient to plant it in an area protected from strong winds.

Evergreen Shade Trees

Evergreen trees are those that remain evergreen. But it is important not to confuse terms, since this does not mean that they do not lose their leaves. Moreover, there are certain species that renew them throughout the year.

Acacia

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Anna Anichkova

Most acacias they grow as shrubs or small trees also distributed throughout the equator. Most of them do not shade, but there are some like the acacia tortilis (a deciduous species native to the north of the African continent, ideal for tropical or subtropical climates) or the acacia saligna (upper photo) that, once adults, give a lot.

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Most popular Acacia species for gardens

All Acacia They are fast growing trees, and very resistant to drought.. So much so that some species are becoming naturalized in the Mediterranean, where rainfall does not reach 400 liters per year.

Ceratonia siliqua (Carob tree)

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Anna Anichkova

The carob treewhose scientific name is Ceratonia siliquais one of the trees for large gardens that best resists drought. Distributed throughout the Mediterranean, it can reach a height of 6-7 meters, with a crown of approximately the same height: about 5 meters. It is a very long-lived species, with medium-fast growth.

Resistant to pruning, we can form it as we want. We can even let it grow quietly, and once adult cut the branches that we consider to be too long.

Related article:

Algarrobo: characteristics, cultivation and maintenance

Rubber plant

Image – Flickr/Forest and Kim Starr // Benjamin fig tree

The Rubber plant they are a genus of climbing trees and shrubs distributed throughout the equator. Most of them have roots that are not suitable for small gardens, such as ficus benghalensis or robust ficusHowever, species like the Benjamin fig tree o cut figs they can be without problems in this type of gardens.

others like the lyrata figthey may not provide enough shade for us to have a picnic under their shelter, but they will provide enough if you want to put plants that do not like direct sun around them, such as small palm trees such as those of the genus Chamaedorea.

Related article:

7 types of Ficus for large gardens

Pinus

Image – Wikimedia / James Steakley

The Pine trees they are fast-growing shade trees that have been widely planted in towns and cities. In Mallorca, for example, where I live, it is common to find specimens in parks and gardenswhether public or private. Although the processionary is wreaking havoc, the municipalities do everything possible to keep them alive and healthy, because they are a symbol of the nature of the Mediterranean.

Of course, they are not plants that can be had anywhere: their roots are very long and very strong; and in addition, they drop many leaves throughout the year. Therefore, it is only advisable to have them in large gardenswhere they can be planted at least ten meters from anything they can break (pipes, soft pavement, etc.).

Oak (Oak)

Image – Wikimedia/Asurnipal

The oak It is a majestic tree that can reach a height of 40 meters, with a width of 10 meters. It is a deciduous tree that likes to feel the passage of the seasons of temperate climates. It does not tolerate excessive heat or drought. It is distributed throughout Europe, but we can only find it from an altitude of 600 meters, in slightly acidic terrain and with winters with frosts. It usually grows together with trees that also provide good shade, such as Fagus sylvatica (header photo).

Related article:

Oak (Quercus)

In the garden it will look spectacular as isolated specimenwhere it has enough land to be able to develop properly.

The million dollar question: which of these shade trees would you choose if you had to choose? Complicated, right? The best is that you choose the one that can best adapt to the conditions of your gardenso you can enjoy its shade without complications.


10 shade trees, perfect for warm or temperate climates

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