The following materials are permitted, encouraged, or prohibited, based on categories. See Iowa Urban Tree Council website for ash tree replacement list.
Partial Listing of Large Shade Trees for Planting on Public and Private Property
Nyssa sylvatica (Blackgum)
Cladrastis kentuckea (Yellowwood)
Liriodendron tulipifera (Tuliptree)
Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress)
Betula nigra (River Birch)
Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry)
Gleditsia triacanthos i. (Honeylocust cv.)
Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky Coffeetree) – Male only
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree) – Male only
Quercus sp. (Oaks)
Tilia sp. (Lindens)
Evergreens for Planting on Public and Private Property
Densiformus Yews
Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar)
Picea glauca densata (Blackhills Spruce
Picea pungens glauca (Colorado Blue Spruce)
Pinus banksiana (Jack Pine)
Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa Pine)
Pinus mugho mughus (Swiss Mountain Pine)
Eastern White Pine
Abies concolor White Fir
Pinus strobes White Pine
Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae)
Fat Albert (Colorado Blue Spruce)
Tree Planting Prohibited on Street Right-of-Way and Not Recommended for Private Property
Acer negundo (Box Elder)
Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple)
Betula papyrifera (White Birch – ROW only)
Gleditsia tricanthos (Thorny Honeylocust)
Robinia pseudocacia (Black Locust)
Quercus palustris (Pin Oak – ROW only)
All Evergreens (ROW only)
Trees bearing fruits and nuts over one foot diameter (ROW only)
Dense Deciduous Shrub List for Screening
Large:
Acer ginnala ‘Bailey Compact’ (Bailey Compact Amur Maple, 8¢ x 8¢)
Cotoneaster lucida (Hedge Cotoneaster, 8-10¢ x 4-5¢)
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’ (Ninebark, 8-10¢ x 8-10¢)
Prunus tomentosa (Nanking Cherry, 8-10¢)
Syringa x prestoniae (Donald Wyman, James MacFarlane, Agnes Smith, 8¢ x 8¢)
Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum, 8¢ x 8¢)
Viburnum opulus (European Cranberry Viburnum, 8-12¢ x 10-12¢)
Viburnum trilobum (American Cranberrybush Viburnum, 10¢ x 8¢)
Arborvitae – any species not prone to splitting
Medium:
Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac, 6¢ x 5¢)
Ribes alpinum (Alpine Current, 5¢ x 8¢)
Spirea vanhouttei (Bridal Wreath Spirea, 6¢ x 6¢)
Syringa meyeri palibin (Dwarf Korean Lilac, 6¢ x 10¢)
Viburnum trilobum Compact cv. (Compact American Cranberry Viburnum, 6¢ x 6¢)
Small:
Physocarpus opulifolius nanus (Dwarf Ninebark, 3¢ x 3¢)
Potentilla fruiticosa cv. (Potentilla varieties, usually 3¢ x 3¢)
Rhus aromatica Gro-Low (Gro-Low Sumac, 2 x 4-5¢)
Ribes alpinum Green Mound (Green Mound Alpine Current, 3-4¢ x 2-3¢)
Salix purpurea nana (Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Willow, 4 x 4)
Spirea bumalda cv. (Spirea varieties, 2¢ x 2¢ – 4¢ x 4¢ – varies with cultivar)
Spirea japonica cv. (Japanese Spirea varieties, 2¢ x 2¢ – 4¢ x 4¢ – varies with cultivar)
Viburnum opulus nanum (Dwarf Cranberry Viburnum, 3¢ x 3¢)
Boxwood Koreanus
Densiformus Yews
Hearty shrub roses
Evergreen Shrubs
Chinese Junipers Juniperus chinensis
Blue holly – ilex meserveae
Sea Green Juniper Juniperus chinensis ‘Sea Green’
Japanese Garden Juniper Juniperus chinensis procumbens
Dwarf Creeping Juniper Juniperus horizontalis
Spreading Japanese Yew Taxus cuspidate
Hicks upright Yew Taxus media ‘Hicks’
Taunton Yew Taxus media ‘Taunton’
Densiformus Yews
Green Velvet Boxwood
Green Mountain Boxwood
Rhododendron “PJM”
Small Trees for Under High Wires (with upright branching to avoid pedestrians on sidewalks)
Acer platanoides ‘Crimson Sentry’ (Crimson Sentry Maple, 25¢ x 15¢)
Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Robin Hill’ (Robin Hill Serviceberry)
Maackia amurensis (Amur Maackia, 25¢ x 20¢)
Malus Adirondack (Adirondack Flowering Crabapple, white, 20¢ x 10¢)
Malus Centurion (Centurion Flowering Crab, rose-red, 20¢ x 12¢)
Malus Red Barron (Red Barron Flowering Crab, rose, 18¢ x 8¢)
Malus Sentinel (Sentinel Flowering Crab, white, 20¢ x 12¢)
Prunus nigra ‘Princess Kay’ (15¢ x 8-10¢)
Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’ (Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac, 20¢ x 15¢)
Small Trees for Under High Wires (where sidewalk clearance is not an issue)
Acer ginnala (Amur Maple, 20¢ x 20¢)
Acer tatarica (Tatarian Maple, 25¢ x 15¢)
Amelanchier canadensis (Shadblow Serviceberry, tree form, 25¢ x 15¢)
Amelanchier g. Autumn Brilliance (Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, 20¢ x 25¢)
Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam, 25¢ x 20¢)
Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud, 25¢ x 20¢)
Cornus alternifolia (Pagoda Dogwood, 20¢ x 15¢)
Crataegus intricata (Thicket Hawthorn, 20¢ x 15¢)
Crataegus phaenopyrum (Washington Hawthorn, 20¢ x 20¢)
Crataegus v. Winter King (Winter King Hawthorn, 20¢ x 20¢)
Hamamelis virginiana (Common Witch-hazel, 12-15¢ x 12¢)
Ostrya virginiana (American Hophornbeam, 35¢ x 25¢)
Prunus maackia (25¢ x 25¢)
Pyrus c. Chanticleer (Chanticleer Flowering Pear, 35¢ x 15¢)
Permitted Disease Resistant Flowering Crabapples (not a comprehensive list)
Adams (red to pink flowers, red persistent fruit, 15¢ x 20¢)
Baccata Jackii (white flowers, red fruit, 20¢ x 20¢)
Beverly (white flowers, red fruit, 20¢ x 20¢)
Candied Apple (pink flowers, red persistent fruit, 15¢ x 15¢)
Calloway (20¢ x 20¢)
Cardinal (16¢ x 20¢)
David (white flowers, red persistent fruit, 12¢ x 12¢)
Donald Wyman (white flowers, red persistent fruit, 20¢ x 24¢)
Golden Raindrops (white flowers, yellow persistent fruit, 20¢ x 15¢)
Jewelberry (white flowers, red fruit, 8¢ x 12¢)
Liset (dark red flowers, maroon fruit, 15¢ x 15¢)
Louisa (pink flowers, yellow fruit, 15¢ x 15¢)
Ormiston Roy (white flowers, amber persistent fruit, 20¢ x 25¢)
Pink Princess (pink flowers, deep red fruit, 8¢ x 12¢)
Prairiefire (rose-red flowers, dark red persistent fruit, 20¢ x 20¢)
Professor Sprenger (white flowers, orange-red persistent fruit, 20¢ x 20¢)
Robinson (deep pink flowers, red fruit, 25¢ x 20¢)
Sargent (white flowers, red persistent fruit, 8¢ x 12¢)
Strawberry Parfait (18¢ x 22¢)
Sugar Tyme (white flowers, red fruit, 18¢ x 15¢)
Zumi Calocarpa (white flowers, red fruit, 15¢ x 15¢)
Plants with Good to Moderate Salt Tolerance
Deciduous Shrubs:
Caragana arborescens (Siberian Pea Shrub, 20¢ x 10¢)
Hypericum prolificum (St. John’s Wort, 4¢ x 4¢)
Lilacs (Miss Kiss)
Myrica pennsylvanica (Northern Bayberry, 9¢ x 6¢)
Philadelphus spp. & cvs. (Mockorange, size varies with species)
Potentilla spp. & cvs. (Cinquefoil, 3¢ x 3¢)
Rhus glabra (Smooth Sumac, 10¢ x 5¢)
Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac, 24¢ x 12¢)
Shepherdia argentea (Silver Buffalo Berry, 20¢ x 15¢)
Spirea vanhouttei (Bridalwreath Spirea, 6¢x 6¢)
Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry, 3¢ x 3¢)
Syringa vulgaris (Common Lilac, 12¢x10¢)
Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum, 6¢ x 6¢)
Deciduous Trees:
Acer ginnala (Amur Maple)
Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
Aesculus hippocastanum (Common Horsechestnut)
Amelanchier Canadensis (Shadblow Serviceberry)
Catalpa speciosa (Northern Catalpa)
Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry)
Crataegus crus-galli (Cockspur Hawthorn)
Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian Olive)
Ginkgo biloba - Male only
Gleditsia tricanthos (Honeylocust)
Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky Coffeetree) – Male only
Populus alba (White Poplar)
Populus deltoides (Cottonwood)
Populus tremuloides (Quaking Aspen)
Prunus serotina (Black Cherry)
Prunus virginiana (Choke Cherry)
Quercus alba (White Oak)
Quercus macrocarpa (Burr Oak)
Quercus rubra (Red Oak)
Tamarix ramosissima (Five Stamen Tamarisk)
Groundcovers:
Bugleweed Ajuga reptans
Goutweed Aegopodium podagraria
Creeping Cotoneaster Cotoneaster adpressa
Bearberry Cotoneaster Cotoneaster dammeri
Rockspray Cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis
Hesse Cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis ‘Hessei’
Wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei cultivars
English Ivy Hedera helix
Plantain Lily Cultivars Hosta cultivars
Japanese Garden Juniper Juniperus chinensis procumbens
Sargent Juniper Juniperus chinensis sargentii
Japanese pachysandra Pachysandra terminalis
Gro-low sumac Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-low’
Periwinkle Vinca minor
Low Maintenance Perennial
Full Sun (Includes sun from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.)
Non-Native
Artemisia camphorata (Southernwood)
Aster Alma Pötschke
Aster Purple Dome
Baptisia australis (False Indigo)
Boltonia a. Snowbank (White Boltonia)
Chelone lyonii (Turtlehead)
Coreopsis Zagreb (Tickseed)
Echinacea purpurea (Coneflower)
Euphorbia polychroma (Cushion Spurge)
Geranium c. Biokova
Geranium sanguineum Max Frei
Heliopsis (False Sunflower)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Iris sibirica (Siberian Iris)
Liatris (Blazing Star)
Lamiaceae Origanum
Herrenhausen (Ornamental Oregano)
Paeoniaceae Peony
Perovskia (Russian Sage)
Rudbeckia Goldsturm (Black-Eyed Susan)
Ruta graveolens (Rue)
Salvia May Night/East Friesland/Blue Hills etc. (Meadow Sage)
Sedum kamtschaticum (Stonecrop)
Sedum spectabile Autumn Joy/Brilliant/Matrona etc.
Stachys Helene von Stein (Lamb’s Ears)
Tanacetum (Fern Leaf Tansy)
Waldsteinia ternata (Barren Strawberry)
Yucca filamentosa
Native
Bee Balm
Bottle Gentian
Butterfly Milkweed
Canada Anemone
Culvers Root
False Sunflower
Leadplant
Gray-headed Coneflower
Monkey Flower Plant
Nodding Onion
Ohio Spiderwort
Pale Purple Coneflower
Penstemon or Foxglove Beardtongue
Prairie Blazing Star
Prairie Phlox
Prairie Smoke
Purple Coneflower
Purple Prairie Clover
Queen of the Prairie
Rough Blazing Star
Silky Aster
Smooth Blue Aster
Stiff Goldenrod
Susan, Brown and Black-Eyed
White Prairie Clover
Wild Bergamot
Wild Geranium
Full Sun Grasses
Non-Native
Calamagrostis Karl Foerster (Feather Reed Grass)
Deschampsia caespitosa (Tufted Hair Grass)
Native
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)
Sporobolus heterolepsis (Prairie Dropseed)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
Boutelousa (Side Oats Gramma)
Panicum (Switch grass)
Partial Shade (morning sun, afternoon shade)
Non-Native
Alchemilla (Lady’s Mantle)
Aruncus (Goatsbeard)
Astilbe varieties
Carex s. Variegata (Variegated Sedge)
Chelone lyonii (Turtlehead)
Deschampsia caespitosa (Tufted Hair Grass)
Fern varieties
Heuchera varieties
Hosta varieties
Iris sibirica (Siberian Iris)
Lamiastrum g. Herman’s Pride
Lamium m. Chequers
Ligularia The Rocket
Thalictrum aquilegifolium (Meadow Rue)
Waldsteinia ternata (Barren Strawberry)
Native
Dodecatheon amethystinum (Amethyst Shooting Star)
Aquilegia canadensis (Columbine)
Boltonia asteroides (False Aster)
Penstemon digitalis (Penstemon or Floxglove Beardsstongue)
Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia)
Symphyotrichum cordifolium (Heart-leaved Aster)
Polemonium reptans (Jacob's Ladder)
Lobelia spicata (Pale Spiked Lobelia)
Geranium maculatum (Wild Geranium)
Shade (filtered light or direct sun only in early morning or late evening)
Non-Native
Alchemilla (Lady’s Mantle)
Aruncus (Goatsbeard)
Asarum canadense (Wild Ginger)
Carex s. Variegata (Variegated Sedge)
Cimicifuga racemosa (Cohosh)
Epimedium (Barrenwort)
Fern varieties
Hosta varieties
Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
Native
Asarum canadense (Wild Ginger)
Adiantum pedatum (Maidenhair fern)
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern)
Dryopteris marginalis (Marginal Wood Fern)
Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern)
Dryopteris marginalis (Marginal Wood Fern)
Sanguinaria Canadensis (Bloodroot)
Hepatica nobilis var. acuta (Hepatica)
Trillium cernuum (Nodding Trillium)
Thalictrum thalictroides (Rue Anemone)
Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells)
Prohibited Landscaping material
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry 6 x 6)
Berberis thunbergii cv. (‘Crimson Pygmy’ 2 x 2, ‘Globe’ 2 x 2, ‘minor’ 3 x 3, etc.)