There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding to plant a new tree on your property. Are you interested in a shade tree, privacy, windbreak, spring blossoms or fall color? The following list of trees are recommended for a variety of reasons, among them: resistance to insects and disease, tolerance to pollution, ability to withstand drought and soil conditions, as well as landscape and ornamental value.  There are many valuable trees that may not appear on this list, but it’s always a good idea to consult with the Delaware Forest Service to make sure your tree is well-suited to your home.

Download the Recommended Trees List  (PDF)

Trees “Not Recommended”

The trees on this list are very likely to develop serious issues with the pests and diseases listed here:

1. Ash (emerald ash borer, an exotic insect that kills ash trees, is now in Delaware)
2. Northern red oak, pin oak (a fatal disease: bacterial leaf scorch is common in these)
3. Leyland-cypress (many disease and insect problems affect this tree)
4. Hemlock (a non-native insect, hemlock woolly adelgid, infests this tree)
5. Japanese black pine, Austrian pine (a pest called pinewood nematode, which is only an issue in non-native trees, has killed thousands of these pines since 2005)
6. Any white-barked birch (the bronze birch borer, an insect pest, prefers white-barked species in our area)
7. American elm (except for new resistant varieties, nearly 100% of these trees have been killed by Dutch elm disease)

Invasive Trees – “Do Not Plant”

Invasive trees are not native to Delaware. Some non-natives, such as Norway spruce and ginkgo, are acceptable as new plantings. However, invasive trees tend to grow quickly and they can displace our native vegetation. Experts devote large amounts of time and money each year to control these invasive trees.

1. Norway maple
2. Tree of Heaven
3. Paulownia
4. Mimosa
5. White mulberry
6. Bradford Pear
7. Chinese Elm