Best source for mature sizes and growing conditions of urban trees - Ask Extension
Our community group is working with our municipality on a tree species list (see attached list of species) for planting inn people's yards, along stre...
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Best source for mature sizes and growing conditions of urban trees #928929
Asked April 20, 2026, 10:36 AM EDT
Our community group is working with our municipality on a tree species list (see attached list of species) for planting inn people's yards, along streets, and in city parks (i.e., NOT in natural growth areas). We're considering putting in columns to indicate estimated mature heights and crown widths, and preferred soil moisture and light conditions for each species. What would be the best authoritative source for such information?
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi,
The new Maryland Native Plant Guide for the Piedmont Region is a great source, and it looks like most of the species listed will be in that book. For anything that isn't in there, Michael Dirr's books, like The Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, or Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs, are tried and true sources.
If you are looking for another online source, you could check on The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay's plant search database, too.
Emily
