Guides · Tree database
Tree database: size, roots and planting distance
35 trees planted in Pennsylvania yards, with mature height and width from the Morton Arboretum or NC State Extension, what their roots do, their zones, and how far to plant each one from the house, patio and septic. Search or sort, then open a tree for its distance checker.
Plant a tree at least half its mature width from the house. That’s 23 ft for a red maple and 18 ft for an eastern redbud. Big shade trees need at least 10 ft from paving, and only trees that stay under 25 ft belong under power lines. Checked Nov. 13, 2026.
All 35 trees
35 of 35 trees
| Zones | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American elm Ulmus americana | 60–80 | 30–60 | 30 ft | Rapid | 3a–9b | No |
| American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana | 20–30 | 20–35 | 18 ft | Slow | 3a–9b | No |
| American sycamore Platanus occidentalis | 75–100 | 75–100 | 50 ft | Rapid | 4a–9b | No |
| Baldcypress Taxodium distichum | 50–70 | 20–30 | 15 ft | Medium | 4a–9b | No |
| Black gum Nyssa sylvatica | 40–70 | 20.7–35.5 | 18 ft | Medium | 4a–9b | No |
| Colorado spruce Picea pungens | 30–60 | 10–20 | 10 ft | Slow | 2a–7a | No |
| Downy serviceberry Amelanchier arborea | 15–25 | 10–15 | 8 ft | Slow | 4a–9b | Yes |
| Eastern arborvitae Thuja occidentalis | 40–60 | 10–15 | 8 ft | Slow | 3a–7b | No |
| Eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides | 75–100 | 35–60 | 30 ft | Rapid | 3a–9b | No |
| Eastern redbud Cercis canadensis | 20–30 | 25–35 | 18 ft | Medium | 4a–9b | No |
| Eastern white pine Pinus strobus | 50–80 | 20–40 | 20 ft | Rapid | 3a–8b | No |
| Flowering dogwood Cornus florida | 15–25 | 15–30 | 15 ft | Medium | 5a–9b | Yes |
| Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba | 50–80 | 30–40 | 20 ft | Medium | 3a–9b | No |
| Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos | 60–80 | 60–80 | 40 ft | Rapid | 3a–8b | No |
| Japanese maple Acer palmatum | 15–25 | 10–25 | 13 ft | Slow | 5a–8b | Yes |
| Japanese tree lilac Syringa reticulata | 25–30 | 15–20 | 10 ft | Medium | 3a–7b | No |
| Japanese zelkova Zelkova serrata | 50–80 | 50–80 | 40 ft | Medium | 5a–8b | No |
| Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus | 60–80 | 40–55 | 28 ft | Slow | 3a–8b | No |
| Kousa dogwood Cornus kousa | 20–30 | 15–30 | 15 ft | Slow | 5a–8b | No |
| Littleleaf linden Tilia cordata | 50–60 | 35–50 | 25 ft | Medium | 3b–7b | No |
| London planetree Platanus × acerifolia | 70–100 | 65–80 | 40 ft | Fast | 5–8 | No |
| Northern red oak Quercus rubra | 60–75 | 60–75 | 38 ft | Moderate | 3–7 | No |
| Norway maple Acer platanoides | 40–50 | 35–50 | 25 ft | Fast | 4–7 | No |
| Norway spruce Picea abies | 40–60 | 25–30 | 15 ft | Rapid | 2a–7b | No |
| Pin oak Quercus palustris | 60–70 | 40–50 | 25 ft | Fast | 4–8 | No |
| Red maple Acer rubrum | 40–60 | 35–45 | 23 ft | Moderate | 3–9 | No |
| River birch Betula nigra | 30–40 | 20–30 | 15 ft | Fast | 4–9 | No |
| Saucer magnolia Magnolia × soulangeana | 15–33 | 15–25 | 13 ft | Medium | 4a–9b | No |
| Silver maple Acer saccharinum | 50–70 | 30–50 | 25 ft | Fast | 3–9 | No |
| Sugar maple Acer saccharum | 60–75 | 40–50 | 25 ft | Moderate | 4–8 | No |
| Swamp white oak Quercus bicolor | 50–60 | 50–60 | 30 ft | Moderate | 4–8 | No |
| Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua | 60–100 | 40–50 | 25 ft | Rapid | 5a–9b | No |
| Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera | 70–90 | 35–50 | 25 ft | Fast | 5–9 | No |
| Weeping willow Salix babylonica | 30–40 | 30–40 | 20 ft | Rapid | 6a–8b | No |
| White oak Quercus alba | 50–80 | 100 | 50 ft | Moderate, Slow | 3–9 | No |
Tap a column name to sort. “From house” is half the top of the width range. “Under lines?” means it stays under 25 ft.
Small trees for small yards
Downy serviceberry, Flowering dogwood, Japanese maple.
Trees that can go under power lines
Downy serviceberry, Flowering dogwood, Japanese maple. Each stays under 25 ft at maturity.
Fast-growing trees
American elm, American sycamore, Eastern cottonwood, Eastern white pine, Honeylocust, London planetree, Norway maple, Norway spruce, Pin oak, River birch, Silver maple, Sweetgum, Tuliptree, Weeping willow.
Trees with aggressive surface roots
American elm, Eastern cottonwood, Norway maple, Pin oak, Red maple, Sugar maple, Sweetgum, Tuliptree, Weeping willow. Keep them 10 to 15 ft from patios, driveways and walks.
Questions
How far from the house should you plant a tree?
At least half the tree’s mature canopy width, per eXtension. Open any tree above for its number.
What trees can go near a patio?
Small trees with 4 to 10 ft of rooting area, per Iowa State: Downy serviceberry, Flowering dogwood, Japanese maple. Give large shade trees at least 10 ft.
What trees can I plant under power lines?
Trees that stay under 25 ft: Downy serviceberry, Flowering dogwood, Japanese maple.
Where do the sizes come from?
Mature height and width come from the Morton Arboretum or NC State Extension tree pages, linked on each tree’s page.
Tree on or near a property line? Our tree cutting laws by state page shows what each state charges for cutting someone else’s tree.
Not sure what tree you have? Our Pennsylvania tree identification guide covers 140 native and common trees by leaf, bark and fruit, with a 4-question identifier.
Sources: Morton Arboretum and NC State Extension tree pages (linked on each tree’s page); planting distances from the sources in our tree planting distance guide. Checked Nov. 13, 2026.
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Building near a tree?
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Get a quoteSee landscape designAlso: tree planting distance guide, hardiness zone by ZIP, Pennsylvania neighbor tree law.
Muthler Landscaping & Construction LLC · 913 Bellefonte Ave, Lock Haven, PA 17745 · (570) 397-9800 · PA HIC #PA212584. Call 811 before you dig.