On the subject of land, Mark Twain wrote: “they’re not making any more of it”. This is particularly true in downtown urban areas where land to grow trees is usually very limited. Here are five tall trees that possess a striking vertical accent. Their upright branch habit does not take up much horizontal space. Trees are superb planting choices along wide avenues or boulevards. All five species adapt to the urban environment. They’re also fit into downtown pocket parks and small residential sites where there are no height restrictions like overhead utility lines.

During the first two years following planting, trees should be irrigated during dry spells (or every 2-3 weeks) from spring through late summer. All five picks are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.

‘Slender Silhouette’ Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’) (USDA 5-9) is a narrow 35 to 50 feet tree that spreads only 8 feet wide. ‘Slender Silhouette’ produces very few nuisance gumball fruits so typical for other sweetgums. In some years, the yellow to red fall color is exceptionally nice. Bark develops deep furrows as the tree ages.

‘Beacon’ Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor Beacon) deserves more recognition. ‘Beacon’ is a tightly columnar upright branching, adapts to city environs, and mostly disease-free foliage. Fall color is yellow and persists for 2 to 4 weeks. Its mature height is 30 to 40 feet and 12 to 15 feet wide. Yes, this oak does produce acorns which can be a messy problem every 3 or 4 years unless picked up curbside.

‘Princeton Sentry’ Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ‘Princeton Sentry’) is a deciduous conifer (a true gymnosperm) that grows to 30-50 feet in height, although a rare mature 100 feet tree is possible after a century or more. Ginkgo’s two-lobed, triangular or fan-shaped green summer leaves are distinctive. It is a male (fruitless) variety. Fall foliage turns bright yellow and neatly fall to the ground to form a golden carpet around the tree.

‘Arnold’ tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Arnold’) is a fastigiate grower to 50-60 feet tall and only 8 to 10 feet wide. Unusual light green and orange tulip-like flowers appear in late spring, most blooms hidden beneath the tree’s dense foliage. Fruits (seed pods) offer no value ornamentally. Its furrowed gray bark offers significant winter appeal.

Upright European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata) displays a narrow, columnar form, especially when the tree is young. The tree’s middle (girth) gradually broadens into a tear drop or oval-vase shape with age. Mature tree size is 35 – 40 feet tall and 25 – 30 feet wide. Another hornbeam variety, ‘Frans Fontaine’ (40 ft. x 20 ft.), is also suitable for confined areas.