A shade tree is a decades-long decision, so it deserves more than a hardiness-zone footnote. The oaks stocked here are chosen for a real summer canopy over a patio or west-facing window, not for how they photograph as a five-gallon nursery specimen. Each listing states mature height, hardiness zone, and the one honest caveat that actually matters for that species, whether that is a cold-zone floor, a heat ceiling, or a documented invasive flag. Pair a shade tree with an understory shrub from our shrubs category for a layered planting rather than one tree in a sea of turf.
We do not have enough plants tagged for shade trees yet.
Our catalog backfill for this category is still in progress, so nothing honest to show here yet rather than a guess. In the meantime, browse shrubs or grasses, or search the full catalog from What Grows.
Coming soon
These are on our list to stock next, based on real search demand. Join the waitlist and we will tell you the moment any of them ship.
- Gum Tree
- Ash Tree
- Callery Pear
- Bradford Pear
- Hackberry
- Common Hackberry
- Bradford Pear Tree
- Elm Tree Bark
Questions about shade trees
How long does a shade tree take to actually provide shade?
Most oaks need 10 to 15 years to cast meaningful shade over a patio, and considerably longer to reach a full mature canopy, which is why hardiness zone and heat tolerance matter more for a shade tree than for almost anything else you plant: it has to survive decades, not one season.
Can I plant a shade tree close to my house?
Check the mature height and expected canopy spread on the plant's own listing first; a species that reaches 60 to 80 feet generally needs 15 to 20 feet of clearance from a foundation to avoid future root and structural conflicts.