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10 best trees to line driveway

So you have a long driveway you want to spruce up? Adding some beautiful trees to the long drive is the perfect way to add dramatic beauty to the landscape and help the environment at the same time. But which trees should you use to line your driveway? Honestly, you can’t go wrong with most low-maintenance trees, but I have a list of some of the best trees that just make sense!

Best trees to line a driveway - flowering dogwood

1. Dogwood trees

Dogwoods are a beautiful choice to enjoy during all seasons! They flower in the warmer months and aren’t an eyesore during the winter. They are simple to plant and easy to maintain all year long. The weather does most of the work! You will just have to trim the leaves and branches if they ever cover your driveway or encroach on your front yard.

There are few types of Dogwood trees you can choose from as well. You might select the Flowering Dogwood with pink or white flowers, the Kousa Dogwood with white flowers, or one of many hybrids. They are all gorgeous in early spring and become very large trees once they reach a mature height of around 40 feet. 

2. Crape myrtle

Crapemyrtles come in a variety of sizes and are a good option for a decent-sized yard. Depending on the length of your driveway, purchase regular-sized or dwarf crape myrtles to match your spacing. Dwarf Crape Myrtles mature at around 6 to 10 feet tall while regular Crape Myrtles mature at around 14 to 18 feet tall. In full bloom, these gorgeous trees create a lovely pink floral canopy! The awesome thing about Crape Myrtles is they have non-invasive root systems, so you don’t have to worry about them cracking or intruding on your driveway space.

Fast growing driveway trees - aspen in fall

3. Aspen

Aspen is one of the fastest-growing trees available. They’re also quite narrow, making them great for space-limited properties. The Quaking Aspen Tree (Populus tremuloides) can grow up to 5 feet per year in optimal conditions, eventually reaching a mature height of 40′-50′ tall.

Read more about the best fast-growing driveway trees.

4. Birch Trees

The Birch Tree is a very charming and ornamental tree. It is a thin tree that doesn’t grow to be overly huge. The most attractive part of the Birch Tree is the peeling bark that develops over time. It leaves a splotchy look on the trunk that is very cool to look at. As the tree ages, its bark becomes less white/tan and more of a salmon color. The Heritage® River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Cully’) is a modern variety bred to be resistant to common plant diseases and tolerant of different soil types (including clay soil).

5. Pear tree​

If you are looking for a more upright style of tree, Pear Trees are beautiful when they mature and bloom. While they don’t produce fruit because they aren’t female trees, they do smell amazing. The flowers that bloom are white and the canopy created by the trees is a lovely oval shape. A large shade tree like this is a great option for lining a driveway. The way they grow makes it easy for you to maintain because no trimming or pruning is needed. 

The Cleveland Pear Tree (Pyrus calleryana ‘Cleveland Select’) is one of the best ornamental pears beside a driveway. They tend to grow about 2 feet every year and resist damage from ice, wind, and snow if you live in colder climates. 

Best trees to line a driveway - maple trees in autumn

6. Red maples

The Red Maple is a tree you may want to choose if you have a very large yard and can distance it from your driveway. The tree is fast-growing and gets very tall and wide. The tree roots are more invasive than others and may cause your driveway or sidewalks to crack as they get older. They get to be about 50 to 60 feet tall and their root system reaches around 30 feet. They are beautiful trees, especially the October Glory and the Red Sunset varieties. Their red and orange leaves are so beautiful when in bloom.

7. Zelkova trees

This beautiful tree has a vase-shaped trunk leading up to a large canopy. These trees grow to 80 feet tall and have a beautiful bark that when peeled back reveals a dark orange color. It’s a lovely sight to see in the fall. These trees can be a little tricky to maintain as they shouldn’t be pruned in the colder months. They are also best planted in the spring or summer months to avoid those colder complications.

8. Flowering plum trees

The flowering Plum Tree is a very pretty tree to have planted on your property and is always a good choice. The flowers bloom pink in the spring against purple leaves. It’s such a beautiful sight as the weather warms up. This type of tree has a fast growth rate and a nice round shape. It’s an average-sized tree that grows somewhere around 15 to 25 feet. They aren’t super fast growers but they certainly aren’t the slowest either.

The Purple Leaf Plum is a great tree to have as a focal point in your yard or lining your driveway. It adds a beautiful pop of color in its peak season. 

Poplar trees lining a driveway

9. Poplar trees

Poplar Trees are extremely narrow trees, perfect for lining your driveway. Once mature, they are about 40 to 50 feet tall. Poplars thrive in full sun and are one of the fastest-growing trees available. These large deciduous trees are a welcome sight in any yard or driveway. You may see them often in the mountains or high plains. 

10. Arborvitae

The Emerald Green Arborvitae is an amazing tree to use along a driveway if you want privacy. These evergreen trees are in the family of Cypress trees. They grow extremely quickly, about 3 to 5 inches per year. They are however easy to grow and maintain along your drive. You may see them in parking lots near shops and restaurants as they provide a great wall to block trash cans and electric boxes. 

The Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja plicata x standishii ‘Green Giant’) is an extremely popular hybrid Arborvitae known for being easy to grow and maintain. If you have enough space, these trees are lovely to plant close to the house. They help block windows or cover up siding you may not want showing. They aren’t overly huge and can be pruned to any size you want.

11. Honeylocust

The Honeylocust tree is the most beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn yellow. The leaves are small and dainty, making them easy to clean up if you need to rake or blow your lawn and drive. The delicate leaves form a beautiful canopy with dappled shade to enjoy. This type typically grows about 2 inches each year. 

The Shademaster Honeylocust Tree (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ‘Shademaster’) is a specialty cultivar that is resistant to common pests and disease and also thornless and seedless. This variety typically grows about 2′ each year, making them quite a fast grower for a tree with a rounded canopy.

If you have a small yard or minimal space for your driveway, there may be better choices than the Honeylocust. The roots of this tree are fairly invasive and can disrupt any pavement you have laid down.

Summary of best driveway trees

You can’t go wrong with any of the trees mentioned above. Think about your space, budget, and how long your driveway is. Decide how much upkeep you are willing to do and select your trees from there. If you want flowering trees, you have a lot to choose from. If you want an ornamental and easy-to-maintain tree, choose something that doesn’t require pruning or trimming. Whether you are planting trees from seed or full grown, have fun decorating your yard and driveway with these beautiful options. 

Mary Jane Duford
Mary Jane Duford

Mary Jane Duford is a quintessential Canadian gardener. An engineer by trade, she tends to an ever-expanding collection of plants. In her world, laughter blooms as freely as her flowers, and every plant is raised with a dash of Canadian grit.

Mary Jane is a certified Master Gardener and also holds a Permaculture Design Certificate. She's also a proud mom of three, teaching her little sprouts the crucial difference between a garden friend and foe.

When she's not playing in the dirt, Mary Jane revels in her love for Taylor Swift, Gilmore Girls, ice hockey, and the surprisingly soothing sounds of bluegrass covers of classic hip-hop songs. She invites you to join her garden party, a place where you can share in the joy of growing and where every day is a new opportunity to find the perfect spot for yet another plant.

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