Street Tree: Permies Edition

Good Evening Permies,

I have a challenge for the group. What can I plant in the hell strip in front of my house? (I specifically live in zone 5b)

The space between a sidewalk and a road is commonly referred to as a hell strip. Plants having any sort of chance of surviving need to be able to deal with a degree of pollution, road salt, and tight quarters. Many times trees that are planted by the powers that be are not native or have unpleasant qualities (I'm looking at you Bradford Pear).

I'm really looking for inspiration for a quintessential streetside tree or something interesting.

I'll preload a thanks and appreciation for everyone's contributions.

Hi there — I run a tree company in Seattle, which isn’t Zone 5b. But if you google “SDOT planting guide”, you should be able to find SDOT’s selection tool for planting street trees based on shade/height/water/etc.

Once you find a few plants that meet your requirements, you could then check if they grow well in Zone 5b.

I remember as a kid walking on a sidewalk littered with mulberries so I would say that would not be one of my choices.

I was in the big city yesterday and saw many redbud trees.  They were so pretty.

Another favorite is the Bradford Pear.

Another pretty tree that my in-laws had was a purple-leaved plum.

Does your city have guidelines as to what you can and cannot plant?

In my part of the frozen waste land of Canada towns used to plant box elder frequently but newer plantings are generally American Elm or Green Ash. I've also seen hawthorn and a purple leafed variety of choke cherry planted.

I'd add it depends a bit on what your street is like. do you have a sidewalk with foot traffic that will be troubled by mess (mulberries, poop from birds eating mulberries, gingkos), do the leaves get cleaned up or are you responsible for that?
Here I'm all about what I can eat, but if it drops slippery fruit I don't want someone breaking their leg on my sidewalk.

Observing more of the area, I have noticed that there are a few honey locusts that were planted 30-40 years ago that are still doing quite well. These trees are not bearing pods, which seems intentional to limit mess, but they could act as pollinators for other honey locusts located in a less-traveled nearby area.

Timothy Norton wrote:Observing more of the area, I have noticed that there are a few honey locusts that were planted 30-40 years ago that are still doing quite well. These trees are not bearing pods, which seems intentional to limit mess, but they could act as pollinators for other honey locusts located in a less-traveled nearby area.

I'll second the thornless honey locust. I've had one in front of a house in town for more than 30 years. It is right by a busy 4 way stop intersection where way too much salt is used all winter. It does not seem to mind the salt at all. It must be at least 50 years old. Every few years it will get pods but it's not a big deal. A neighbor has an even larger one that I think has a great looking structure. Seedlings do pop up and some have thorns. I have read that the thorns often go away as they age but I haven't let any live long enough to know for sure if that is true or not with mine.

They are not the cleanest or the dirtiest trees. I would rather have them than the many silver maples in the neighborhood.

Those 30 to 40 year old honey locusts still doing well next to a road is probably better evidence than any planting guide. Would be tempted to ask the council whether they'd let you plant one yourself, round here they can be funny about it.