Illinois Native Trees Guide for New Lenox and Will County

Why native trees make sense here

Native trees evolved with our cold winters, hot summers, heavy clay soil, and local wildlife. Once they are established, they usually need less babying than trees brought in from other places. They also support native insects and birds. An oak tree supports a huge number of caterpillar species, which many songbirds need to feed their young.

Native does not mean perfect for every spot, though. The right tree still has to fit the space and the soil.

Native trees for our area

Native trees for New Lenox area yards
Tree	Scientific name	Size	Why we like it
White oak	Quercus alba	Large shade tree	The Illinois state tree. Very long lived. Prune only when dormant.
Bur oak	Quercus macrocarpa	Large shade tree	Thick bark, tough, handles clay and drought. A true prairie oak.
Swamp white oak	Quercus bicolor	Large shade tree	Handles wet clay. One of the best oaks for new plantings here.
Red oak	Quercus rubra	Large shade tree	Fast for an oak. Very sensitive to oak wilt, so timing of pruning matters.
Shagbark hickory	Carya ovata	Large tree	Shaggy bark, golden fall color, edible nuts. Slow but strong.
Sugar maple	Acer saccharum	Large shade tree	Brilliant fall color. Does not like road salt or compacted soil.
Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	Large tree	Very tough. Handles clay, wind, and drought. Great replacement for ash.
American linden	Tilia americana	Large shade tree	Also called basswood. Fragrant summer flowers bees love.
Kentucky coffeetree	Gymnocladus dioicus	Large tree	Bold, tough native with few pest problems.
Black walnut	Juglans nigra	Large tree	Valuable wood. Its roots release a chemical that harms tomatoes and some plants.
River birch	Betula nigra	Medium tree	Peeling bark. Likes wet spots. Handles heat better than white birches.
Eastern redbud	Cercis canadensis	Small tree	Pink flowers in early spring. Great near patios.
Serviceberry	Amelanchier	Small tree	White spring flowers, berries for birds, orange fall color.

The oaks: backbone of our landscape

Oaks are the trees most worth protecting in Will County. Many old neighborhoods and wooded lots still have oaks that are well over a hundred years old.

White oak group

White oak, bur oak, and swamp white oak have rounded leaf lobes. They are very long lived and more resistant to oak wilt than the red oak group, though they can still get it.

Red oak group

Red oak and pin oak have pointed leaf lobes. They are much more likely to die quickly from oak wilt. Pin oak often turns yellow in our alkaline clay soils.

Protecting your oaks

Do not prune oaks from spring through midsummer, when oak wilt spreads
Keep heavy equipment and soil piles off the root zone
Do not pile soil or mulch against the trunk
Water deeply during long droughts

Learn more in our guide to when to trim trees in Illinois.

Tree climber in safety gear cutting a large limb that is tied off with rigging rope

Trees that cause problems

Ash

Ash is native to Illinois, but the emerald ash borer has killed most untreated ash trees across the region. Do not plant new ash. If you have a dead one, it should come down. See dead tree removal.

Callery pear (Bradford pear)

Not native. Weak branch structure makes them split in storms, and they now spread into fields and woods on their own. Illinois has taken steps to stop their sale.

Common buckthorn

An invasive shrub and small tree that crowds out native plants in woods and fence lines. Removing it is one of the best things you can do for a wooded lot. See land clearing.

Tree of heaven

An invasive, fast growing tree that spreads by root sprouts and seeds. It is also a favorite host of the spotted lanternfly.

Silver maple

Native, and fine in the right place, like a big open lot or near a creek. But it grows fast, has weak wood, and drops big limbs. It is not a good choice right next to a house.