There are plenty of large deciduous shade trees that can help keep your home and outdoor spaces cool by blocking the hot sun’s rays. As well as adding beauty to your landscape, these trees also add flowers, interesting bark, and pretty fall foliage to your landscape.

Shade trees not only add beauty to a landscape, but they are also an important part of a wildlife habitat. However, trees placed in a well-chosen location can also give you many other benefits.

You can save money and energy by installing shade trees in your backyard to help keep your home cool during the summer.

It was estimated in a study that, over 100 years, a single shade tree placed in the right spot near a house would help to reduce by 31 percent the net carbon dioxide emissions associated with summertime electricity use.

There are a lot of types and sizes of shade trees in the world, and they are perfect for many different climates and planting zones. Consider trees that grow quickly if you’re looking for trees that will make a positive impact right away.

Dura Heat® River Birch

Dura Heat® River Birch trees are a fast-growing, beautiful, shade tree that thrives in any climate, from the North to the South.

I’m very glad this tree grows in cold, frigid Maine and Minnesota, but it also grows in hot and humid conditions like those in Florida, Texas, and even in the sweltering heat of the tropics in Hawaii.

Plus, River Birch trees can tolerate conditions that would not allow other types of trees to thrive, such as soggy soils.

The tree is the ideal solution for areas that flood regularly or that have heavy clay soils, which are perfect areas to plant this tree in.

As a result of its deep roots, the plant can tolerate moist soils, flooding during a storm, and standing water in heavy rains.

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Shumard Oak Tree

This is a great opportunity for you to give your family something that will last for many, many years.

An American tree that is a familiar sight in American landscapes is the Shumard Oak tree. You are able to pass on this piece of furniture to your children, grandchildren, and to all your descendants for generations.

There are several trees you can plant in your backyard, but Shumard Oak is one of the toughest. As a result, this tree can withstand floods, droughts, and extremely strong winds.

Shumard Oak is a renowned hardwood that will never let you down when it comes to handling bad weather.

There are so many homes and offices across the country filled with the wood of this tree that the furniture, floors, and carpentry of this tree is found in American homes.

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Wildfire Black Gum

This thorny tree is well known for its brilliant show of color. The Wildfire Black Gum produces reddish-pink growth in the spring, followed by rich, green growth in the summer.

It might seem like Black Gum Trees are known for the fiery autumnal colors they produce, but you might not be aware that the Wildfire Black Gum Tree produces these vibrant colors all year round.

Wildfire Black Gums stand out with their deep, ruby red leaves as the world lights up in greenness at the start of the spring season.

As autumn approaches, don’t be surprised to see vibrant colors as well. There are trees that grow crimson, orange, and purple leaves, and you can expect to see those on this tree.

A tree can display the mesmerizing color array of autumn colors on a single leaf, so whichever black gum tree you choose, you will be pleasantly surprised by its assortment of vibrant autumn colors.

Lacebark Chinese Elm Tree

With the Lacebark Chinese Elm, you can’t go wrong. It has everything you could ever want. Every yard needs this tree.

Elms are extremely hardy and adaptable, thriving in almost any situation. They are also incredibly ornamental.

Lacebark Chinese Elms thrive anywhere, from the dirty streets of an urban environment to the open country vistas. There is no preference for this tree as to where it grows.

These plants are usually found at the edge of busy sidewalks or in wide, open spaces.

Due to its tolerance of all soil conditions, Lacebark Elms have become popular with city planners and homeowners alike.

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Sawtooth Oak Tree

Looking for an Oak’s majestic presence and shade coverage, but don’t want to wait 50 years?

Sawtooth Oak, an Asian oak that has been grown in the U.S. since the mid 1800s, is the perfect tree for the job!

The tree grows one to three feet every year, reaching 30 feet in 15 years.

The wide canopy of shade it creates is very cooling due to its spreading habit. As the tree matures, the canopy broadens and the leaves become dense, providing a canopy that can easily shadow a large area.

Leaf new growth emerges yellow-green, darkens in summer to a lustrous mid green, then turns golden and russet in the fall. Trees with teeth receive their common name because of their distinctive edges.

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Autumn Purple Ash

Autumn Purple Ash trees are favored for their spectacular autumn foliage and the fact that they grow rapidly.

Unlike many other similar varieties, Autumn Purple Ash is highly adaptable to a wide variety of soil types and is relatively drought resistant, meaning you need not worry about growing it.

A beautiful tree that turns from a glossy green to a reddish color before turning purple in the fall, the Purple Ash leaves a lasting impression.

Purple Ash trees hold their fall color longer than almost any other tree, so you can enjoy it all year!

That’s the case for you, too. It blocks sunlight, resulting in lower cooling costs. When you plant an Autumn Purple Ash on your property, you get a beautiful ornamental tree that stands up to the elements, increases the value of your home, and is energy efficient.