Approved Trees for Planting

Overland Park encourages new trees to be planted but stresses the importance of "Right Tree, Right Place," especially within the city right of way. It is important to take into consideration the location of where the tree will be planted and species.

Before you plant a new tree, please review the city's approved and prohibited street tree lists (OPMC 7.16). Any tree not found on the list requires prior approval by the city forester.

Approved trees:

  1. Ash, White (Fraxinus Americana)
  2. Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum)
  3. Birch, river single stem only ( Betula nigra)
  4. Buckeye, Ohio (Aesculus glabra)
  5. Elm, Lacebark (Ulmus parvifolia)
  6. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
  7. Golden-raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
  8. Hackberry (Celtis spp.)
  9. Honeylocust, Thornless (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis)
  10. Hornbeam, European (Carpinus betulus)
  11. Linden, American (Tilia Americana)
  12. Linden, Littleleaf (Tilia Cordata)
  13. Linden, Silver (Tilia tomentosa)
  14. Maple, Hedge (Acer campestre)
  15. Maple, Norway (Acer platanoides)
  16. Maple, Red (Acer rubrum)
  17. Maple, Sugar (Acer saccharum)
  18. Oak, Bur (Quercus macrocarpa)
  19. Oak, Chinkapin (Quercus muehlenbergii)
  20. Oak, English (Quercus robur)
  21. Oak, Red (Quercus rubra)
  22. Oak, Sawtooth (Quercus acutissima)
  23. Oak, Shingle (Quercus imbricaria)
  24. Oak, White (Quercus alba)
  25. Osage Orange fruitless/thornless (Maclura pomifera inermis)

Prohibited trees within public right of way:

  1. Ash, Green (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
  2. Cottonwood (Populus spp.)
  3. Edible Fruit Trees
  4. Fir (Abies spp.)
  5. London Plane-tree (Platanus acerifolia)
  6. Maple, Silver (Acer saccharinum)
  7. Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
  8. Mulberry (Morus spp.)
  9. Olive, Russian (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
  10. Osage Orange fruited/thorned varieties (Maclura pomifera)
  11. Pear, Bradford (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford')
  12. Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
  13. Pine (Pinus spp.)
  14. Spruce (Picea spp.)
  15. Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
  16. Willow (Salix spp.)

Prohibited trees near overhead utility lines:

No trees other than those defined as small trees (OPMC 7.16.130) may be planted or allowed to grow under or within 15 lateral feet of any overhead primary or secondary utility wire.

No tree of the following species shall be planted or allowed to grow under or within 30 lateral feet of any overhead primary or secondary utility wire:

  1. Ash, Gree (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
  2. Cottonwood (Populus spp.)
  3. Maple, Silver (Acer saccharinum)
  4. Sycamore and Planetree (Platanus spp.)

Trees prohibited within city limits:

  1. Boxelder (Acer negundo)
  2. Elms except for Ulmus parvifolia and Ulmus Americana (Ulmus spp.) 3. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
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