I don't know enough about trees to recommend anything. However, as someone with trees next to to my driveway, don't forget about tree sap! We are removing one tree, because we can't keep our cars clean during the summer. Literately, my car is sticky to the touch right now.

That's probably not sap :-) Trees generally do not drip sap but they do drip honeydew, which is a sticky substance excreted by sucking insects, like aphids or scale. Very common on trees like birches or lindens.

Jimmy, a lacebark elm will be a BIG tree in time. Do you have enough room there to accommodate a 50' tall tree with a 40-50' wide canopy?

We really need to see a photo that shows the entire area to get a sense of what would fit that would not rapidly become out of scale to the property. And we need to know where you are located.....not all trees will do well in all areas.

Thanks Gardengal48! I know absolutely nothing about trees and I just assumed it was sap. That honeydew is a real bi#$h!!!

My Celtis gets wooly aphids that drip the honeydew also.

Jimmy did you know there is a tree forum? You might post there also.

I would look for a tree with a spreading canopy. What zone are you in?

I can't say what tree would be sap or honeydew free, but in that confined space next to the driveway, I'd think NOT a lacebark elm. I think you'd also want to move it closer to lot line and away from the drive, if you can. (We don't know what's nearby.) A smaller tree along the size of Japanese Maple, Redbud, etc., would be a better size for the space.

What about the root system? Big roots ruin flatwork (driveways and walkways).

The lacebark trunk will get very large

A tree would bring in birds, and they'd poop a LOT on your cars. We have a pine tree next to the driveway, and the birds poop on our cars everyday.......bird poop can damage car paint......is that you really want?

Avoid the following trees because they have shallow roots that push up and crack paving: Norway, Sugar, Silver or Red Maple; Pin, Live or Willow Oak; American Elm; Ash; Beech; Sweetgum; Tulip Tree; Hackberry; Poplar; Cottonwood; Sycamore; Plane Tree; Willow; and River Birch.

Tillia Cordata "Littleleaf" (Littleleaf Linden) is hardy to zone 3 and provides dense shade. This cultivar supposedly grows 30 to 50 ft. with a spread of up to 30 ft. Fragrant, creamy yellow flowers in drooping cymes appear in June.

Honeydew and bird guano are a constant threat with parking under trees. That does not mean these problems will be overwhelming. Your first problem will be waiting for the tree to grow large enough to cast shade. Make note of where the sun rises and sets. It's much better to have shade in the afternoon when the temperature is highest.

Lindens in Dallas?? I dunno. Why not invest in a canopy? My neighbors had one over their driveway. They used it as a party space sometimes too. It was an aluminum canopy.

What did you decide on? I was thinking maybe a thornless honeylocust.

I have a gorgeous Linden umbrella-ing perfectly over the top of my driveway and I love it so much. An arborist warned me it would push up my asphalt driveway and it has started to do that in one area (directly next to the trunk). I love the tree so much, however, that I’m keeping it and considering cutting the driveway away from the tree instead of cutting the tree away from the driveway 😂.

Make your choices.

The Linden drops leaves in the fall but nothing else. We park a BMW under it and it keeps it cool.