narrow down z7 for us ... it might matter ... ken

Beech, Oak, and pretty much any of the fruiting trees (plums, hawthorn, crabapple, etc.). The problem with planting for rabbits is that when it's times of plenty, they eat what you want them to. In mid to late winter, food is scarce and rabbits (especially if there are lots) turn their attention to your trees and shrubs...eating things to the ground or girdling them.

Squirrels rarely get so numerous to be similarly destructive but they do their share too.

Try Red Oak, which is plentiful in zone 6-7. Squirrels will eat holly berries during years when acorns are in short supply.

" I know it takes like 20 years even for acorns to produce "

Not so fast! lol

We've just had a [discussion about young oak acorns[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/young-oak-with-acorns-dsvw-vd~1719461?n=23).

Bur oak is a nice tree. (Quercus macrocarpa).

thanks for the replies.

I realize maples also make helicopters which animals eat. Tons of maple seed pods here though already.

I'm wondering now why they wouldn't have Pine trees on the list. I tried googling stuff like 'why pine trees not allowed to be planted' but didn't find any info. I could understand Sweet Gum trees which are banned in some places but aren't here, neighbor has one actualy. And

I'm not worried about rabbits eating grass etc under a tree which produces. The grass under this is a lot of thick clover which seems to stay thick anyway. There's grass too but I like the clover going to flower attracts lots of bees then pollinate fruit and veg I plant.

I'm leaning more towards a Pine than an oak for some reason although maybe a dedacous oak is easier to maintain/prune than a conifer pine.

Are you sure that is not an approved "street tree" listing? I have never heard of any place that restricts what can be planted in your private garden (outside of bizarrely reasoned HOA requirements) but many urban areas do have rather strict requirements for street tree or boulevard plantings. And conifers are usually omitted from those listings due to visibility issues (they block clear lines of sight).

I have also never heard of sweet gums being "banned". Since they are a native species and extremely adaptable and tolerant of urban environments, that makes no sense at all!! By definition they are not invasive and if the seed balls are undesired, there are sterile forms that will not produce them.

"The long-persisting fallen spiked fruits can be unpleasant to walk on; sweet gum is banned in some places for this reason.[14]"

That's from wiki but that's the only source about it being restricted, and I just checked the source links to:

https://web.archive.org/web/20120328055045/http://www.plantconservatory.calpoly.edu/Tree/Liquidambar_styraciflua.html

Says:

American sweet gum is also often used as a street tree in urban areas, as its shapely, colorful leaves and disease resistance make it very popular. However, many cities have blacklisted the American sweet gum, due to its fruits.

So yea, not commonly restricted if at all.

But I could see the need for certain restrictions, not sweet gum but maybe something which is very prone to boring beetles or something which may then spread and cause a lot of dmage and only originated from a particular species tree.

I was looking into black walnut trees and the roots cause soil toxicity which may prevent vegetables etc from growing up to about 50 feet from the trunk - I could see this being restricted in small-lot areas so neighbors can plant a garden safely.

That list, the Large trees section just says they usually reach above 45 feet.

I assume the list is sort of for allowable-only species but I had to ask for the list and probably no ones else really requests it, it might just be what the shade commision uses themselves to keep things simple. Although I saw they planted a lot of pines along a park they cut out from woods (which has a lot of old,possibly native pines).

I might buy an oak, or pine tree (but won't have pine nuts probably)

I'll also look farther into each of these trees listed because a lot have fruit/pods too, like thornless honey locust (gleditsia triacanthos).

I want to make sure the fruit's not actually toxic or anything though, some seeds like crabapple are, but I guess wildlife is smart enough to know not to eat them.

Any pine that produces cones will produce pine nuts. They are just the actual pine seeds. Most species are too small to bother with commercially or to use for culinary purposes but squirrels, chipmunks and various birds will appreciate them regardless of size.

^ true I figured that before I made this thread but if can get a large pine nut variety to grow would be even better.

local nurseries I'm a bit shocked at prices are like $200 a tree for ~6 foot large variety trees .

eBay has various oak starter plants for only like $10 shipped. Albeit only about a foot tall but it should be fine. Eastern white pine also ebay about $10, maybe other pine varieties too, want a dense and tall pine if decide on Pine. Neighbor has a very tall pine maybe I can propigate a cutting with rooting hormone but may be too late in season for that and I read isn't commonly done (at least in terms of oak trees usually not started from a cutting but yes from grafting which I'm not going to get into and would rather buy a $10 oak starter but some Pine starters on ebay for $10 look like simply cuttings taken from a larger tree, EDIT: maybe it's not too difficult to plant pine/oak from cuttings but for $10 I might as well just buy a starter plant especially since I want to plant it ASAP).

For the sidewalk, 3 fragrant white flowering trees on the ok list. Maybe a crabapple also on the other side of the driveway.

And, near sidewalk but ~4 feet back on front lawn: 2 on each end, something bushy fragrant like korean spice, or something evergreen and dense, but small since powerline on one side and two existing ~30' tall trees on the other side don't want to crowd it too much.

And, after removing existing stump, replacing White Birch which was in main front, was about 35 feet tall but had to be felled a few years ago due to rot, it didn't bloom and had been topped a few years prior probably incorrectly plus maybe pruned incorrectly had a hole down the top 2 feet deep with squirrel nest and tons of ants when chopped. I read these verieties are a bit fragile when it comes to pruning etc but it should be ok. I guess it makes seeds etc for wildlife to eat also.

Took a while to get the above list situated. Lots to learn about trees...

EDIT: ehh, looks like about only a week more until the common deadline of "Fall" planting (eventhough it's only been fall for a couple weeks) so I will probably just plant these in Spring as soon as soil temps are ok, they will be watered too so no worry they will fry. I think now even if mulched may get root frost damage. I can maybe grow stuff from seed too but will probably just buy the plants. I might buy the oak/pine now though for $10 and if dies no biggie buy another in Spring but the sidewalk trees and white paper birch will wait for Spring.

I prefer to plant in the fall, so if you can decide quickly, do it now. Soil temperatures are warm, but air is cooling and days are shorter, so it is less stressful for the plants. I will still be planting for a couple of weeks here on the cold edge of zone 5, so you have longer than a week in zone 6-7.

Where did you get the list from? Without a source, it is difficult to evaluate its purpose. As GG48 said, the list of trees for streetside is going to be different from what would work for a yard tree, and the amount of space available is important in deciding a yard tree. For instance deciduous trees have a narrow footprint, but unless it is a narrow cultivar, it will have a broad top. Evergreens, whether pine, spruce, fir, etc, will have a quite broad base but narrower top, and for conifers there are narrower columnar varieties just as there are for deciduous trees.

I would wander around to various nurseries now. They may have a sale, and you can see fall color if it is a deciduous tree.

Be aware that the native white paper birch, Betula papyrifera, won’t do well in your zone, though there are other white-barked birches that may do better there.

Here are some natives perfectly-suited for your needs!

1) American Persimmon - a tall persimmon tree with the sweetest fruits I've ever tasted! Most are dioecious though, so best to plant a few to ensure at least 1 male and female couple.

2) Serviceberry - showy, shrubby tree with white flowers, edible fruit, and gorgeous Fall color!

3) A Viburnum like Rusty Blackhaw - a shorter, understory tree that offers white flowers, edible fruits, and beautiful Fall color!

4) A stone fruit like Mexican Plum - another smaller tree with fragrant, white flowers and edible plums!

5) PawPaw - a mid-sized tree with the largest edible fruit in North America that tastes like banana & mango custard!

6) Witch Hazel - a stunning, shrubby tree with beautiful flowers and Fall color!

7) Fringe Tree - small, dioecious tree with white, fringy flowers and bird food berries!

8) Sourwood - an understory tree with dangling, white flowers and dramatic Fall color.

thanks for the list. Didn't know persimmons would grow here, maybe not fruit real well but I've seen apricot trees with tons of fruit but it was too hard to test.

I got my plant list situated finally. I will also try my luck at starting from seeds other trees and shrubs etc and planting them elsewhere.

Chinese chestnut is probably number 1 for squirrels with reliable crops of nuts. Now you will have some sharp spiny hulls to deal with but the wildlife in your neighborhood will be very happy