Choosing a new tree for your property sounds simple at first.
You go to a nursery, pick something that looks nice, plant it, and wait for it to grow.
But in Warrenton, there is a little more to think about.
The Town actually has an approved tree species list in its zoning ordinance, along with a list of trees that are not considered appropriate for certain required plantings. The reason is pretty simple: some trees perform better in Warrenton’s environment, while others can cause problems over time.
My name is Inmer Blanco and I’m the owner of Green Tree Services in Warrenton, VA. As an experienced arborist, I see this issue often when homeowners, property managers, and developers choose trees based only on looks, without thinking about long-term growth, root space, disease resistance, storm durability, or whether the tree is considered invasive.
Warrenton’s tree species list is part of Article 8 of the Town’s zoning ordinance, which covers landscaping requirements for site development plans, parking lots, streets, tree preservation, and related planting standards. The Town’s Tree Board also points residents and applicants to these guidelines when submitting planting plans.
Why Warrenton has an approved tree list
The Town’s landscaping rules are not just about making properties look better.
The ordinance says the goal is to protect public health, safety, property values, open space, traffic safety, and the overall function of Warrenton’s tree canopy. It specifically mentions shade, windbreaks, energy conservation, pedestrian safety, and the preservation of natural vegetation.
That matters because trees are not short-term landscaping.
A tree planted today can affect a property for decades.
The wrong tree in the wrong spot can eventually lead to:
- Sidewalk or pavement damage
- Weak branches that fail during storms
- Roots growing too close to structures or utilities
- Poor survival in local soil or climate conditions
- Invasive spread into nearby natural areas
- Expensive removal work later
That’s why the Town encourages tree species that are better suited for local conditions and discourages or prohibits species that are more likely to create problems.
Approved tree species in Warrenton
Warrenton’s ordinance separates acceptable trees into different categories.
One major category is canopy trees, which are deciduous trees expected to grow 30 feet or taller. These are the larger shade trees that help support the urban forest over time.
Some of the approved canopy trees listed in the ordinance include:
- Bald Cypress
- American Beech
- River Birch
- Black Gum
- American Elm
- Common Hackberry
- Kentucky Coffee Tree
- American Linden
- Thornless Honeylocust
- Southern Magnolia
- Red Maple
- Sugar Maple
- Several oak species, including Northern Red Oak, White Oak, Willow Oak, Water Oak, and Swamp White Oak
- Sweetgum
- Tulip Poplar
- American Yellowwood
- Japanese Zelkova
Many of these are native trees, which is important because native trees are generally better adapted to the local environment and tend to support local wildlife better than many ornamental imports.
The ordinance also includes medium and ornamental trees under 30 feet tall.
Some of those include:
- Red Buckeye
- Flowering Cherry
- Flowering Crabapple
- Korean Dogwood
- White Fringetree
- Green Hawthorn
- American Hornbeam
- Crape Myrtle
- Star Magnolia
- Sweet Bay Magnolia
- Japanese Maple
- Paperbark Maple
- Redbud
- Carolina Silverbell
- Downy Serviceberry
- Sourwood
These smaller trees can be useful where a large canopy tree would not fit, especially near buildings, smaller yards, utility lines, or tighter landscape areas.
But just because a tree is on the approved list does not mean it belongs everywhere.
A white oak, for example, can be an excellent tree. But it needs room.
A Japanese maple can be beautiful near a home, but it will not provide the same shade or canopy value as a larger native tree.
That’s why the right species still depends on the site.
Trees that shouldn’t be planted as street trees
Warrenton’s ordinance also lists several trees that should not be planted as street trees.
That list includes:
- Linden, Silver Linden, and Littleleaf Linden
- London Planetree and American Sycamore
- Any variety of Callery Pear
- Fruiting Sweetgum
- Sawtooth Oak
- Green Ash and Blue Ash
- Silver Maple and its cultivars
- Norway Maple
- Leyland Cypress
This is where a lot of homeowners get surprised.
Some of these trees are common. Some are still easy to find. And some, like Callery pear, were widely planted for years because they looked good in spring and grew quickly.
But that does not mean they are good long-term choices.
What about Bradford pear?
Bradford pear is one of the biggest examples.
Warrenton’s ordinance specifically says that any variety of Callery Pear should not be planted as a street tree, and it also lists Bradford Pear as not appropriate for planting near paved areas.
That matters because Bradford pear is a cultivar of Callery pear.
For years, Bradford pears were popular because they grew quickly, had white spring flowers, and looked neat when young. But over time, many people learned the downsides.
Callery pear can spread into fields, roadsides, and open areas, where it can form dense stands and suppress other plants. It is also known for weak structure, which can make it more likely to split or fail as it matures.
So while Bradford pear might look attractive for a few weeks in spring, it can become a real problem later.
From my perspective as an arborist, this is one of the trees I would generally avoid planting.
There are better options.
For a similar ornamental look, homeowners may be better off considering native or better-behaved alternatives such as serviceberry, redbud, fringetree, dogwood, or certain magnolia varieties, depending on the site.
Unacceptable species near paved areas and buffers
The ordinance also explains that some species are not acceptable because they can negatively affect native plant communities, damage nearby structures or infrastructure, or have traits that make them more likely to structurally fail.
For areas near pavement, the ordinance identifies trees such as:
- Ashes
- Norway Maple
- Washington Hawthorn
- American Plum
- Bradford Pear
- Pin Oak
- Sycamores
- London Planes
For buffers, the ordinance says White Pine, Loblolly Pine, Virginia Pine, and Austrian Pine have been shown to be unacceptable species in the Town.
That does not always mean every one of these trees is bad in every possible setting.
It means they are not appropriate for meeting the Town’s ordinance requirements in those situations.
And that’s an important distinction.
A tree that works in a large open field may not work along a street, sidewalk, parking lot, or tight buffer area.
Invasive species are treated differently
Warrenton’s ordinance also addresses invasive plants.
It states that any species listed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation with a “High” invasiveness rank must be removed from property and cannot be used for Tree Preservation Credits. Species with a “Medium” invasiveness rank may remain at the property owner’s option, but they also cannot be used for those credits.
In plain English, the Town does not want invasive trees counted as valuable preserved tree canopy.
That makes sense.
An invasive tree might technically be a tree, but it can still harm the surrounding ecosystem.
This is why it’s worth checking both the Town’s approved tree species list and the Virginia invasive plant list before planting something new.
What homeowners should take from this
For most everyday homeowners, the biggest takeaway is not that you need to memorize the ordinance.
The bigger point is this:
Do not pick a tree only because it looks good at the nursery.
Think about what that tree will be like in 10, 20, or 40 years.
Before planting, it helps to ask:
- Will this tree have enough space when mature?
- Is it native or well-adapted to Warrenton’s climate?
- Is it known to be invasive?
- Will the roots or branches conflict with sidewalks, driveways, buildings, or utilities?
- Is the tree structurally strong enough for storms?
- Is it an approved or discouraged species under local guidelines?
This is especially important if the tree is being planted as part of a site plan, street frontage, parking lot, buffer area, HOA landscape plan, or commercial property improvement.
But even for a regular residential yards, the same thinking applies.
I’m constantly witnessing how good tree selection can prevent a lot of future problems, while poor tree selection often does the opposite and creates expensive problems years later.
Tree choice can also affect the rest of your yard, including shade, root competition, and grass growth, which is why we also explain how trees can affect your lawn care in more detail.
When to get help before planting
If you’re planting one small ornamental tree in the middle of your yard, you may be fine choosing from the Town’s list and checking the mature size.
But if you’re planting near a structure, driveway, road, sidewalk, utility line, drainage area, or property boundary, it’s usually worth getting a professional opinion first.
That’s especially true if:
- You’re replacing a removed tree
- You’re planting near pavement
- You’re dealing with stormwater or drainage issues
- You’re part of an HOA or commercial property
- You’re unsure whether a species is invasive
- You want a tree that will last for decades, not just look nice for a few years
At the end of the day, Warrenton’s approved and prohibited tree species list exists for a reason.
It helps protect the Town’s tree canopy, reduce future maintenance problems, and encourage better planting decisions.
And if you’re not sure which tree belongs on your property, it’s always better to ask before planting than to deal with a removal problem years later.
