Many trees can be planted under electrical lines and not ever get close in size to being needed to be trimmed by the power company. In this post, we will list several tree and shrub varieties that work well to stay under most power lines. Most power lines are above 25' in height, but sometimes they are below this approximation. If your gardening bed is near or under power lines, browse this list and use it as a guide when deciding what to plant. The plants listed below are 25' or less at maturity.

Chinese Dogwood

Chinese Dogwood (Cornus kousa)

Height:  25 feet

Spread:  25 feet

Sunlight:  part sun (morning sun with afternoon shade is best)

Hardiness Zone:  5

Other Names:  Kousa Dogwood

Description: A beautiful specimen tree with large, showy white flowers in spring, and a strongly horizontal habit of growth; requires rich, well-drained acidic soil. In Middle Tennessee, Dogwoods perform well as understory trees; in partial shade locations

Crape Myrtle

Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)

• Arapaho Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Arapaho')

• Biloxi Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Biloxi')

• Catawba Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica'Catawba')

• Centennial Spirit Crape Mrytle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Centennial Spirit')

• Sioux Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Sioux')

• Colorama Scarlet Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'JM1')

• Tuscarora Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Tuscarora')

Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Height:  20-25 feet

Spread:  20-25 feet

Sunlight: part sun

Hardiness Zone:  5

Description: A small upright tree with layered branches and full, rounded form; great fall color; blooms profusely in spring. In Middle Tennessee, Dogwoods perform well as understory trees; in partial shade locations

Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

• Cascading Hearts Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Cascading Hearts')

• Hearts of Gold Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold')

• Merlot Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Merlot')

• The Rising Sun Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'The Rising Sun')

• White Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Alba')

Flowering Crabapple (Malus)

Height:  20-25 feet

Spread:  20-25 feet

Sunlight: full sun

Hardiness Zone:  4

Description: A highly regarded accent tree smothered in rich, brightly colored flowers in spring, upright habit of growth; the definitive ornamental feature tree for the home landscape, needs well-drained soil and full sun

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Height:  10-25 feet

Spread:  12-20 feet

Sunlight: part sun to shade (depending on variety) 

Hardiness Zone:  5

Description: Possibly the most popular of all feature trees for the home landscape, with beautiful foliage all season long and a very artistic spreading growth habit; put it in the front yard and give it lots of room to grow

Krauter Vesuvius Plum (Prunus cerasifera 'Krauter Vesuvius')

Height:  20 feet

Spread:  12 feet

Sunlight: full sun

Hardiness Zone:  4

Other Names:  Myrobalan Plum, Pissard Plum

Description: An upright-growing and colorful feature tree blanketed in a cloud of pink flowers in spring, rich deep purple foliage all season long; tends to grow more upright than other selections, best used as a solitary front yard accent or in street plantings

Pink Snow Showers Weeping Cherry (Prunus 'Pishnshzam')

Height:  25 feet

Spread:  20 feet

Sunlight: full sun  

Hardiness Zone:  3

Description: A visually stunning, weeping variety that is blanketed in soft pink flowers in early spring before the leaves; lovely golden fall color; full sun and well- drained soil; vigorous, hardy, with good disease resistance

White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Height:  15 feet

Spread:  15 feet

Sunlight: full to part sun    

Hardiness Zone:  4

Other Names:  Old Man's Beard, Fringe Tree

Description: Without a doubt, one of the finest small native trees for spring bloom; plant is absolutely covered in frilly white flowers; generally a good, attractive plant the rest of the year, makes a great accent for smaller home landscapes

Teddy Bear Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear')

Height:  20 feet

Spread:  12 feet

Sunlight: full to part sun 

Hardiness Zone:  6

Other Names:  Southern Magnolia

Description: A beautiful flowering accent tree for smaller home landscapes, smothered in showy and fragrant white cup-shaped flowers in spring through summer; large glossy leaves with reddish-brown undersides and a neat pyramidal habit of growth

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd')

Height:  12 feet

Spread:  4 feet

Sunlight: full to part sun

Hardiness Zone:  4

Other Names:  Eastern White Cedar

Description: The ubiquitous tall hedge evergreen always seen planted in rows, this is a narrow, upright accent evergreen, dense foliage held in vertical sprays remains bright green year-round; hardy and adaptable, takes pruning well

Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus)

Height:  25 feet

Spread:  30 feet

Sunlight: part sun

Hardiness Zone:  5

Description: A very dainty and woodsy small tree, featuring the most delicate white bell-shaped flowers which hang loosely from the horizontally spreading branches in early spring; needs moist, organic soil and some shelter, does well in part shade

Deciduous Magnolia

Deciduous Magnolia (Magnolia)

• Butterflies Magnolia (Magnolia 'Butterflies')

• Jane Magnolia (Magnolia 'Jane')

• Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

  
  

  

Serviceberry (Amelanchier ‘Autumn Brilliance’)

Height:  25 feet

Spread:  20 feet

Sunlight: full to part sun     

Hardiness Zone:  3

Description: A great small tree prized for its abundance of showy white flowers in spring and consistently beautiful fall colors; a great three-season shade tree for small landscapes

Witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold’s Promise’)

Height:  12-15 feet

Spread:  12-15 feet

Sunlight: full to part sun

Hardiness Zone:  5

Description: Best flowers in full sun locations. Easily grows in average, yet well- draining soil. Blooms from February to March.

Holly (Ilex)

• Cardinal Holly (Ilex 'Conal')

• Nellie R. Stevens Holly (Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens')

• Oak Leaf Holly (Ilex 'Conaf')

• Sparkleberry Deciduous Holly (Ilex 'Sparkleberry')

  
  

Look for these at the nursery and feel free to ask us for suggestions or assistance while here. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook where you can ask us gardening questions there, too. We look forward to seeing you soon at your local nursery!