Shade, Privacy and Flowering Trees near Chicago, IL, 60637

Looking for trees delivered to Chicago, IL 60637? Arbor Buddy ships large, nursery-grown trees by freight to your door. We match every tree to your hardiness zone 6a, so you get shade, privacy, flowering, fruit, and accent trees that thrive in your yard. Homeowners and contractors benefit from our zone-matched selection and 1-Year Thrive Guarantee.

Start with the six trees below that are pre-selected for your area, then explore more categories to fit your property.

Shop Trees by Category in Chicago

• Shade Trees: Big canopy trees that cool your yard and withstand zone 6 cold.
• Flowering & Ornamental: Spring color and year-round interest for Chicago gardens.
• Evergreen & Privacy: Year-round screening that holds up to winter winds.
• Japanese Maples: Delicate accent trees that need some protection from harsh sun.
• Fruit Trees: Reliable fruits like peaches and figs that ripen in your growing season.
• Shrubs & Hedges: Foundation plants and hedges that fill in fast.

Trees for Zone 6 in Chicago

Not every tree sold at big box stores handles zone 6a winter lows, which can drop to -10 to -5 degrees F in Chicago. That's why Arbor Buddy's trees for zone 6 in Chicago are pre-matched to your cold hardiness. The ones that do best here tolerate both the deep freeze and the humid summers.

Shade trees like the Chinese Pistachio and Allee Chinese Elm thrive because they handle wet spring soils and then dry summer stretches. Flowering ornamentals such as the Eastern Redbud need a full cold period to set buds, and they get that in your zip 60637. Japanese maples are more tender; the Seiryu is one of the most cold-tolerant laceleaf varieties, but it still needs a spot shielded from wind and afternoon sun.

Evergreens for privacy, like the American Pillar Arborvitae, stay green through winter because they are bred for northern climates. Fruit trees like the Elberta Peach require a true winter chill, which your zone delivers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best shade trees for Chicago?

Chinese Pistachio and Allee Chinese Elm are top picks for Chicago's zone 6a. The pistachio gives brilliant fall color, and the elm resists disease and urban stress. Both handle winter lows down to -10 to -5 F that you can expect in zip 60637.

What trees grow fastest in Chicago?

American Pillar Arborvitae is one of the quickest to form a privacy screen, often gaining several feet per year. For shade, the Allee Chinese Elm also grows at a moderate to fast rate once established. Those speeds suit the typical growing season in zip 60637.

What size do the trees arrive at?

Trees from Arbor Buddy arrive as large, nursery-grown specimens, typically 5 to 7 feet tall depending on the species. They are shipped in root balls or pots and are ready to go into the ground in your yard.

What are good privacy or screening trees for Chicago?

American Pillar Arborvitae is the most common choice for narrow screens. For a different look, consider evergreens like Skyrocket Juniper or shrubs like Nellie Stevens Holly, all of which handle zone 6 winters.

See What Grows in Your Zone

Your Chicago zip 60637 sits in zone 6a, which gives you a solid palette of shade, privacy, flowering, and fruit trees. Arbor Buddy ships large, nursery-grown trees that are zone-matched to your area, backed by the 1-Year Thrive Guarantee. Browse the trees suited to your zone and order online for freight delivery.

How Chicago Compares to Other Areas

The trees you choose for your yard depend heavily on your climate. Here is how Chicago's zone 6a stacks up against three other locations.

ZIP 98638 in Naselle, Washington (WA) sits in zone 8b with winter lows of 15 to 20 F. That mild climate means a much longer list of privacy and screening options, including broadleaf evergreens that would not survive Chicago's cold. That gap changes the local shortlist to hardier conifers like American Pillar Arborvitae. In contrast, your zone limits you to needled evergreens that can handle -10 F.

ZIP 76249 in Krum, Texas (TX) is zone 8a with lows of 10 to 15 F. That warmer zone opens up flowering color choices like crape myrtles and vitex that are marginal in Chicago. For your cart, that means you should stick with redbuds and dogwoods, which need true winter chill to bloom. The Texas heat also allows longer bloom seasons, but in Chicago you get reliable spring color from cold-hardy ornamentals.

ZIP 57450 in Hoven, South Dakota (SD) is zone 4b with lows of -25 to -20 F. That much colder climate limits fruit and citrus viability to almost nothing. In practice, buyers here lean toward only the toughest apples and plums, while Chicago's zone 6a lets you grow peaches like the Elberta and even figs in protected spots. The difference means your fruit tree options are far wider than in the northern plains.

The contrasts show that your zone 6a gives you a balanced selection of shade, flowering, privacy, and fruit trees that would either freeze or fail to thrive in colder or warmer regions.