Skip to content
USDA zone 6a

Landscape Trees near Chicago, IL, 60644

Shop large, nursery-grown shade, privacy, flowering and fruit trees, delivered by freight in Chicago. Every tree is matched to your hardiness zone and backed by our 1-Year Thrive Guarantee.

See what thrives at your address

Enter your ZIP and we'll match trees to your exact growing zone.

Typical winter lows in Chicago run about -10 to -5 F.

1-Year Guarantee

Thrive Guarantee promise

Freight Delivery

$149 flat per order

Nursery-Grown

Shipped at landscape size

Zone-Matched

Only what thrives near you

Matched to Chicago's zone

Featured trees for Chicago

6 landscape-grade picks covering shade, privacy, color and fruit, all hardy in zone 6a. Prices and stock shown live.

Shop by category

Browse everything that thrives in Chicago

Every category below is stocked with trees rated for zone 6a. Tap a bestseller or view the full range.

Choosing trees by goal

Shade and canopy. Cools the patio fast, Chinese Pistachio provides dense shade. Needs enough space for a full canopy; avoid planting under utility lines.

Privacy and screening. Screens neighbors quickly, Skyrocket Juniper stays narrow. May need multiple trees for a complete block; takes a few years to fill in.

Flowering and curb appeal. Brings coral-pink summer blooms, Tuscarora Crape Myrtle. Select a protected spot to avoid frost damage to early buds in late spring.

Grow your own fruit. Harvests juicy peaches in late summer, Elberta Peach Tree. Requires about 800 chill hours; still fits zone 6 winters well.

Small spaces and accents. Adds upright laceleaf texture, Seiryu Japanese Maple. Avoid hot afternoon sun to prevent leaf scorch; place in part shade.

Local fit, from data

Growing conditions in Chicago 60644

USDA zone

6a

Typical winter lows

about -10 to -5 F

County

Cook County

State

Illinois

When you order trees delivered to Chicago, IL 60644, you want varieties that handle zone 6 winters. Arbor Buddy matches every tree to your hardiness zone, so this page shows only what grows well here. We ship large, nursery-grown trees by freight straight to homeowners and contractors across the city. Our selection covers shade trees, flowering trees, evergreens, fruit trees, and Japanese maples.

Shop Trees by Category in Chicago

  • Shade Trees: Block the summer sun with canopy trees that survive -10°F winters.
  • Flowering & Ornamental: Add spring and summer color with varieties that handle Chicago's temperature swings.
  • Evergreen & Privacy: Create year-round screening with cold-hardy evergreens that stay green through winter.
  • Japanese Maples: Choose from laceleaf and upright maples that add elegant structure to your yard.
  • Fruit Trees: Grow your own peaches and apples with varieties matched to zone 6's chill-hour needs.
  • Shrubs & Hedges: Fill borders and foundation beds with reliable shrubs that survive zone 6 winters.

Trees for Zone 6 in Chicago

Some tree species that thrive in warmer zones struggle in Chicago's winter lows of -10 to -5 degrees F. Zone 6a rules out very tender evergreens and many flowering varieties that need milder winters. But the trees on this page are selected for these conditions. They handle the cold, the occasional freeze-thaw cycles, and the summer heat that comes with the area. In nearby areas like La Grange Park and Elgin, the same zone applies, so these picks work there too.

The trees for zone 6 in Chicago include tough shade trees like Chinese Pistachio, which brings brilliant fall color and tolerates both cold and drought. Cold-hardy evergreens like Skyrocket Juniper stay narrow and keep their color all winter. Flowering crape myrtles bring summer color without needing a warmer zone. Japanese maples add delicate texture when placed in partial shade. Fruit trees like Elberta Peach need enough chill hours, which zone 6 delivers. For homeowners in Niles, Alsip, or Lyons, these same varieties are reliable choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arbor Buddy deliver trees to ZIP 60644?

Yes. Arbor Buddy delivers to ZIP 60644 and other Chicago ZIPs like 60641, 60642, 60643, 60645, 60646, and 60647. Trees ship by freight during spring and fall to avoid temperature extremes.

Which trees grow best in Chicago's hardiness zone?

Zone 6a trees like Chinese Pistachio, Skyrocket Juniper, and Tuscarora Crape Myrtle are well-suited to Chicago's climate. These varieties handle the cold winters and warm summers typical of the area.

What are the best shade trees for Chicago?

The Chinese Pistachio is a top choice for shade in Chicago. It provides dense shade and brilliant fall color. Other good options include oaks and maples that are hardy to zone 6.

What trees grow fastest in Chicago?

Among the options for Chicago, the Tuscarora Crape Myrtle grows quickly and flowers in its first year. The Chinese Pistachio also establishes well and provides shade within a few years.

Browse Your Zone Matches, Then Order Online

For shade, privacy, flowering, fruit, and accent trees matched to your zone in ZIP 60644 of Chicago, Arbor Buddy ships large, nursery-grown trees with a 1-Year Thrive Guarantee. Browse the trees suited to your area and order online.

How Chicago Compares to Other Areas

ZIP 29846 in Sycamore, South Carolina (SC) sits in zone 8b with typical winter lows of 15 to 20 F. That area can grow many trees that would not survive Chicago's cold. The cold-hardiness required here is much greater. Locally, that points buyers toward trees like Skyrocket Juniper that can handle -10°F, rather than zone 8 species like southern magnolia.

ZIP 57381 in Wessington, South Dakota (SD) is in zone 4b with typical winter lows of -25 to -20 F. That extreme cold limits tree choices to only the most hardy varieties. In contrast, Chicago's zone 6a is milder, so you have a wider selection. Heat and humidity tolerance matters more in Chicago because summers are warmer than in South Dakota. Here, the zone usually pushes the choice toward trees that cope with both cold winters and warm summers, such as Chinese Pistachio and crape myrtles.

ZIP 77026 in Houston, Texas (TX) is zone 9b with typical winter lows of 25 to 30 F. Heat and humidity are the main concerns there, while drought tolerance is less critical because of frequent rain. In Chicago, dry summer spells can stress trees, so selecting drought-tolerant species like Chinese Pistachio is wise. The practical difference is that Chicago buyers need to prioritize drought tolerance more than those in Houston, and also need cold-hardiness that Houston trees do not.

For Chicago, the takeaway is to choose trees that survive -10°F winters, tolerate summer heat, and handle occasional dry periods. Arbor Buddy's zone matching ensures you get the right picks for your yard.

Freight delivery and the Thrive Guarantee

Every tree from Arbor Buddy ships with a 1-Year Thrive Guarantee. If your tree doesn't survive its first year, we replace it free. We deliver by freight to ZIP 60644 and also to other Chicago ZIPs like 60641, 60642, 60643, 60645, 60646, and 60647. In zone 6, shipments are timed for spring and autumn, skipping temperature extremes. The trees arrive nursery-grown at a usable landscape size.

Before delivery day, check:

  • Someone will be home to accept and inspect the tree.
  • The street can accommodate a large freight truck with room to stop or turn.
  • You know where you want the tree dropped.
  • Watch for long or narrow driveways, soft ground, or low branches and wires.
1

Enter your ZIP, shop only what thrives in your zone.

2

Freight delivery to your address: $149 flat per order, shown at checkout.

3

Plant it, watch it thrive, covered for one year.

Nearby areas we deliver to

Freight service reaches most Illinois addresses. Browse your area:

Not sure which tree fits your yard?

Take the 60-second Plant Finder, or message a tree specialist and we'll shortlist zone-safe picks for your address.

Good to know · Growing guide

Buying trees in Chicago 60644: what locals should know

Ordering a large tree online is not like ordering a lamp. Here is what is worth knowing before you buy, from reading your hardiness zone to what actually shows up on the truck.

How to read your hardiness zone

Chicago 60644 sits in USDA zone 6a. Your zone describes the coldest winter a tree can reliably survive. In a mid-country climate you get the widest catalog: most shade, flowering and evergreen trees qualify, and the filter mostly guards the borderline picks.

Typical winter lows here run about -10 to -5 F. Half-zones matter at the edges: two steps on the map are about five winter degrees, which is enough to decide whether a borderline pick belongs in your cart.

What freight delivery actually means

Your tree arrives large, nursery-grown and at a usable landscape size, secured to a pallet and delivered curbside or as close as the truck can safely get. Before delivery day, run through this quick checklist:

  • Someone can be home to receive the tree and look it over on arrival.
  • A freight truck can reach your street, with room to stop or turn around.
  • You know where you want it dropped: curbside, or as close as the driver can safely get.
  • Access watch-outs are handled: narrow driveways, soft ground after rain, low branches or wires.

The guarantee, in plain terms

If a tree does not survive its first year, we replace it free, shipping included. The promise works because every tree ships zone-matched and nursery-grown, so it arrives set up to succeed in your climate rather than gambling against it.

Coverage runs a full year from delivery. If something goes wrong, contact the team and they arrange the replacement. No store-credit games, no fine-print maze.

More growing guides on the Arbor Buddy blog →

Frequently asked questions

Does Arbor Buddy deliver trees to ZIP 60644?+

Yes. Arbor Buddy delivers to ZIP 60644 and other Chicago ZIPs like 60641, 60642, 60643, 60645, 60646, and 60647. Trees ship by freight during spring and fall to avoid temperature extremes.

Which trees grow best in Chicago's hardiness zone?+

Zone 6a trees like Chinese Pistachio, Skyrocket Juniper, and Tuscarora Crape Myrtle are well-suited to Chicago's climate. These varieties handle the cold winters and warm summers typical of the area.

What are the best shade trees for Chicago?+

The Chinese Pistachio is a top choice for shade in Chicago. It provides dense shade and brilliant fall color. Other good options include oaks and maples that are hardy to zone 6.

What trees grow fastest in Chicago?+

Among the options for Chicago, the Tuscarora Crape Myrtle grows quickly and flowers in its first year. The Chinese Pistachio also establishes well and provides shade within a few years.

Ready to plant your Chicago yard?

Shade, privacy, flowering and fruit trees matched to zone 6a, shipped large and covered by the 1-Year Thrive Guarantee.

Browse trees for your zone