The Metro: How to choose the right tree for the right place in 2026
A new 57 page guide rates tree species for climate change resiliency in Michigan.
Sycamores were rated 7 out of 10 in the Michigan Communities Tree Species Selection Guide. They can reach 90 feet in height when mature.
Choosing the right tree to plant that will thrive long into the future just got easier.
Michigan’s tree canopy is changing due to climate change. Whether it’s due to invasive species, flooding and drought, or extreme heat, some species will do better than others.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently released a 57 page species selection guide that rates species for climate change resiliency and hardiness using characteristics like size, shade and rainwater absorption.
Lawrence Law is an urban and community forester and partnership coordinator with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. He led the development of the Michigan Communities Tree Species Selection Guide.
He says some species that are ubiquitous in Southeast Michigan, like Silver Maple (rated 1 of 10), are poor choices compared to lesser-known ones like Kentucky Coffeetree (rated 10 of 10) due to climate adaptability.
“I have seen so many good examples of Kentucky Coffeetree in the area. It’s just a powerhouse. You can get cultivars that are seedless and it’s like boom, plant and forget, almost.”
Law spoke with David Leins on The Metro about how people can use the guide to choose the right tree for their yard or right-of-way.
WDET’s Detroit Tree Canopy Project is supported by a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
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