The following categories, offered by Arbor Day Foundation, involve important considerations when shopping for trees:

Mature Height – The average height of the species when it reaches maturity.

Mature Spread – The average width the species might achieve when it reaches maturity.

Sun – The sun and shade requirements best suited to the species.

Soil – The type(s) of soil for optimum growth. Kits and instruments are available from garden stores or forestry suppliers that allow you to determine the pH of your soil. Complete analysis, including soil pH and the presence of nutrients, can be done by commercial laboratories, your state agriculture university or local arborists.

Hardiness Zone – The region in the United States where the species can be expected to grow in the zone’s temperature extremes, as determined by the lowest average annual temperature.

For more information, visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.arborday.org.