When dealing with long growth cycles, you may forget that the tree you plant today may be a potential electrical hazard when it reaches mature height. Good planning is needed to avoid future problems with trees in power lines. While it is preferable not to plant within the 30-foot clear right-of-way at all, low-growing ornamental trees, shrubs, and brush may be allowed to remain in the right-of-way path as their mature height does not endanger power lines.
Keep in mind, if your lines need service, maintenance, or repair, we are not liable for landscaping placed in the right-of-way. So before you place that expensive Japanese maple under the line in your yard, keep in mind our trucks or linemen may need that spot for their equipment in an emergency.
South Central Indiana REMC recommends that you do not plant trees closer than 25 feet from poles, guy wires, and other energized electrical equipment. Since this is not always possible, below is a list of hardiness zone 5 trees and bushes that are low-growing and considered utility-compatible. Using this list is the first step in planning a landscape around power lines that you can enjoy for years in the future.
Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place
Trees beautify our neighborhoods, and when planted in the right spot, can even help lower energy bills. But the wrong tree in the wrong place can be a hazard.. especially to power lines.
Large Trees
Height/spread of more than 40 feet, such as:
- Maple
- Oak
- Spruce
- Pine
- Birch
- Sweetgum
- Linden
Medium Trees
Height/spread of 25 to 40 feet, such as:
- Washington hawthorn
- Goldenraintree
- Eastern redbud
- American arborvitae
- Dogwoods
Small Trees
Height/spread of no more than 25 feet such as:
- Star magnolia
- Crabapple
- Lilac
Always have all underground lines and utilities located before you start planting. Visit the Indiana 811 website for more information.
Utility-Compatible Tree & Bush Species
| Variety | Height | Width | Shape | Hardiness | Foliage | Flower |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trident Maple | 20 feet | 20 feet | round, low | -10º F | green | none |
| Hedge Maple | 30 feet | 30 feet | dense and round | -20º F | dk green | none |
| Flame Maple | 20 feet | 20 feet | rounded | -50º F | fine, med green | none |
| Flamingo Box Elder | 20 feet | 15 feet | oval-round | -20º F | white and green with pink tint | none |
| Kelly’s Gold Box Elder | 25 feet | 20 feet | oval-round | -20º F | bright yellow | none |
| Variegated Box Elder | 25 feet | 20 feet | oval-round | -20º F | variegated creamy white | none |
| Globe Norway Maple | 15 feet | 18 feet | dense and round | -15º F | medium green | none |
| Tatarian Maple | 25 feet | 20 feet | oval-round | -15º F | medium green | none |
| Autumn Brilliance® Serviceberry * | 20 feet | 15 feet | upright-spreading | -30º F | medium green | white clusters |
| Cole’s Select Serviceberry * | 20 feet | 15 feet | upright-spreading | -30º F | small green | white clusters |
| Princess Diana Serviceberry * | 20 feet | 15 feet | graceful spread | -40º F | small, green | white clusters |
| Snowcloud Serviceberry * | 25 feet | 15 feet | upright oval | -30º F | dk green/red tint in spring | white clusters |
| Crimson Cloud Hawthorn * | 25 feet | 18 feet | oval-upright | -30º F | small glossy green | bright red |
| Lavalle Hawthorn * | 28 feet | 20 feet | irregular vase | -30º F | dk green, leathery | white clusters |
| Snowbird Hawthorn * | 22 feet | 20 feet | oval-round | -40º F | dk glossy green | double white |
| Toba Hawthorn * | 20 feet | 20 feet | upright round | -40º F | dark green | double white |
| Washington Hawthorn * | 25 feet | 20 feet | oval-round | -30º F | deep green and glossy | white clusters |
| Golden Desert® Ash | 20 feet | 18 feet | round-compact | -20º F | yellow | none |
| Leprechaun™ Ash | 18 feet | 16 feet | compact-round | -20º F | small medium green | none |
| Columnar Goldenchain | 10 feet | 10 feet | narrow vase | -20º F | dark green | yellow clusters |
| Amur Maackia | 25 feet | 20 feet | vase-round crown | -40º F | medium green | white clusters |
| Adirondack Crabapple * | 18 feet | 10 feet | upright-invert cone | -30º F | medium green | white |
| Golden Raindrops® Crabapple * | 20 feet | 15 feet | upright vase | -40º F | green, deep cut | white |
| Red Barron Crabapple * | 18 feet | 8 feet | narrow columnar | -30º F | purple fades to bronze green | dark red |
| Red Jewel™ Crabapple * | 15 feet | 12 feet | upright pyramid | -30º F | green | white |
| Sentinel Crabapple * | 20 feet | 12 feet | narrow-upright | -15º F | dark green, glossy | pinkish white |
| Amanogawa Cherry * | 20 feet | 6 feet | columnar | -20º F | green | pale pink |
| Kwanzan Cherry * | 30 feet | 20 feet | vase shape | -15º F | dark green | double pink |
| Sargent Cherry * | 30 feet | 30 feet | upright spread | -15º F | dark green | single pink |
| Snow Goose Cherry * | 20 feet | 20 feet | upright and wide | -20º F | bright green | white |
| Spire Cherry * | 30 feet | 10 feet | columnar/vase | -20º F | dark green | single pink |
| Big Cis® Plum * | 14 feet | 12 feet | round-dense | -30º F | purple | light pink |
| Mt.St. Helens® Plum * | 20 feet | 20 feet | upright-round | -30º F | purple | light pink |
| Newport Plum * | 20 feet | 20 feet | oval-round | -40º F | purple-red | light pink |
| Thundercloud Plum * | 20 feet | 20 feet | dense and round | -20º F | dark purple | light pink |
| Red Cascade™ Mountain Ash | 16 feet | 8 feet | compact-oval | -40º F | lustrous green | white clusters |
| Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac | 20 feet | 15 feet | upright round | -15º F | dark green | creamy white |
| Summer Charm® Tree Lilac | 20 feet | 15 feet | upright spread | -40º F | dark green, glossy | creamy white |
| Wireless Zelkova | 24 feet | 36 feet | spreading vase | -20º F | medium green | none |
| Japanese Maple | 20 feet | 24 feet | upright-spreading | -15º F | green | none |
| Burning Bush * | 11 feet | 11 feet | mound-spreading | -15º F | dark green | yellow-green |
| Bayberry | 10 feet | 10 feet | dense-round | -15º F | leathery grayish green | yellow-green |
| Black Chokeberry * | 8 feet | 8 feet | upright vase | -15º F | green | white |
| Common Lilac | 15 feet | 12 feet | upright-leggy | -15º F | dark to blue green leaves | varies |
| Purple Leaf Sand Cherry | 14 feet | 10 feet | rounded | -15º F | purple | pinkish white |
| Butterfly Bush | 10 feet | 8 feet | rounded | -15º F | gray green-blue green | varies |
| Highbush Cranberry * | 10 feet | 6 feet | dense | -15º F | dark green | white |
| Red Twig Dogwood * | 9 feet | 10 feet | broad, round | -15º F | medium to dark green | white |
| American Hazel Nut * | 16 feet | 13 feet | round multi-stem | -15º F | dark green | red |
Note: There are other low-growing species available that are compatible with high voltage lines and equipment. Please consult with your local arborist or nursery for compatibility and hardiness zone information.
*This is a good wildlife food source.