• A shade tree is generally large with dense foliage that keeps most sunlight from shining through. This tree type can make a home and yard more desirable, for it can make a property more beautiful and can be a built-in outdoor retreat from the sun. There are many tree species that are considered shade trees. Consider the climate in which you live and the outdoor space available to find the perfect shade tree for your home.
  
  

Maple

• Maple TreeAutumn Maple Tree under Blue Sky image by loongirl from Fotolia.com
  
  Maple trees are common in the United States and there are over 50 types. The maple tree type you should grow depends on your climate and space. Maple trees have multiple lobes, which allow them to provide extensive shade. Some maple trees grow to only 15 feet tall while others grow as tall as 100 feet. Their leaves range between one and six inches wide. The sugar maple is a common type, as well as one of the largest varieties. They typically grow between 70 and 90 feet tall, and their leaves are about three inches wide. According to aboutmapletrees.com, red and silver maple tree types are the quickest growing maple tree types and grow to be relatively large, though they do not reach the sugar maple's height.
  
  

Weeping Willow

• Weeping Willow Treetrauerweide image by www.digitalscrapbooking.de from Fotolia.com
  
  The weeping willow tree is the most popular type of weeping tree and one of the most common shade trees in America. It is an excellent shade tree, for its branches droop to create a canopy-like enclosure. They grow rapidly, primarily during the spring and summer, up to ten feet per year and can reach as tall as 50 feet and 35 feet wide. Weeping willows grow well in a variety of climates and can withstand drought reasonably well, making them popular in most parts of the United States.
  
  

Elm

• Elm TreeSingle tree. Autumn. Single Tree in the field. image by Igor Golovnov from Fotolia.com
  
  Elm trees grow up to 115 feet tall and can reach a width of 30 feet wide. Their large size makes elm trees a popular shade tree. If you want to grow a shade tree, an elm tree is a good investment, for it can live for up to 300 years. There are numerous elm tree varieties with varying climate and space needs, but the American elm tree can grow in most parts of the United States.