Yet Another "What Tree Should I Plant?"

I want a large shade tree for the front yard.
There is plenty of room so roots won't meet the house, no underground wires, lines, pipes etc.
I would like a oval/rounded canapy
Plenty of people head room to walk and sit under shade tree.
Full hot sun and plenty of wind
Great rich soil, drains well, water available, zone5a
Area is on east side of house
No Maples, will be planting Hosta under and around tree.
Minimal spider surface roots
Would like at least a meduim grower, fast is not important, I plan on being here a good long time.

I like the look of the Pinoak, but it is to straight up for this spot. I really want an old fashioned "sittin under tree", with sprawling wide horizontal canapy.

I currently have 2 dogwoods to one side of yard, they look lopsided with a large blank space on the other side. The dogwoods are very old and appear to be just about spent. I am not sure how much longer they will last. So I need to get something going soon.

Thanks, Fran

Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa

Resin

I'll second Resin's suggestion of the Bur oak.

I grow hosta right next to my bur oaks and they do well. Bur oaks are beautiful to sit under, except for acorn time of year, when you need a hard hat.

What other trees work well for underplanting? Whattrees have deep roots and produce a dappled shade?

Peg

Peg, do they make little acorn hats for Hosta?

Thanks all, I looked up the Bur Oak, and it does match what I am looking for. It goes to the top of my list.

Fran

Fran, What about Magnolia acumunata? It should grow well (fast and large) in the conditions you described. As a bonus it is a native, though rare in the wild, and not everyone will have one. I planted one in Nova Scotia 14 years ago and it has gone from 2ft. to22ft. in that short time. Robb.

Robb, I love Magnolias, but I think if one lived in my yard I would cry every year. Around here I watch them... they bloom and look so pretty for about 2 days.. I always know when I see those blooms we will have a frost that weekend. Happens EVERY year! I have been here 20 years now and two years ago was the first time we didn't have that final freeze.
DH says he hates the soggy brown flowers when they drop.. I say you get that with anything you plant.. just maybe not the brown flowers.. but acorns, helecopters.. etc.
Fran

What about a Cypress tree?

WOW, now thats a big tree!
While I think I have plenty of room, that one tree might do me in.

LOL frans - BTW I am from your area originally - Danville.

I would suggest a Kentucky Coffeetree, Gymnocladus dioicus.

KCT is a beautiful native tree that leafs out late and is early to shed its leaves in the fall. KCT produces light shade so it's easy to grow plants under its canopy. Yellow fall color on most trees (try to find one now if you're going to plant it so you can find one with good fall color.) Beautiful bark and a stark outline in the winter. KCT are dioecious so there are male trees and female trees. Female trees will produce a pod with large seeds. While the seeds were once used as a coffee substitute, it has now been discovered that there is a toxin in the seeds, so don't roast/brew/eat the seeds.
Good luck,
Mike