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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 to not 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. Always have all underground lines and utilities located before you start planting.
 

 

Utility-Compatible Tree & Bush Species  

 

 

 

Variety

Ht

Wth

Shape

Hardiness

Foliage

Flower

 

Trident Maple

20'

20'

round, low

-10F

green

none

Hedge Maple

30'

30'

dense and round

-20F

dk green

none

Flame Maple

20'

20'

rounded

-50F

fine, med green

none

Flamingo Box Elder

20'

15'

oval-round

-20F

white and green with pink tint

none

Kelly's Gold Box Elder

25'

20'

oval-round

-20F

bright yellow

none

Variegated Box Elder

25'

20'

oval-round

-20F

variegated creamy white

none

Globe Norway Maple

15'

18'

dense and round

-15F

medium green

none

Tatarian Maple

25'

20'

oval-round

-15F

medium green

none

Autumn Brilliance® Serviceberry *

20'

15'

upright-spreading

-30F

medium green

white clusters

Cole's Select Serviceberry *

20'

15'

upright-spreading

-30F

small green

white clusters

Princess Diana Serviceberry *

20'

15'

graceful spread

-40F

small, green

white clusters

Snowcloud Serviceberry *

25'

15'

upright oval

-30F

dk green/red tint in spring

white clusters

Crimson Cloud Hawthorn *

25'

18'

oval-upright

-30F

small glossy green

bright red

Lavalle Hawthorn *

28'

20'

irregular vase

-30F

dk green, leathery

white clusters

Snowbird Hawthorn *

22'

20'

oval-round

-40F

dk glossy green

double white

Toba Hawthorn *

20'

20'

upright round

-40F

dark green

double white

Washington Hawthorn *

25'

20'

oval-round

-30F

deep green and glossy

white clusters

Golden Desert® Ash

20'

18'

round-compact

-20F

yellow

none

Leprechaun™ Ash

18'

16'

compact-round

-20F

small medium green

none

Columnar Goldenchain

10'

10'

narrow vase

-20F

dark green

yellow clusters

Amur Maackia

25'

20'

vase-round crown

-40F

medium green

white clusters

Adirondack Crabapple *

18'

10'

upright-invert cone

-30F

medium green

white  

Golden Raindrops® Crabapple *

20'

15'

upright vase

-40F

green, deep cut

white

Red Barron Crabapple *

18'

8'

narrow columnar

-30F

purple fades to bronze green

dark red

Red Jewel™ Crabapple *

15'

12'

upright pyramid

-30F

green

white

Sentinel Crabapple *

20'

12'

narrow-upright

-15F

dark green, glossy

pinkish white

Amanogawa Cherry *

20'

6'

columnar

-20F

green

pale pink 

Kwanzan Cherry *

30'

20'

vase shape

-15F

dark green

double pink

Sargent Cherry *

30'

30'

upright spread

-15F

dark green

single pink

Snow Goose Cherry *

20'

20'

upright and wide

-20F

bright green

white

Spire Cherry *

30'

10'

columnar/vase

-20F

dark green

single pink

Big Cis® Plum *

14'

12'

round-dense

-30F

purple  

light pink

Mt.St. Helens® Plum *

20'

20'

upright-round

-30F

purple

light pink

Newport Plum *

20'

20'

oval-round

-40F

purple-red

light pink

Thundercloud Plum *

20'

20'

dense and round

-20F

dark purple

light pink

Red Cascade™ Mountain Ash

16'

8'

compact-oval

-40F

lustrous green

white clusters

Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac

20'

15'

upright round

-15F

dark green

creamy white

Summer Charm® Tree Lilac

20'

15'

upright spread

-40F

dark green, glossy

creamy white

Wireless Zelkova

24'

36'

spreading vase

-20F

medium green

none

Japanese Maple

20'

24'

upright-spreading

-15F

green

none

Burning Bush *

11'

11'

mound-spreading

-15F

dark green

yellow-green

Bayberry

10'

10'

dense-round

-15F

leathery grayish green

yellow-green

Black Chokeberry *

8'

8'

upright vase

-15F

green

white

Common Lilac

15'

12'

upright-leggy

-15F

dark to blue green leaves

varies

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry

14'

10'

rounded

-15F

purple

pinkish white

Butterfly Bush

10'

8'

rounded

-15F

gray green-blue green

varies

Highbush Cranberry *

10'

6'

dense

-15F

dark green

white

Red Twig Dogwood *

9'

10'

broad, round

-15F

medium to dark green

white

American Hazel Nut *

16'

13'

round multi stem

-15F

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.