18 of the Best Wind-Resistant Trees 

a tree that broke in half, maybe due to severe weather or age

One of the worst things the wind can do to your home during a severe storm is send a tree or limb crashing through the roof. Luckily for homeowners in wind-prone areas, some trees are less likely to fall or snap than others, including these 18 best wind-resistant trees. 

If you’re looking to reduce the risk of damage to your home before the next storm season, start by replacing the fragile trees in your landscape with one of these more durable varieties.

1. American beech (Fagus grandifolia)

The American beech is a hardwood tree with sturdy wood that helps it stand up to severe storm winds. These trees are known for their attractive smooth-textured bark and large, spreading crowns. They produce small, yellowish-green flowers and large quantities of beech nuts, which you may have to clean up from your yard if local wildlife doesn’t get to them first. 

  • Hardiness zones: 4-9
  • Mature size: 50-80 feet tall and 40-80 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Deciduous 
  • Bloom time: March-May 
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade 
  • Soil preferences: Moist sandy, silty, clay, or loam soils 
  • Water needs: Sensitive to drought and may need watering during dry spells 
  • Potential hazards: Poisonous fruit can cause upset stomach if eaten

 2. American holly (Ilex opaca)

American holly grows in a pyramidal shape. It has shiny, dark green leaves that are spiky around the edges. When its bright red berries are present, it somewhat resembles mistletoe. Before the berries show up, the tree produces solitary or clustered flowers in yellow, green, or white.

  • Hardiness zones: 5-9
  • Mature size: 40-60 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Bloom time: April-June 
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade, or full shade 
  • Soil preferences: Tolerates well-draining sandy, loam, or rocky soils 
  • Water needs: Sensitive to drought and may need watering during dry spells 
  • Potential hazards: Poisonous fruit can cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea if eaten

3. American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

American persimmon trees have many benefits besides being wind-resistant. They produce flowers with a lovely fragrance and sweet fruits you can eat raw or use to make syrup, jelly, ice cream, or pie. They also offer a showy fall display with bright yellow, orange, or red leaves. The bark is another distinctive feature with its “alligator skin” pattern and rich gray color. 

For your trees to produce fruit, you need both a male and female tree. You can tell them apart by the flowers. Male flowers are tubular and appear in clusters. Female flowers are solitary and bell-shaped. 

  • Hardiness zones: 4-9
  • Mature size: 30-80 feet tall and 20-35 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Deciduous 
  • Bloom time: May-June
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade 
  • Soil preferences: Does best in moist soil but tolerates dry, nutrient-poor soils as well 
  • Water needs: Water once or twice a week for the best fruit yield
  • Potential hazards: Persimmon seeds can be harmful to pets if eaten 

4. Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)

Bald cypress is a swamp tree, and it occurs naturally on wet sites. In the landscape, it has a pretty traditional trunk shape instead of the bulging roots you might see in the wild. The branches grow in a sparse conical shape, with light green leaves that turn bright red or orange in fall for a showy display. 

  • Hardiness zones: 4-10
  • Mature size: 50-100 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Deciduous 
  • Bloom time: March-April 
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade 
  • Soil preferences: Grows best in moist soils and even tolerates standing water but also tolerates somewhat dry soil  
  • Water needs: Somewhat drought-tolerant 
  • Potential hazards: No hazards 

5. Basswood (Tilia americana)

Basswood is a durable hardwood tree with gray bark and heart-shaped leaves that grow densely. While this tree’s flowers aren’t particularly showy, they’re extremely fragrant and known for attracting lots of honeybees.  

  • Hardiness zones: 3-8 
  • Mature size: 60-80 feet tall and 30-60 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Deciduous 
  • Bloom time: June-July 
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade, or full shade 
  • Soil preferences: Prefers moist, well-draining soil but adapts to most soil conditions 
  • Water needs: Somewhat drought tolerant but may need watering during long dry periods 
  • Potential hazards: No hazards 

6. Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis)

Like many palms, the Canary Island date palm withstands hurricane-force winds because its thick, flexible trunk bends rather than breaks. Unfortunately, this species isn’t very cold-hardy and is only an option in tropical and subtropical climates in the South. Because it grows in such warm places, it produces its hanging clusters of bright orange flowers as early as December. 

  • Hardiness zones: 9-11 
  • Mature size: 50-60 feet tall and 20-50 feet wide
  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Bloom time: December-April
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun
  • Soil preferences: Well-draining sandy or loam soils 
  • Water needs: Drought-tolerant 
  • Potential hazards: No hazards

7. Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis)

Chinese junipers grow in a conical shape with dense foliage from the base to the crown. That foliage is in the form of dark green needles that don’t fall off in winter. There are several varieties, some that grow as shrubs and some that tower up to 60 feet tall as trees. Because they don’t lose their foliage, Chinese junipers make a good year-round privacy hedge or windbreak.

  • Hardiness zones: 4-9
  • Mature size: 50-60 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Bloom time: N/A; No flowers
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun 
  • Soil preferences: Grows best in moist, well-drained soil, but can tolerate most soil conditions
  • Water needs: Drought-tolerant 
  • Potential hazards: Needles and berries are mildly toxic if eaten 

8. Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

There are many different varieties of crape myrtles that come in a range of sizes, with flowers of pink, red, white, or lavender. The flowers bloom in early summer with big, showy clusters that can last into fall. 

Though a crape myrtle might look a little worse for wear after a severe wind storm, it shouldn’t suffer too much damage, thanks to the flexible branches that whip in the wind instead of snapping. Prune crape myrtles regularly to make them more wind-resistant. 

  • Hardiness zones: 7-10 (some varieties can survive in zone 6 but will die back to the root in winter)
  • Mature size: Different varieties can be anywhere from 2-30 feet tall and 2-15 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Deciduous 
  • Bloom time: Early summer – fall
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun
  • Soil preferences: Tolerates diverse soil conditions but needs good drainage
  • Water needs: Needs watering once per week, maybe twice per week in summer if the soil dries out quickly
  • Potential hazards: No hazards 

9. Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)

Dawn redwoods have been around basically since the dawn of time. They can survive many harsh environmental conditions, including strong winds. They have a pyramidal shape, and they grow quickly to towering heights. Only plant one where there’s plenty of room for it to grow. 

  • Hardiness zones: 4-8
  • Mature size: 70-100 feet tall and up to 25 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Deciduous
  • Bloom time: N/A; Inconspicuous flowers 
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun 
  • Soil preferences: Tolerates diverse soil types
  • Water needs: Mildly drought-tolerant 
  • Potential hazards: No hazards

10. Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

The song “O Christmas Tree” is about Douglas firs. These trees are a familiar sight, with branches that grow in a cone shape and needles that stay green year-round. Live Douglas firs can grow much taller than your typical Christmas tree, but their narrow and bottom-heavy shape reduces wind drag (and the likelihood that they’ll be knocked down) even when they’re tall. 

  • Hardiness zones: 4-6
  • Mature size: 40-80 feet tall and 12-20 feet wide
  • Foliage: Evergreen 
  • Bloom time: N/A; Inconspicuous flowers 
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade 
  • Soil preferences: Slightly acidic, moist, and well-drained sandy, loam, or limestone-based soils 
  • Water needs: Needs moist soil, so you would have to water a few times per month in drought
  • Potential hazards: May cause oral irritation if eaten by a pet 

11. Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Don’t let the name “eastern red cedar” fool you. This is not a cedar tree but a juniper that usually grows in a narrow, cone shape but can have other, irregular shapes when tall. The leaves are scaly and look like needles, and they typically turn from green to bronze or brown in winter (although they don’t drop in fall). 

  • Hardiness zones: 2-9 
  • Mature size: 30-40 feet tall and 10-30 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Evergreen 
  • Bloom time: N/A; inconspicuous flowers 
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade 
  • Soil preferences: Tolerates dry or moist sandy, loam, clay, silt, rocky, or limestone-based soils 
  • Water needs: Drought-tolerant 
  • Potential hazards: Mildly toxic if eaten; highly flammable 

12. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

Flowering dogwoods add visual interest to the landscape year-round. They blossom with white, pink, or red flowers in early spring before the leaves appear, so the trees are all flowers. Then, as the weather warms up, the tree develops dark green foliage that changes to vibrant oranges and reds in fall. The bright red berries it produces in fall and winter are great for attracting songbirds.

  • Hardiness zones: 5-9
  • Mature size: 20-40 feet tall and up to 20 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Deciduous 
  • Bloom time: March-June 
  • Sunlight needs: Prefers partial shade but also grows in full sun 
  • Soil preferences: Moist, acidic sandy or loam soils 
  • Water needs: May need to water once per week when there’s no rain 
  • Potential hazards: Berries potentially poisonous to humans and pets; contact with tree may cause skin irritation 

13. ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata ‘Green Giant’)

The “Green Giant” is a low-maintenance tree with high rewards. It grows rapidly up to 60 feet tall in a pyramid shape, with a wide base and a narrow crown. It can thrive in a wide range of soil types and doesn’t require regular pruning. One of its best features is that it rarely has problems with pests or tree diseases.  

  • Hardiness zones: 5-7 
  • Mature size: 30-60 feet tall and 12-20 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Bloom time: N/A; no flowers 
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade 
  • Soil preferences: Adapts to most soil types 
  • Water needs: Likes soil to stay moist but not soggy; does best with about 1 inch of water per week 
  • Potential hazards: Can upset digestive system if eaten by cats and dogs; highly toxic for horses 

14. Norway spruce (Picea abies) 

Norway spruces are renowned as great trees to create a windbreak. They have the same pyramid shape and needle-like foliage as many other conifers, but their spread around the base tends to be wider than others, and their branches droop downward. The Norway spruce is the fastest-growing spruce tree and produces the largest cones. 

  • Hardiness zones: 3-7
  • Mature size: 40-60 feet tall and 25-30 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Bloom time: Inconspicuous flowers, but showy pinkish-purple cones appear in May-June 
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun 
  • Soil preferences: Acidic, moist, and well-drained loam, sand, or clay soils 
  • Water needs: Mildly drought-tolerant 
  • Potential hazards: No hazards 

15. Olive tree (Olea europaea)

If you live in the warmest regions of the South (such as Florida, Southern California, or South Texas), you can plant wind-resistant olive trees as a treat for the eyes and the belly. They have interesting gray bark on thick, gnarled trunks, and they produce tiny white blooms in summer. After the flowers come the fruits, olives that you can harvest and cure. 

  • Hardiness zones: 8-10
  • Mature size: 20-30 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Evergreen 
  • Bloom time: April-July (depending on climate)
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun 
  • Soil preferences: Well-draining sandy, clay, or loam soils that don’t become water-logged; tolerates both slightly acidic and slightly alkaline soils 
  • Water needs: Drought-tolerant  
  • Potential hazards: Non-toxic, but olive pits can be a choking hazard for small children and pets 

16. Sabal palm (Sabal palmetto)

Sabal palm trees can grow quite tall, with a round puffball canopy that can stretch out up to 15 feet wide. These trees are native to the Southeast, where they regularly withstand hurricane-force winds thanks to their bendy trunks. Sabal palms are a little less sensitive to cold than the Canary Island date palm, but they still aren’t an option in places with severe winters. 

  • Hardiness zones: 8-11
  • Mature size: 40-50 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Bloom time: April-June
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun
  • Soil preferences: Moist and well-draining sandy or loam soils
  • Water needs: Drought-tolerant 
  • Potential hazards: Contact with tree may irritate skin

17. Sand live oak (Quercus geminata)

Most live oak trees are sturdy thanks to their thick trunks and extensive roots, and the sand live oak is one of the sturdiest. In addition to severe winds, sand live oaks can tolerate salty soils, which makes them perfect for hurricane-prone areas on the coast. 

  • Hardiness zones: 7-10 
  • Mature size: 20-50 feet tall and 20-50 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Evergreen
  • Bloom time: N/A; inconspicuous flowers 
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade 
  • Soil preferences: Moist, well-draining, and acidic sandy, loam, or clay soils 
  • Water needs: Drought-tolerant 
  • Potential hazards: Fruits and leaves are mildly toxic if eaten 

18. Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Southern magnolias are famous for their 6-inch creamy white blossoms, which are as fragrant as they are showy. To complement the blooms, there are glossy, rich green leaves all over the tree. Magnolia trees sometimes grow in a loose cone shape and sometimes spread out wider, depending on the cultivar and how you prune it. 

  • Hardiness zones: 6-10  
  • Mature size: Different cultivars have different sizes, up to 90 feet tall and 40 feet wide 
  • Foliage: Evergreen 
  • Bloom time: April-June
  • Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade 
  • Soil preferences: Moist, well-draining, and acidic sandy, loam, or clay soils 
  • Water needs: Needs watering once per week for the first two years after planting, then every other week once established 
  • Potential hazards: No hazards 

What makes trees wind-resistant?

“Wind-resistant” trees are those that are least likely to fall down or lose branches in the event of severe winds. Of course, there’s no magical tree that guarantees zero damage, but wind-resistant options have a somewhat lower chance of wrecking your home or landscape during a storm. 

Characteristics of wind-resistant trees

According to the study “Wind and Trees: Lesson Learned From Hurricanes” conducted by the University of Florida, the following traits make some tree species inherently more wind-resistant than others:

  • Strong roots: A deep, extensive root system anchors a tree into the ground and keeps it from being easily uprooted. 
  • Flexible wood: Trunks and branches flexible enough to bend with the wind are less likely to snap and break. 
  • Solid trunk structure: A thick trunk is difficult to break, and one large trunk is sturdier than multiple trunks branching off from each other. 
  • Native status: If you live in an area that regularly sees high wind storms, native trees will be more adapted to windy conditions than non-natives. 
  • Overall health: Healthy trees — meaning those that are pruned regularly and free of pests and diseases — are more likely to survive severe wind. Pests, diseases, and neglect lead to weak wood that breaks more easily. 

How to help trees withstand strong winds

Along with these traits that make trees naturally more wind-resistant, the University of Florida has identified some ways you can plant and maintain your trees to increase their chances of surviving strong winds. 

Planting advice: 

  • Plant in rows wherever possible. A row of trees is more likely to withstand strong winds than a single tree on its own.
  • Vary the types of trees in each row rather than planting several of the same species close together. If all the trees in a row are the same species and one of them suffers from a pest or disease, the pest or disease will spread rapidly. Unhealthy trees are more likely to fall or lose branches because of the wind. 
  • Give each tree plenty of room for its roots to spread out deep and wide. The more extensive the roots, the stronger the tree. Leave about 10 feet between small trees and about 15-20 feet between larger trees. When planting trees in multiple rows, leave 15-25 feet between each row. 

Maintenance advice:

  • Prune trees every few years to remove weaker, older branches that might fall on your home. 
  • Prune trees properly, which means don’t cut only from the top of the tree and don’t cut off too much at once. Clumsy pruning practices can weaken a tree and leave it susceptible to wind damage. 
  • Look out for decay and other tree diseases, which usually come from fungi. Cracks in the trunk, swelling at the base of the tree, dead branches, and mushrooms growing around the base of the tree could all be indicators that fungus has infected it. If you notice these signs, consult a professional arborist to find out if you can treat the problem or if you’re better off having the tree removed before the next storm rolls through. 

Trees to avoid in wind-prone areas 

If you live in a place where hurricanes, tornadoes, or other severe storms are inevitable, beware of planting trees with brittle wood, shallow roots, or multiple trunks. These factors increase the risk of a tree causing damage in strong winds. 

Here are some examples of trees you should avoid for your wind-resistant landscape:

  • African tulip tree
  • Australian pine
  • Avocado trees
  • Bradford pear
  • Carolina laurelcherry
  • Chinese elm
  • Chinese tallow
  • Ficus
  • Floss-silk tree
  • Golden shower
  • Jacaranda
  • Laurel oak
  • Leyland cypress
  • Mahogany
  • Melaleuca
  • Norfolk Island pine
  • Pecan tree
  • Queen palm
  • Sand pine
  • Silk oak
  • Silver trumpet tree
  • Southern red cedar
  • Southern red oak
  • Spruce pine
  • Tulip tree
  • Washington fan palm
  • Water oak
  • Weeping banyan
  • Yellow poinciana

Of course, this list doesn’t include every type of tree you have to watch out for. Always do your research before planting a tree in your yard to find out if it’s prone to breakage. 

What are wind zones?

graphic of wind zones map for the US

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has developed a wind zone map that can help you decide if you should worry about wind-resistant landscaping or not. Basically, the map shows the relative risk of severe windstorms in your area, with zone 1 being the lowest risk and zone 4 being the highest risk. 

The zones are determined by the highest wind speeds that might occur in a given area:

  • Zone 1: Up to 130 mph
  • Zone 2: Up to 160 mph 
  • Zone 3: Up to 200 mph 
  • Zone 4: Up to 250 mph 

The higher the wind speeds, the more likely trees are to fall. Anyone living in zone 2 or higher should consider planting wind-resistant trees to protect their home. 

FAQ about wind-resistant trees 

1. What is a windbreak, and what are the best trees for windbreaks?

A windbreak is a dense row of trees or shrubs planted to block severe winds and protect the home from windblown debris.

The University of Minnesota Extension has an extensive list of the best trees and shrubs for windbreaks, and these are a few of their suggestions:

Chokecherry 
Dogwoods 
Eastern cottonwood 
Eastern red cedar
River birch

2. How can you tell if a tree is in danger of falling?

If a tree is leaning heavily to one side, you can assume it’s going to fall sooner or later — sooner, probably, in the case of severe weather.

But there are less obvious signs that a tree could be in danger of falling, too. Inspect your trees for these signs regularly, especially ahead of storm season:

Dead branches 
Deep marks, cracks, or missing bark on the trunk 
Fungus (such as mushrooms) growing anywhere on the tree 
Raised roots or raised soil around the base of the trunk 
Sawdust around the tree (indicates an infestation of wood-boring insects, such as termites or carpenter ants) 

3. Can pine trees withstand high winds? 

Some pine trees, such as the longleaf pine, have features that help them survive high winds. They have strong wood that resists breakage and a deep taproot that anchors them into the ground. The fact that native pines are extremely common in the Southeast, where hurricanes are frequent, is evidence that they can be wind-resistant. 

However, according to the study referenced earlier from the University of Florida, pines tend to decline in health gradually after severe weather, even if they appear fine right after the storm passes. This slow decline is likely due to internal damage from the thin trunk bending in the wind and from the smaller roots breaking, depriving the tree of essential nutrients. 

4. What does plant hardiness zone mean?

You may have noticed that each wind-resistant tree has designated “hardiness zones.” In case you’re unfamiliar with the concept, these zones are referring to the USDA plant hardiness zone map, which helps homeowners decide if a certain plant can survive in their climate. 

The different zones are based on the lowest typical temperature in an area in winter. There are 13 zones, with 1 being the coldest and 13 being the hottest. It’s best to choose plants suited for your hardiness zone. Plants not suited to your zone will likely die in winter freezes or in the hottest part of summer. 

Why consider wind-resistant trees for your landscape? 

You can never guarantee safety for your home when Mother Nature sends a storm your way, but that shouldn’t stop you from doing all you can to protect your family and property. 

Replacing wind-sensitive trees with more wind-resistant options might be a hassle now, but it could save you a lifetime of roof repairs, smashed windows, and downed power lines if severe winds are a constant where you live. 

While you’re focused on making your landscape more wind-resistant, let Lawn Love’s local lawn care pros handle the rest of your yard chores, from lawn mowing to weed control to cleaning up debris. 

Main Photo Credit: normanack | Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Jordan Ardoin

Jordan Ardoin is a writer and editor with a passion for sustainable, earth-friendly gardening and lawn care practices. When she isn't sharing her knowledge about lawn care and landscaping, you can find her curled up with a good book and a cat in her lap.