Um....how about something yellow and green. 'Ogon' Metasequoia if you are zone five six seven or eight. Perhaps something like Picea orientalis 'Skylands' if you are further north.

How about a weeping willow to open the season....

Who Dat!!!

Oh! I missed my chance for Packer jokes. How about a variegated Acer palmatum like Higasayama which every once in a while changes its mind about being variegated then returns to form.

Lol. Just a joke. I have nothing against the old man and all his human heroics and flaws.

I saw shade tree in the title, the Picea I mentioned will never fit that bill.

Yellow and green, yellow and green.... isn't there a variegated Lirondren (tulip tree)?

I have a variegated weigela that is very close. The leaf edge is actually a soft yellow instead of white.

Also look into acer platanoides "drummondii" I think it is around the same coloration as my weigela and is an actual tree. Beware reversion with any/all variegated plants ;-)

...OMG Lombardy poplar!!! How did we overlook that! lol

Not the greatest tree, but the name fits. Lombardy with a "y" instead of "i" but your guests won't know that when you say it. Triple post, sorry

lots of hosta would fit the theme ...

what about a bay tree.. that is green ... might need to start with a green house though ..

ken

Thank you for all the great ideas. It gives me a lot of options that I never thought of. And by the way, to the jokers, all I have to say is "GO PACK, GO!" to win another Superbowl!

Lol @ Lombardy Poplar.

I am fine with the Pack David. Even rather like them.

Hell, just ask 2/3 of the NFL cities if their teams have ever threatened to move. Here in town we have the Rent-A-Rams. St Louis builds a stadium and they come, fifteen years later here are the talks of the Ram's welfare needs again.

None of that from the locally owned and operated Pack.

Ken, already have Green Gold Hosta and Superbowl Hosta. I just need to put under a Packer themed tree.

The dawn redwood and norway maple are probably good choices as mentioned above.

Where is zone 5 are you?

There are alot of conifers out there that flush yellow and contrast nicely with the older green needles.

there are also a few hosta with cheese in the name...

how about a yellow and green variegated sweetgum?? .. though finding it for sale might be a problem... lol ... and gardening under it another ... surface roots and all ...

i got mine from girards nursery but it is not in their current online catalog ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Forsythia for the spring. Maybe one of those willows w/ the yellow branches too.

Whaas, I am approximately 1/2 way between Peoria, IL and the Mississippi River (Avon, IL). The Norway Maple is one I may try. Surely, judging by your location, you must be a Packer fan.

Toronado3800, I looked up pictures of the variegated tulip tree and am thinking that I will try to get one. The St Louis "Lambs" used to have training camp in Macomb, not to far south of me. I never went to see them there but I think Macomb misses them. I sure hope this lockout ends soon!

Pinus contorta 'Taylor's Sunburst' a sure winner. 1965 Jim Taylor.

Dax

David, I bleed gold in the fall and winter. Good to see a Packer fan in IL.

I know your looking for a shade tree so the Norway maple is a good choice as it gives almost a yellow hue. It does however tend to revert to full. There are two of them right down the road from me. One is quite stunning as its completely variegated. The other one is half green and half variegated, looks quite odd.

If you end up checking out some conifers the conifer forum will offer up some nice choices, one of which is listed above by dax.

I think there is a varigated Tulip Tree out there as well.

Love the 'Taylor's Sunburst' idea.

Chamaecyparis Pisifera 'Aurea Variegata Nana' best green and gold coloration all year round, but its small (like Green Bay).

Quercus palustris 'Lombarts'

tj (Been going to games for 50 years)

P.S. You might also try some Rodgersia.