Selecting Trees for Transmission Rights of Way
For public safety, as well as the reliability of the power lines, trees and shrubs that exceed 15 feet in height are not to be planted on transmission rights of way.
When maintained properly, plants in the following list generally do not exceed 15 feet in height in Duke Energy’s service area in the Carolinas. However, if over time the plants exceed the 15-foot limit, they will be subject to removal.
Keep in mind that this list is not all-inclusive and that other species may grow appropriately. Note that the height of different cultivars for a given species may vary.
| Botanical Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Aesculus parvifolia | Bottlebrush Buckeye |
| Amelanchier canadensis | Serviceberry |
| Ternstroemai (Cleyara) japonica | Japanese Cleyera |
| Camellia sasanqua | Sasanqua |
| Corylopsis glabescens | Fragrant Winterhazel |
| Corylus americana | American Filbert |
| Cotinus coggygria | Common Smoketree |
| Elaeagnus pungens | Thorny Elaeagnus |
| Elaeagnus angustifolia | Russian Tea-Olive |
| Exochorda racemosa | Pearlbush |
| Hamamelis mollis | Chinese Witchhazel |
| Hamamelis vernalis | Vernal Witchhazel |
| Hibiscus syriacus | Rose-of-Sharon |
| Hydrangea quercifolia | Oak-leafed Hydrangea |
| Ilex cornuta burfordi nana | Dwarf Burford Holly |
| Ilex crenata | Japanese Holly |
| Ilex verticillata | Winterberry |
| Juniperus chinensis ‘Hetzi’ | Hetzi Juniper |
| Kolkwitzia amabilis | Beautybush |
| Lagerstroemia india (cultivars under 15-ft) | Crepe Myrtle |
| Loropetallum chinense | Loropetallum |
| Prunus ‘Holly Jolivette’ | Holly Jolivette Flowering Cherry |
| Punica granatum | Pomegranate |
| Syringa vulgaris | Common Lilac |
| Viburnum burkwoodi | Burkwood Viburnum |
| Viburnum dilatatum | Linden Viburnum |
| Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum | Doublefile Viburnum |
| Viburnum prunifolium | Blackhaw Viburnum |
| Viburnum rhytidophylloides | Lantanaphyllum Viburnum |
| Viburnum rhytidophyllum | Leatherleaf Viburnum |
| Viburnum sargenti | Sargent’s Viburnum |
| Viburnum tinus | Lauristinus Viburnum |
| Vitex negundo | Chasetree |
| Crepe Myrtle Cultivars That Generally Do Not Exceed 15-Feet Height | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Acoma | Apalachee | Caddo | Comanche |
| Hopi | Lipan | Osage | Pecos |
| Sioux | Tonto | Yuma | Zuni |
