Canopy Spread
/KAN-oh-pee SPRED/🌲 Arboriculture● Basic
Also known as: crown spread, crown width, drip line width
The horizontal extent of a tree's crown, measured as the diameter of the circle formed by the outermost branch tips. Canopy spread determines the area of ground shaded by the tree and is a key factor in landscape design, spacing decisions, and urban planning. Spread varies enormously by species — a columnar hornbeam may have a 15-foot spread while a mature live oak can spread 80 feet or more.
Etymology
Latin canopeum (covering) + Old English sprǣdan (to extend)
Example
“Allow for the mature canopy spread of 40 feet when siting this red oak — plant it at least 25 feet from any building.”