It's important to keep the flare above ground to help stabilize the tree and allow a proper amount of oxygen and moisture.

There are other options that may meet most of your preferences, including native trees such as cottonwood, basswood, river ...

Auwahi Forest Restoration Project photo Two nearly extinct native plants — a tree that can grow 100 feet tall and a shrub that relies on the i’iwi, or scarlet honeycreeper, for survival ...