Visit www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/trees/handbook.htm to access general information about trees.
Taller (2′ to 7′) deciduous trees may be available. Please call the office for availability and price if interested.
If you would like someone to help you design a shelterbelt, call the office at 605-370-3480 to have someone meet with you, or you may stop in at the office at 2408 East Benson Road (corner of I-229 and Benson Road).
Please Note: The deadline for machine tree planting plans is typically in March. This deadline allows time for us to order trees and finalize conservation plans.
MEDIUM TREES:
AMUR MAACKIA
Introduced from Manchuria. Produces attractive legume-type flowers in July. Shiny Copper-colored bark peels with age. Average water needs. Slower grower. Size: 5/32″, 12-20″.
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APRICOT
Introduced from Manchuria and Korea. Pink flowers subject to frost. May produce edible fruit two out of five years. Good fall color. Won’t tolerate waterlogged soil. Size: 5/32″, 12-20″.
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PIN CHERRY
Native in Black Hills. Small fast-growing tree produces attractive white flowers in spring and showy red fruit in summer. Fruit is good bird food. Bark is attractive purple-brown with prominent lenticels. Intolerant of waterlogged soil. Size: 5/32″, 12-20″.
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AMUR CHOKECHERRY
Introduced from Manchuria and Korea. Showy white flowers in spring. Black fruit is relished by songbirds. Attractive copper-colored bark adds winter interest. Very cold hardy. Needs well-drained soil. Size: 5/32″, 12-20″.
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‘MIDWEST’ MANCHURIAN CRABAPPLE
NRCS solection. Introduced from Japan and China. Showy white flowers. Small red fruit (1/4″ to 1/2″) are held on tree until eaten by birds. Excellent wildlife tree. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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RED SPLENDOR CRABAPPLE
Grown from seed of the cultivated ornamental crabapple variety “Red Splendor”. Flowers are white or pink. Leaves range from green to reddish. Fruit is 1/4″ to 1″ in diameter. Excellent wildlife tree. Size 6/32″, 12-20″.
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SIBERIAN CRABAPPLE
Introduced from northern Asia, northern China, and Siberia. White flowers. Red to yellow fruits are 3/8″ to 3/4″ diameter. Attracts wildlife. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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‘DONALD WYMAN’ CRABAPPLE
Donald Wyman is a highly-rated crabapple with disease resistant leaves and a nice rounded shape, growing as wide as it is tall. Summer foliage is glossy, dark green. Has pink buds opening to single 1-1/2″ white flowers. Abundant and showy 3/8″ red fruits contrast well with fall foliage and winter landscapes, and persist longer than other crabs. Grows 20-25 feet tall.
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‘PROFUSION’ CRABAPPLE
A fast growing, upright, small, rounded crab, ‘Profusion’ is noted for its abundance of deep red buds that open to purple-red single flowers with pink centers, then fade to lavender. The foliage emerges purple, then fades to bronze-green. The persistent 1/2″ fruit is maroon-red in color. Good disease resistance. Grows 15′-20′ tall with 30′ spread.
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‘HOMESTEAD’ HAWTHORN
NRCS selection. Vigorous, dense growth. Rounded form. White flowers. Small non-edible red fruit. Attracts wildlife. Produces thorns. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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ROUNDLEAF HAWTHORN
Native. NRCS germplasm. Originally selected in Butte, Day, Hamlin, Harding, and Marshall counties in South Dakota. Extremely drought tolerant and adaptable. White flowers. Small non-edible red fruit. Attracts wildlife. May produce thorns. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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AMUR MAPLE
Introduced from Asia. Three lobed leaves. Usually forms several trunks. Excellent fall color. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Intolerant of high soil pH. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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MULBERRY
Medium tree. Introduced from Asia. Fairly fast growing. Fruit is white, pinkish, purple, or black. Edible fruit attracts birds. Drought tolerant. May suffer winter dieback. Plant in southeast or south central South Dakota. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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RUSSIAN OLIVE
Introduced from southern Europe and western and central Asia. Attractive whitish leaves. Fragrant yellow flowers. Fruit attracts birds. Very tough and drought tolerant. Tolerates high pH soil. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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HARBIN ‘McDERMAND’ PEAR
NRCS selection. Introduced from northeastern Asia. Attractive white flowers. Non-edible round fruit. Excellent fall color. Intolerant of heavy, poorly drained soil. Similar to Harbin Pear. Size: 6/32″, 10-20″.
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LAUREL WILLOW
Introduced from Europe. Beautiful glossy green leaves. Tolerates moist soils. Not drought tolerant. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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LARGE TREES:
GREEN ASH
Native and fast growing. Yellow fall color. May produce heavy seed crop. High pH and drought tolerant. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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MANCHURIAN ASH
Introduced from northeastern Asia. Tolerant to Emerald Ash Borer. Slower growing than green ash. Yellow fall color. Size: #400 potted are 6″ – 14″.
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QUAKING ASPEN
Native in the Black Hills and northeast South Dakota. Attractive white to light green bark. Leaves flutter in slightest breeze. Prefers moist well-drained soil. Suckers to form loose colony. Excellent clear yellow fall color. Size: 6/32″, 10-20″.
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BOXELDER
Native. Flood plain tree which also grows well in moist upland soil. Grows tall and straight when crowded, and short and knotty when grown in open. Intolerant of 2, 4-D spray drift. Excellent riparian plant. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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OHIO BUCKEYE
Native to eastern United States. Mistakenly called Horsechestnut. Attractive greenish-yellow flowers produce inedible shiny red-brown nuts in spiny tan husks. Squirrel food. Grows best on moist, well-drained soil. Leaf scorch common on dry sties. Size: 6/32″, 6-12″.
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NORTHERN CATALPA
Native in Midwest and southeastern United States. Produces huge leaves. Beautiful white flowers with yellow and purple markings are followed by long cigar-shaped seed capsules. Prefers moist, well-drained soil but adapts to dry and alkaline conditions. Wood is rot resistant. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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BLACK CHERRY
Native in forests in eastern United States. Fast growing tree produces attractive white flowers and dark fruit. Fruit makes syrup and drinks. Attracts songbirds. Valuable wood. Size: 5/32″, 12-20″.
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HYBRID MALE COTTONWOOD
Fast growing. Cottonless. Tested and adapted to our climate. Needs moist, well-drained soil for best growth. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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NATIVE COTTONWOOD
Native. Fast growing. Female trees produce cotton. Grows well near lakes, sloughs, rivers. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Excellent riparian plant. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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NATIVE ‘MANDAN’ COTTONWOOD
Native. A seedless native male cottonwood selected in central North Dakota for fast growth, disease resistance, and longevity. Produces red-purple male flowers in early spring, but no cottony seed. Grows along lakes, sloughs, rivers. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Great riparian plant.
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NORTHWEST COTTONWOOD
Native. Selected in North Dakota. Natural hybrid of native cottonwood and balsam poplar. Better drought tolerance than other cottonwoods. Slower growing than other cottonwoods, but longer lived. May sucker. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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JAPANESE ELM
Introduced from Japan and northeastern Asia. Reported to be highly resistant to Dutch Elm disease. Size, form, and features midway between American and Siberian Elm. Prefers moist, well-drained soils. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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NEW HORIZON ELM
Zone 4. Forty feet tall and 25 feet wide. A hybrid of Japanese and Siberian Elms tested and released by the University of Wisconsin. Upright oval growth habit or maybe slightly arching, dense and compact, dark green large leaves, gray bark. Resistant to Dutch Elm Disease (DED).
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PRAIRIE EXPEDITION ELM
Native. Zone 2b. Fifty feet tall and forty feet wide. Selected southwest of Fargo, North Dakota, and released by NDSU. Features sought after umbrella-like form. Tolerant of light, temporary flooding, and also drought. pH adaptable. Fast grower. Resistant to DED.
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PRINCETON ELM
Native. Zone 3. Seventy feet tall and sixty feet wide. A selection of American Elm with large, leathery dark green leaves which turn yellow in the fall. Vase-shaped form. pH adaptable and tolerant of compacted, heavy clay soils. Easy to transplant, drought tolerant, and grows quickly. Excellent resistance to DED.
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SIBERIAN ELM
Introduced from Asia. Fast growing. Susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease and herbicide damage. Incorrectly called “Chinese” Elm. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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TRIUMPH ELM
Zone 4. Fifty feet tall and forty feet wide. From a controlled cross made at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois of ‘Vanguard’ Elm and ‘Accolade’ Elm. Includes Japanese Elm (Ulmus japonica), Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila), andUlmis wilsoniana in its pedigree. Refined oval habit, medium texture, dark green leaves. Branches begin to arch as the tree matures. Resistant to DED.
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HACKBERRY
Native. Extremely drought tolerant and adaptable. Very long-lived. Excellent shade tree. Produces purplish brown fruit which are eaten by birds. Similar to American Elm in appearance. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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‘OAHE’ HACKBERRY
Native. NRCS selection from trees growing on a farm in Gettysburg, South Dakota, which were derived from native hackberry growing along the Missouri River. Selected for high survival and upright growth habit. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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‘PRAIRIE HARVEST’ HACKBERRY
Native. NRCS selection from a natural stand of hackberry growing in northwestern Minnesota. May be more winter hardy in the northern parts of North Dakota and Minnesota than ‘Oahe” hackberry. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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HONEYLOCUST
Native in far southeast South Dakota. Tough and adaptable. May produce long brown seed pods. Fine lacey leaves. May produce thorns. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE
Native in far southeast South Dakota. Produces flattend pod containing hard round seeds. Coarse branches add winter interest. Prefers moist, well-drained soil but will tolerate drier alkaline sites. Size: 6/32″, 10-20″.
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AMERICAN LINDEN (BASSWOOD)
Native to eastern South Dakota. Attractive fragrant white flowers in June. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Adapts to wide range of soil moisture and pH conditions. Honey derived from flowers is excellent. Size: 6/32″, 10-20″.
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AMERICAN ‘REDMOND’ LINDEN
A great tree for street or lawns! Tight, pyramidal, upright form. Enormous, glossy green, heart-shaped leaves with bright yellow fall color. Clusters of small, very fragrant flowers in summer produce rounded fruits. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Grows 40-60′ tall with 25-30′ spread.
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AMERICAN SENTRY LINDEN
A hardy cultivar selected in Wisconsin which is pyramidal and symmetrical in shape. Produces very fragrant cream-colored flowers in early summer. Medium green foliage. Uniform branching habit and narrow upright form makes it perfect along streets and in smaller yards. Silvery gray bark when young. Yellow fall color growing 45′ tall with a 30′ spread.
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HYBRID ‘HARVEST GOLD’ LINDEN
‘Harvest Gold’ Linden is an upright, oval hybrid which was developed in Manitoba, Canada. It is an open-pollinated seedling from Manchurian and Mongolian Linden. Lovely exfoliating bark and glossy foliage changes to bright gold in the fall. Works well as a street tree and is resistant to sun scald and leaf spot. Grows 30-40′ tall and 25-30′ wide.
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LITTLE LEAF LINDEN
Introduced from Europe. Pyramidal growth habit. Attractive fragrant white flowers in June. Prefers moist well-drained soil. pH adaptable. Honey derived from flowers is excellent. Size 6/32″, 12-20″.
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LITTLE LEAF ‘GREENSPIRE’ LINDEN
An upright oval-shaped tree with an extremely straight trunk and central leader. Bark is cinnamon colored, with rich, leathery, dark green foliage which turns yellow in fall. Has small, fragrant, pale yellow flowers in mid-summer. Greenspire is a fast growing, widely-used street tree. Does well in difficult conditions. Grows 40-50′ with 15-25′ spread.
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AUTUMN BLAZE MAPLE
Autumn Blaze is a fast growing hybrid of silver maple and red maple. Excellent red fall color fairly late in autumn. Grows 50-60′ tall with a 40′ spread with dense oval head. Ascending branch habit. Fairly drought tolerant and will grow in most soil types. Probably the most planted shade tree in our region. Selected in Ohio in the late 1960’s. May experience frost crack in our climate.
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FREEMAN MAPLE
Native in eastern United States. Naturally occurring hybrid of Silver and Red Maples. Good fall color. Appearance similar to Silver Maple. Prefers moist, slightly acidic soil. Fast growing. Size: 6/32″, 10-20″.
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‘SIENNA GLEN’ MAPLE
A fast growing, hardy maple with uniform branching and pyramidal form. Dark green leaves and yellow-orange to orange-red fall color. Tolerant of alkaline, acidic, and wet soil conditions. Superior to Autumn Blaze Maple in withstanding strong winds and winter hardiness.
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SILVER MAPLE
Native in southeast South Dakota. Prefers moist soil. Fast growing. Brittle wood. Can have good yellow fall color. Can produce heavy crops of “helicopter” type seeds in early summer. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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KOREAN MOUNTAIN ASH
Introduced from northeastern Asia. White spring flowers, red or orange fruit. Bird food. Leaves simple, not pinnate like other Mountain Ash. Less susceptible to borers than other Mountain Ash. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Size: 5/32″, 12-20″.
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BUR OAK
Native. Extremely tough, drought tolerant tree. Long-lived. Acorns provide wildlife food. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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WHITE POPLAR
Introduced from Europe and Asia. Young branches are attractive greenish-gray. Leaves and twigs have white felt-like covering. Prefers moist soil but tolerates drought, high soil pH, and salinity. May sucker to form a thicket. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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BLACK WALNUT
Native in southeast South Dakota. Valuable lumber tree. Edible nuts. Attracts wildlife. Grows best in deep, moist soils. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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GOLDEN WILLOW
Introduced from Europe and Asia. Fast growing. Tolerates wet sites. Not drought tolerant. Attractive golden-orange bark adds winter interest. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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WHITE WILLOW
Introduced from southern Europe and Asia. Very large, fast growing tree. Prefers moist soil. Excellent riparian plant. Not drought tolerant. Size: 6/32″, 12-20″.
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CONIFERS:
EASTERN RED CEDAR
Medium tree. Conifer. Native. Very drought tolerant. Has reddish brown to purple winter coloration. Produces inedible blue fruit. Excellent wildlife plant. Size: 5/32″, 2-0 are 10-26″ and 16″ average, tarpaper are 8-18″ and 12″ average, #400 are 16-28″ and 26″ average, Styro #20 are 8-24″.
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN JUNIPER
Medium tree. Conifer. Native. Very drought and alkaline tolerant. Needles may have bluish tint. Produces inedible blue fruit. Excellent wildlife plant. Size: 5/32″, 2-0 are 10-22″ and 16″ average, tarpaper are 8-18″ and 12″ average, #400 are 16-26″ and 20″ average, Styro #20 are 9-18″.
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SIBERIAN LARCH
Large tree. Deciduous conifer. Introduced from Siberian, eastern Russia, and northern China. Grows best on moist, well-drained soil. Fair tolerance to drought. Low shade tolerance Size: Styro #10 are 5-18″.
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AUSTRIAN PINE
Large tree. Conifer. Introduced from Europe and Asia. Slower growing than other pines. Stiff needles. Size: 6/32″, 3-0 are 6-19″ and 14″ average, tarpaper are 8-14″ and 10″ average; #400 are 12-20″ and 16″ average, Styro #20 are 6-15″.
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PONDEROSA PINE
Large tree. Conifer. Native. Fast growing once established. Good wildlife plant. Drought tolerant. Intolerant of wet soils. Size: 6/32″, 3-0 are 6-18″ and 14″ average, tarpaper are 8-12″ and 10″ average, #400 are 16-26″ and 18″ average, Styro #20 are 8-15″.
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SCOTCH PINE
Large tree. Conifer. Introduced from Europe and Asia. Attractive peeling orange bark on older trees. Drought tolerant. Popular Christmas tree. Fast growing. Needles may temporarily turn yellow in winter. Sizes: 2-0 are 6-10″ and 8″ average, 3-0 are 6-18″ and 16″ average, tarpaper are 8-14″ and 13″ average, #400 are 12-20″ and 13″ average, Styro #20 are 18-24″.
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BLACK HILLS SPRUCE
Large tree. Conifer. Native. A geographical strain of white spruce. State tree of South Dakota. Very ornamental. Dense growth habit. Drought and alkaline tolerant. Cones attract songbirds in winter. Size: 6/32″, 2-2 are 6-20″ and 12″ average, tarpaper are 9-16″ and 11″ average, #400 are 12-28″ and 16″ average, Styro #20 are 9-18″.
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COLORADO SPRUCE
Large tree. Conifer. Native in Rocky Mountain states. Needles blue or green. Very ornamental. Size: 6/32″, 2-2 are 6-22″ and 14″ average, tarpaper are 9-18″ and 14″ average, #400 are 12-20″ and 16″ average, Styro #20 are 12-18″.
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MEYER SPRUCE
Introduced from northern China and Inner Mongolia (a grassland region of P.R. of China). Size and coloration similar to Colorado Spruce. More drought tolerant than Colorado Spruce. Appears to have less insect / disease trouble than Colorado Spruce. Slower grower in early years, but once established, growth rate is similar to Colorado Spruce. Size: Tarpaper are 6-8″ and 8″ average, Styro #20 are 16-18″ and 17″ average.
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NORWAY SPRUCE
Large tree. Conifer. Native to Europe. Green needles. Large cones. Ascending branches with drooping branchlets. Size: 6/32″, 3-0 are 6-20″ and 12″ average, 4-0 are 6-24″ and 16″ average, tarpaper are 16-18″ and 17″ average, #400 are 16-32″ and 19″ average.
