Shade Trees
This list is designed to highlight alternatives to ash trees. Emerald ash borer appears to be on the verge of spreading through Minnesota. No one knows the timeline of its arrival in Moorhead, but the general consensus is to stop planting ash trees.
Lindens
Maple
Elm
Hackberry
- Lindens
- Maple
- Elm
- Hackberry
- Honeylocust
- Amur Corktree
- Buckeye
- Kentucky Coffeetree
- Mountain Ash
- Ironwood
- Black Walnut
- Bur Oak
- Prairie Horizon Alder
Lindens
- A native tree species
- Tend to perform well without major disease or insect problems
- Should not be planted too deeply
- Drop fruit bracts in summer, can be messy
- All would be allowed for boulevard use
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Boulevard Linden | Tilia americana 'Boulevard' | |
Redmond Linden | Tilia americana 'Redmond' | |
Frontyard Linden | Tilia americana 'Bailyard' | |
Greenspire Linden | Tilia cordata 'Greenspire' | |
Norlin Linden | Tilia x 'Ronald' | |
Shamrock Linden | Tilia x 'Baileyi' | |
Harvest Gold Linden | Tilia mongolica 'Harvest Gold' | |
Northern Debut Littleleaf Linden | Tilia cordata 'Steele' | NDSU introduction |
Maple
- A popular tree that tends not to do well in alkaline soils
- Many varieties are not recommended for boulevard planting
- Some varieties have potential chlorosis problems (yellowing leaves)
- Tend to be over planted, which can lead to problems during insect or disease outbreaks
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Emerald Lustre Norway Maple | Acer platanoides Pond' | High success rate on boulevards |
Green Mountain Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum 'Green Mountain' | |
Black Maple | Acer saccarum ssp. nigrum | Subspecies of Sugar Maple |
Northern Flare Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum 'Sisseton' | |
State Street Miyabe Maple |
Acer miyabei 'Morton' |
Excellent heat and drought tolerance, as well as tolerance of alkaline soils |
Elm
- American Elm has been decimated by Dutch Elm Disease (DED) for decades
- All varieties are DED resistant
- Fast growing and adaptable to tough sites
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Discovery Elm | Ulmus davidiana var. japonica 'Discovery | |
Cathedral Elm | Ulmus x'Cathedral' | |
New Horizon Elm | Ulmus x 'New Horizon' | |
Vanguard Elm | Ulmus x 'Morton Plainsman' | |
Prairie Expedition Elm | Ulmus americana'Lewis & Clark | DED resistant NDSU introduction Difficult to find in nurseries |
Washington Elm | Ulmus americana 'Washington' | |
Discovery Elm | Ulmus davidiana var. japonica 'Discovery' | |
St. Croix Elm |
Ulmus Americana 'St. Croix' |
Hackberry
- Resembles elm in shape when mature
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Common Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | Height 50-75ft and spread 50ft |
- Unique leaf structure gives dappled shade
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Northern Acclaim Honeylocust | triacanthos var. inermis | Harve' Seedless and thorn-less NDSU introduction |
Prairie Silk Honeylocust | Gleditsia triacanthos var | 'Dursan' Originated in Manitoba, Canada |
- Seems to be winter hardy and slow growing
- No serious insect or disease problems
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
His Majesty Corktree | Phellodendron schalinense | His majesty' University of MN introduction |
Amur Corktree | Phellodendron amurense |
- Hardy tree for the area
- Ohio Buckeye is prone to leaf scorch
- Produces a nut that attracts wildlife
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Prairie Torch Hybrid Buckeye | Aesculus x 'Bergeson' |
Height is smaller than species NDSU introduction |
Autumn Splendor Buckeye | Aesculus x arnoldiana | Autumn Splendor' University of MN introduction |
Homestead Buckeye | Aesculus x 'Homestead?Homestead | Red fall color SDSU introduction |
- Drought resistant, tolerant of pollution and adaptable to a variety of soils
- Slow to moderate growth rate
- Forms a uniform picturesque crown at maturity
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Kentucky Coffeetree | Gymnocladus dioica | |
Stately Manor Kentucky Coffeetree | Gymnocladus dioica | 'Stately manor' University of MN introduction |
Espresso Kentucky Coffeetree |
Gymnocladus dioica |
Seedless selection |
- Not a true ash, so it is not a host to the emerald ash borer.
- Tend to be small to medium height trees
- Not recommended due to problems with iron chlorosis and fire blight
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
European Mountain Ash | Sorbus aucuparia | |
Oakleaf Mountain Ash | Sorbus x hybridia | |
Russian Mountain Ash | Sorbus aucuparia 'Rossiea' |
- Smaller, native species
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Ironwood | Ostrya virginiana | Height 30 feet, spread 25 feet |
Black Walnut
- A large oval to rounded, somewhat open-crowned tree
- Used extensively by over 20 species of wildlife for food and cover
- Produce walnuts
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Black Walnut |
Juglins nigra |
Bur Oak
- Native
- Produces acorns
- Excellent tree for wildlife food and cover
- Slow to moderate growth rate
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Bur Oak |
Quarcus macrocarpa |
Prairie Horizon Alder
- Somewhat drought tolerant
- 30-45' tall
- Medium to fast growth
- NDSU selection
Common Name | Scientific Name | Comments |
---|---|---|
Prairie Horizon Alder |
Alnus hirsuta "Harbin" |