Tree species list - notes

General comments for several trees that can be used in tree trenches/tree boxes.
Link to this table

Scientific name1,2,3,4	Common name1,2,3,4	Notes
Acer saccharinum 1,2	Silver maple	Weak branch attachment, tends to have large amount of branch loss
Alnus glutinosa 2	European alder	Considered invasive east of MN
Betula nigra 'Cully' & ' BNMFT' 1,2	Heritage and Dura-Heat river birch	Use standard (single-stem, limbed to 6 foot minimum) only
Carya ovata 2	Shagbark hickory	Slow growing but long-lived tree, to more than 200 years
Cercis canadensis 2	Eastern redbud	Sensitive species, and use in landscape application only
Cladrastis kentukea 2	Yellowood, Kentucky yellowood	Weak branch attachment, tends to have large amount of branch loss. Use standard (single-stem, limbed to 6 feet minimum) only
Fraxinus americana 2	White ash	Emerald ash borer presence has been noted in a large extent of Minnesota, and it is suggested to protect existing established Fraxinus (ash) species, but not to use/specify in new landscape design. Alternate species should be substituted on new plan installation.
Fraxinus Manchurian	manchrian ash	Some resistance to Emerald Ash Borer. Hybrid cultivars Northern Gem and Northern Treasure have no EAB resistance
Fraxinus nigra 1	Black ash	Emerald ash borer presence has been noted in a large extent of Minnesota, and it is suggested to protect existing established Fraxinus (ash) species, but not to use/specify in new landscape design. Alternate species should be substituted on new plan installation.
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 1,2	Green ash	Emerald ash borer presence has been noted in a large extent of Minnesota, and it is suggested to protect existing established Fraxinus (ash) species, but not to use/specify in new landscape design. Alternate species should be substituted on new plan installation.
Gingko biloba 2	Gingko – male only	Use male of the species only - fruit from females has unpleasant odor
Gleditsia tricanthos var. inermis 2	Thornless common honeylocust	Use male of the species only - pods from females are messy
Gymnocladus dioicus 2	Kentucky coffeetree	Use male of the species only - pods from females are messy
Larix laricina 1	Tamarack	Difficult to transplant
Maackia amurensis 2	Amur maackia	Use standard (single-stem, limbed to 6 foot minimum) only
Malus spp. 2	Crabapple spp.	Recommended to use/specify only fireblight- and scab-resistant cultivars
Phellodendron amurense 2	Amur corktree	Use standard (single-stem, limbed to 6 foot minimum) only. Considered invasive south of Minnesota, so use male cultivars only.
Populus grandidentata Michx. 2	Bigtooth aspen	Northern MN only
Populus deltoides 1,2	Eastern cottonwood	Weak branch attachment, tends to have large amount of branch loss
Populus tremuloides 1,1	Quaking aspen	Weak branch attachment, tends to have large amount of branch loss
Quercus macropcarpa 2	Bur oak	Slow growing but long-lived tree, to more than 200 years. Some susceptibility to oak wilt.
Robinia pseudoacacia 2	Black locust, false acacia, robinia	Chicago Blues is a suggested variety. Listed as an invasive terrestrial plant by the MN DNR. Susceptible to borer problems that might make it a poor choice where people could be hit by falling branches and trees. Older specimens can have up to 4 inch trunk thorns.
Salix nigra 1	Black willow	Weak branch attachment, tends to have large amount of branch loss. Landscape application only
Salix babylonica	Weeping or Babylon willow	Weak branch attachment, tends to have large amount of branch loss. Landscape application only
Sorbus americana 3	American mountainash	Sensitive to high summer temperatures in the southern half of the state, for use in northern MN only
Sorbus alnifolia 2	Korean mountainash	Sensitive to high summer temperatures in the southern half of the state, for use in northern MN only
Sorbus x hybrida, Sorbus x thuringiaca 2	Oak-leaf mountainash	Sensitive to high summer temperatures in the southern half of the state, for use in northern MN only

¹ Shaw, D. and R. Schmidt. 2003. Plants for Stormwater Design: Species Selection for the Upper Midwest. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
² Bassuk, N. et al. 2009. Recommended Urban Trees: Site Assessment and Tree Selection for Stress Tolerance. Urban Horticulture Institute, Dept of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
³USDA NRCS Plants Database. www.usda.plants.gov
⁴Dirr, M.. 1998. Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 5th Ed.. Timber Press, Inc. Portland, OR.