Tree Species - Notes for tree trenches/tree boxes
| 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. 2024. 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 Plants Database 4Dirr, M.. 1998. Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 5th Ed.. Timber Press, Inc. Portland, OR. |
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