**American Plum (Wild Plum)-**A tall shrub which is thorny, winter
hardy, and thicket-forming. American Plum has rapid growth rate with
dark green leaves and white flowers in spring. Fragrant, large plums
ripen in September that are edible, and used to make preserves and
jellies. Mature height 8 to 10 feet tall. Needs sun (will tolerate
partial shade). It will tolerate drought conditions and is an excellent
wildlife value for upland birds (including game birds) and mammals.

**Black Chokeberry-**Black Chokeberry is a member of the rose family
which can be 3-6 feet tall. Black Chokeberry is a cold-hardy, deciduous
shrub, which is native to Minnesota. The fine toothed leaves are medium
green and hairless with raised glands along the top of the midrib. In
the spring, the whit bisexual flowers form clusters that are 2-2 ½
inches across, in mid to late summer the fruit ripens. The fruit is
purplish-black in color and quite juicy. Its dark purple fruit can be
canned whole or juice can be used in jellies and fruit juices. The Black
Chokeberry grows well in full sun but is moderately tolerant of shade.
The best is low moist silty or loamy textures but well drained sites
with full sun. It is not drought tolerant. New shoots will grow up
around established plants filling in the spaces between plants.

**Black Walnut-**This tree is on to the most sought after of the native
hardwoods, also known as American Walnut. These trees grow in small
natural groves and are frequently found in mixed forest. They thrive
well in moist soils. The trees have been heavily logged for its fine
straight grained wood. The nuts have been used for food and medicine for
a long time. The nuts are generally harvested after the first frost.
Care has to be taken while rubbing off the hull because the residues can
stain.

**Bur Oak**-Bur Oak is a large long-lived tree on good sites, with stout
limbs forming a broad crown at maturity. Scrubby forms can be found on
very dry sites. This tree is difficult to transplant because of a deep
taproot. Bur Oak is also called Mossy cup Oak. Once they are
established, trees grow one to two feet per year on favorable sites.
Dark green and lustrous leaves above, with grayish to whitish-green
below, yellow to tannish-brown in fall. The overall height can be 40-70
feet tall. Grows best in fertile loam, but will do well in a wide
variety of soils. Drought tolerant, but prefers moist well-drained
soils. Full sun preferred, but is moderately shade tolerant. Slow
growing particularly if under stress. This tree is an excellent tree for
wildlife food and cover.

**Chokecherry**-Chokecherry is a tall suckering hardy shrub with
creamy-white flowers which will produce clusters of fruit. Fruit is
reddish-black with an inner seed commonly used for jelly and wine. Fruit
and twigs are eaten and browsed by many birds and mammals. Mature height
15-20'. Prefers moderately well to well drained soils with ample
moisture and will grow in sun or full shade.

**Common Lilac**-A medium to large hardy shrub with stout, spreads
branches developing a somewhat oval to irregularly rounded crown. Common
Lilac spreads by suckering. They have showy perfect fragrant flowers,
borne in large terminal panicles, singles and doubles. Flowers are
purple or white in color. They will get from 8-12 feet tall and adapts
to a wide variety of soils. Drought tolerant, does not withstand
ponding. Likes full sun.

**Elderberry-**Elderberry is a member of the honeysuckle family. This
shrub grows up to thirteen feet high, with smooth gray bark. Corky bumps
cover the slender branches and there's a spongy, white pith inside the
twigs and branches. The opposite, feather-compound leaves may be over 3
feet long. The leaf is divided into 5-11 opposite, coarsely toothed,
pointed, short-stalked elliptical leaflets, each 3-4 inches long. In
late spring or early summer, the elder bear's tiny, branched, white,
lacy flowers in flat topped to slightly rounded clusters that spread
over six inches across. The tiny juicy purple-black seeded berries are
hardly 1/8 inch across. They grow in clusters and ripen from mid summer
to early fall in quantities that weigh down the branches. The common
elderberry grows in large, dense stands in moist places; along marshes,
along river banks, along roadsides and in moist woods.

**False Indigo-**False Indigo grows well in moist soils, subject to
periodic die-back and re-growth which may be accentuated by drought.
They adapt to a variety of soils but prefers above average moisture
conditions. Ideally False Indigo likes full sun to light shade.
Bluish-purple flowers with curved pods that ripen in August. The fruit
is light green becoming dark brown. This shrub can get to be 8-12' tall,
and is used in conservation plantings along stream banks for erosion
control.

**Gray Dogwood-**An excellent shrub for sun to shade. Gray Dogwood is a
native shrub found throughout much of the upper Midwest. It develops a
dense, suckering form. It has attractive 2-3 inch clusters of creamy
white flowers in late spring. The mature fruit are white and are borne
on red pedicels. The pedicels remain and provide some late summer color
after the birds have eaten the fruit. Fall coloration is deep maroon.
This shrub can get to be 6-10 feet tall. Tolerant to wet, dry or low
fertility

**Green Ash-** Is a hardy, native, easily established, drought and
alkali resistant medium to large tree. Dioecious, unisexual flowers are
produced in clusters that are greenish yellow in color. Height is from
35 to 65 feet. It adapts to a wide variety of soil textures and needs
full sun. Green Ash can withstand flooding for short periods of time,
moderately high drought tolerance. They may need pruning to improve its
form.

**Hackberry-**A good replacement tree for the American Elm because of
its similar form and adaptability. Hackberry has a gray, unique
stucco-like bark with leaves that are bright-green above, paler below;
yellow fall color. Veins of leaves are sunken. Has a rounded pitted
fruit called drupe, which is dark purple in color. It performs well on a
variety of soils. Moderately drought tolerant but does best on moist,
well-drained sites. Hackberry may compensate for drought conditions by
dropping a portion of the leaves when under stress. Fruit is eaten by
many birds and mammals. Is an excellent tree for wildlife. It performs
well in relatively dry and windy areas.

**Hazelnut-**This hardy shrub makes a great hedge or property boarder
that can be spaced at 5 feet apart for a beautiful row that will produce
loads of nuts that ripen in late August and drop in September. You need
to plant more than one for cross pollination. A mature tree will get to
be 8-12 feet tall. Leaves produce a vibrant color in the fall.

**High-Bush Cranberry**-High Bush Cranberry has dark green leaves
turning bright red in fall. White flowers in large flat-topped clusters
that bloom in June. Fruit is 1/2" in diameter, in pendant clusters: each
berry contains a single large flattened seed. Bright red when ripe in
early September, persist through winter if not taken by birds. Berry is
tart, juicy and edible. Used for preserves and jellies. They have
moderate and growth of up to 16 feet tall. Not particular but prefers
cool conditions on moist well-drained soils.

**Hybrid Poplar**-The Hybrid Poplar grows very fast. Grow to heights of
40 to 70 feet. Widely adaptable to soils and moisture that could grow
six feet per year with normal conditions. High water table required on
coarse-textured soils or will require supplemental water until tree is
established. Hybrid Poplars require full sun. The normal life on the
Hybrid Poplar is 30-50 years.

**Juneberry (Serviceberries)-**A hardy suckering shrub native to prairie
hillsides and woody draws. Juneberries has white flowers and blue-black
fruit that mature in July. A variety of songbirds, game birds, and
mammals eat the fruit. Rabbits, deer, and moose browse on the twigs.
Needs well-drained soil and full sun but will tolerate full sun or
moderate shade. Mature height of 6 to 15 feet tall.

**Mountain Ash-**Mountain Ash is actually not an Ash but a member of the
Rose Family. The native Mountain Ashes are beautiful, but most species
tend to be shrubby in nature. This small or medium tree (up to 50 feet
tall) has a light grayish bark and an oval, open head at maturity. It
produces cluster of white flowers in the spring followed by bright
long-lasting, orange-red berries in the fall that attract birds. The
deciduous leaves are toothed and pinnately compound. They are dark, dull
green in summer and yellow to reddish in the fall. Grow in full sun in
rich, well drained, acid soils. It is short lived under alkaline
conditions. Mountain Ashes are highly susceptible to bores and fire
blight, among other pests.

**Nanking Cherry**-Nanking cherry is a winter hardy tree that is
moderately fast-growing. It is a short-lived shrub with broad spreading,
densely twiggy shrub that becomes more open and picturesque with age. It
is also called Manchu cherry. Edible fruits are dark red and excellent
for pies and jellies. Fruit is relished by many songbirds. Tolerates
considerable wind and dryness and likes full sun only. Mature height is
6 to 10 feet tall.

**Norway Poplar**-Norway Poplar has a very rapid growth rate with a
maturity height of 70 feet. It is a large, vigorous hybrid with arrow
crown, pyramidal form. It is a useful tree for shade, provides quick
tree cover in windbreaks and shelterbelts. Norway Poplar like clay loams
to sandy loams and likes full sun. They will not tolerate drought on
upland sights. Young trees are used for food by deer, rabbits, mice and
beaver.

**Paper Birch-** Native medium to tall tree from 30-55 feet tall with
smooth bark, marked with horizontal lenticels in reddish-brown then
turning papery white with age. Paper Birch does best on loamy or sandy
soils along rivers, lakes or ravines. Paper Birch does best on well
drained, cool and moist sites. They do not tolerate drought, compacted
soils and high temperatures. Likes full sun.

**Pin Cherry-** Pin cherry is a small deciduous tree that gets up to 30
feet tall. Pin cherry likes moist soils, open forests and clearings. It
is a common growth tree after fires or other disturbances. Pine cherry
is a fast growing but short lived tree that reproduces by seed and
vegetatively by suckers.

**Prairie Red Plum-**Prairie Red Plum is a new variety hybrid of a large
fruited plum. It is a medium to tall shrub that gets to be up to 15'
tall. It has white flowers that bloom in mid May and fruit ripens by
late summer. The fruit may be as large as 1 1/2" across. Prairie Red is
a winter hardy thorny, medium to tall sized shrub that can reach heights
in excess of 15 feet tall. Fruit may vary in size depending on moisture
availability. This shrub performs best on soils with silt-loam textures.
Do not plant in wet or flooded areas but moister sites produce larger
fruit. The fruit is edible and suitable for jellies and wines.

**Red Maple**- A moderate to rapid growth with a maturity age of 70 to
80 years. The average height is 50 to 70 feet. Prefers slightly acid
sandy loams, will grow in coarse sands to fine clays, common in swampy
areas. Likes well-drained moist soils but can tolerate poorly drained
soils. Red Maple needs full sun by intolerant of hot dry site
conditions. Leaves are usually three-lobes. Fall color is usually red
but can also be yellow or orange.

**Red Oak**-Red Oak has rapid growth with a maturity rate of 200-300
years. The trees height is about 60-80 plus feet. Leaves are simple;
lobed that turns brown to dark red in the fall. Acorns are round to
oblong, pale brown in color that ripens in fall of second year. It
prefers deep, rich, moist, fine to medium textured soils on north to
east slopes, and in valleys and ravines. Red Oak prefers well-drained
moist soils. Red Oak should not be pruned April through July.

**Red Splendor Crab**-Are valued for their foliage, flowers, fruit and
variation in form and size.

Height of 15 to 25 feet tall, adapts to a variety of soils, prefers a
heavy loam soil. It prefers well-drained moist soils and is moderately
drought tolerant. Tree blooms dark pink, and seedlings will range from
white to a dark maroon color. The leaf color will range from a light
green to a deep maroon/green. Fruit will range from pea-size to one
inch, and on some trees, there will be no fruit at all. Trees will be
very showy in the spring. Trees retain its fruit all winter. It provides
fair cover and high quality fruit and browse for many birds and mammals.

**Redosier Dogwood**-White flowers in July followed by white berries
which provide excellent food source for songbirds and wildlife. Mature
height is 10'. Stems are bright red during winter. Grows well in full
sun or partial shade; prefers moist soil but does not like hot, droughty
conditions.

**Sandbar Willow**-A thicket forming shrub or small tree which may reach
10 to 15 feet in height, it is native to the United States over a wide
area. The leaves are alternate, simple, long, and lanceolate, they are
yellow-brown in color. Stems are smooth and yellow-brown on smaller
trees, dark brown and with fissures on older trees.

**Silver Maple**- Silver Maple is large tree with spreading branches
forming a variably rounded to informally spreading crown. A fast growing
tree subject to iron and manganese chlorosis on high pH soils which may
cause dieback or eventual death. This tree is often called soft maple
because the wood is the softest of the maples used for lumber. It has
simple leaves, five-lobed with deep sinuses. Leaves have green above,
silver-white beneath; yellow in fall. Silver Maple trees can get 40 to
65 feet in height. Tree performs poorly on tight clay soils but prefers
deep moist soil. Silver Maple has a large vigorous root system. Likes
full sun. They can be browsed by deer and rabbits, seeds eaten by
squirrels, fair cover for songbirds.

**Siouxland Cottonwood**-The largest and fastest growing tree in the
area. Mature height is 40-50 feet tall. Likes full sun to partial sun. A
native to Minnesota likes moist soils along streams and wetlands
throughout the state. Flood control dams have reduced spring flooding
and the success of natural cottonwood regeneration along riparian areas.
Siouxland Cotton is cotton less. Loams to sands are most favorable for
soil textures. It requires a moist site. They will tolerate drought on
upland sites with high water table. Has a yellow color in the fall.

**Smooth Sumac-**Smooth sumac is a shrub or small tree that reaches 20
feet tall and has a spreading crown. The bark is light brown and smooth
on young and smooth on young plants. The leaves are pinnately compound
with 7-31 leaflets that are green on upper surface and nearly whit on
the lower surface. Leaves turn red in the autumn. The small, numerous
flowers occur in much branched clusters. The fruit is a cluster of red
drupes. Each drupe (a fleshy fruit with a hard or stony center) is
round, and has short hairs and contains a single seed. This sometimes
aggressive shrub occurs in clumps and spreads by seeds and rootstocks.
It flowers from late May until mid-August. Seeds are formed by
September. It sprouts easily, grows rapidly, and above ground stems are
relatively short-lived while roots persist and form new stems. Sumac
tolerate poor soils and likes full sun.

**Sugar Maple**-Slow to moderate growth with a maturity age of 75 to 150
plus years. Sugar Maple can grow to be 60 to 80 feet tall. Fruit is
red-brown winged in U-shaped pairs with wings nearly parallel distant
round seeds not running into wings that ripen in fall. The leaves
usually five-lobed that are bright green turning yellow to orange or
scarlet in the fall. A very shade tolerant but does well in full sun
also. It's a tree that prefers loams and clay loams, and is short lived
on sandy soils and grows poorly in compacted soils. It will not tolerate
poor drainage but likes moist soils.

***[EVERGREENS]{.underline}***

**Balsam Fir-**Balsam Fir is the most cold-hardy and aromatic of the
Firs but it also does well in warmer area too. Normally grows to a
height of 60 feet but can reach 90 feet and can live at sea level. The
Balsam Fir is on of Americas favorite Christmas Trees. The maximum age
is 200 years. The needles are short and flat about ½ to 1 ¼ inches long.
The bark is thin, gray and smooth with risen blisters and brown and
scaly on older trees. Cones are cylindrical, and perched upright on
branches near the top of the trees. Distinguished from spruces by the
flat needles and upright cylindrical cones were as the spruce has
needles that are four-sided and cones are oval and pendant. Balsam Fir
is most common on cool, medium to wet sites and can tolerate a wide
range of soil textures from heavy clay to rocky soils. Balsam Fir is not
tolerant of hot, dry conditions.

**Black Hills Spruce**-Black Hills Spruce is a large tree, very dense
and pyramidal when young. Not as drought tolerant as Colorado Spruce.
Black Hills Spruce is a natural occurring variety of white spruce. A
cone length 1 1/2 to 2 inches long; Cone scales have a rounded, smooth
margin, small winged seed. A tree height of 30 to 60 feet tall that
grows best on moist loams. They are fairly drought resistant that needs
additional moisture during droughts. Likes full sun. They are browsed by
mammals and a nesting site for birds. Makes a good winter cover.

**Colorado Spruce**-Colorado Spruce is a broad, dense, pyramidal tree
with stiff branches horizontal to the ground. Is a native to
intermountain states of the west. A choice specimen tree with cones 2
1/2 to 4 inches long, and papery cone scales that have a truncated edge,
small winged seeds, chestnut brown in color. Needles are 3/4 to 1 1/4
inches long with color of dull green, blue-green, to silvery-blue. Tree
can grow 30 to 65 feet tall. They perform best on moist, well-drained
loams and do not tolerate flooding. Prefers moist area, but is the most
drought tolerant of the spruces. Needs full sun and does not tolerate
shade. They are great nesting sight for birds.

**Jack Pine**-Jack Pine is a small to medium pine that quickly loses the
pyramidal form characteristic of young pine and assumes an open somewhat
irregular crown. Fire is often required to open cones and allow seed
dispersal. Conical shape cone 1 1/2 to 2" long with two winged seeds per
cone scale. Cones often remain closed and persist on stems until
triggered to open by heat or weathering. With a tree height of 25 to 50
feet tall that prefers sandy to loam soils. Jack Pine is a pioneer
species on poor sandy soils. They require consistent moisture for best
performance but are somewhat drought tolerant. Plant Jack Pines in full
sun only. Used for cover and nesting by morning doves, and used as a
food source by a variety of birds, squirrels, and porcupines.

**Norway Pine (Red Pine)**-Known as the Minnesota state tree. Needles
are in groups of two, about 4 to 6 inches long. Cones are about 2 inches
long and mature second year. Some may remain closed and persist for
several years. Cones usually grow at right angle from the stem. Norway
Pine have moderate to rapid growth with a maturity age of 200 to 300
years. Tree height is 50 to 80 plus feet. Norway Pine are extremely cold
hardy trees that prefers light acid, sandy soils; will tolerate poorer
growing conditions such as dry, acid, sandy or rocky soil and is
intolerant of compacted or poorly drained soils. Will grow in poorer
soils than white pine but not in as poor a soil as jack pine. It needs
full sun and fairly drought tolerant but may suffer from wind burn in
the winter.

**Red Cedar-**Red Cedar is a small tree with a short trunk. It has
simple scale like leaves that are saw toothed serrations and prickly on
the surface. Cones are deeply pitted and the typical juniper berry
matures in one year with 1 to 3 ovate seeds. The fruit is shiny brown
seed in dark blue, berry-like cones with heavy glaucous coating. Trees
will grow from 30 to 45 feet tall. Red Cedar likes moist, deep loam to
sand and will tolerate alkaline and saline conditions. It is drought
tolerant, but prefers moist soils. They like full sun but also will
tolerates shade only in youth. Small to medium evergreens are used for
farmstead and field windbreaks. Fruit matures in one season and provides
food for birds and mammals. They are good nesting and winter cover for a
variety of birds and are browsed by whitetail deer. Red Cedars should
not be planted near apple, crabapple, Juneberries, or hawthorns due to
the increased risk of damage of cedar-apple rust.

**Scotch Pine-**Scotch Pine is a medium to large tree, typically
pyramidal when young and becomes more rounded and open with age. The
average height is from 30-50 feet tall. It has orange-brown peeling bark
that is relished by porcupines, which can cause extensive damage.

**Tamarack**-Tamaracks are fairly rapid growing, with 1/2 to 1 inch long
needles in clusters on spurs. New growth is borne singly. Soft pale
green needles, turning yellow or golden-yellow before shedding in the
fall. Growth height is 50 to 75 feet tall. Very intolerant to shade,
tamaracks will grow on well-drained upland sites. They can tolerate a
wide range of soil moisture conditions.

**White Cedar**-Soft, Small needles scale like that are closely
overlapping upper and lower leaves that are flat with protruding resin
gland; leaves are opposite, aromatic fragrance when crushed; needles are
shed second year. Cones are small, brown and occur singly or in clusters
on ends of branches. The bark is thin and reddish brown in color. Rate
of growth is slow to moderate with a maturity age of 200 years but can
live a maximum of 400 years; heights can reach 40 to 50 feet tall and
crown spreads of 10 to 20 feet. The roots are shallow and very fibrous
and wide spreading. White Cedar likes low wet areas and is suitable for
shorelines. White Cedar is very shade tolerant. Seedlings are frequently
damaged by heavy browsing. Drought is the leading cause of mortality in
White Cedar.

**White Pine**-Needles grow in groups of five and are three to five
inches long. Each are bluish-green in color also very flexible. Cones
are usually about 5 inches long, more flexible than cones of other pine
species and slightly curved. White Pine has a rapid growth. Maturity age

of 200 to 300 years. Mature height is 80 to 100 feet tall. Prefers loam,
silt loam, and loamy sand soils and will grow on a wide range of soils,
but is less common on clays. White Pine prefers well-drained moist
soils. Has good seed and browse value. They must be managed to prevent
loss to White Pine Blister Rust which is especially prevalent in shore
land areas

**White Spruce**-Needles are about 3/4 to 1" long and blue-green in
color. It has a moderate growth rate becoming rapid after first 3-5
years with a maturity age of 100 to 200 years. White Spruce will grow up
to heights of 40 to 80 feet tall. Shade tolerant but likes full sun;
prefers moist, well-drained soils. Good choice for wildlife (perching
and nesting site for birds).

***[APPLE TREES]{.underline}***

**Haralson Apple-**For many years the Haralson has been the number one
apple in Minnesota. The Haralson is striped red with greenish yellow
under color. It is very winter hardy, which is a necessity for survival
in the cold Minnesota winters. It is also very productive. The apple has
an excellent distinctive, tart flavor when well grown. Is crisp and
juicy and keeps well from September until about March 15^th^ under
refrigeration. They are an outstanding apple for apple cider, pies and
all baking purposes. They require rich soils, moderate watering, good
drainage and full sun. Haralson Apple Trees get to be about 30 feet
tall.

**Liberty Apple-**Liberty Apple is a medium size, yellow fleshed desert
apple with 90% red over yellow ground color. Tree is vigorous,
spreading, and an annual bearer. Liberty is resistant to apple scab,
cedar apple rust, fire blight, and mildew. It matures the end of
September or early October. Liberty is an early blooming variety and can
pollinate all other early blooming apple varieties as well as with mid
season bloom times. Juicy, crunchy and mildly tart, this apple is a
versatile fruit, good for fresh eating as well as cooking. Keeps into
February and the flavor intensity's in storage.

**Northern Spy Apple-**Northern Spy is an old time favorite variety for
northern climates. Northern Spy produces large, high quality fruit with
excellent keeping quality. The tree is upright, very vigorous, and
winter hardy. Northern Spy is slow to begin bearing. It blooms late in
the season and will pollinate all other late-blooming varieties; it will
also pollinate varieties blooming in the middle of the season. The fruit
is large and has a clear-yellow shade with bright-red tints, distinctly
streaked with yellow under color, making the red almost scarlet. But
fruit color is quite variable. The white flesh is very juicy, crisp,
tender, and sweet with a rich aromatic sub acid flavor and is a good
dessert apple, pie apple that is also used for cider. The shiny, smooth
leaves, medium in size, are folded, and slightly waved with sharp,
shallow but indistinct serrations. During rainy weather the fruit may
crack and because of the delicate skin, it is easily damaged during
harvest. Northern Spy is one of the best storing apples; it ripens in
late September or early October.