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Stark-Billings County |
Tree Selection Guide
for Western North Dakota
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Information compiled by
Jerry Larson, Extension Agent-Horticulture/Stark-Billings County
Craig Armstrong, City Forester, Dickinson, No. Dak.
Dale Herman, Professor, NDSU Department of Plant Sciences
Larry Chaput, Research Specialist, NDSU Department of Plant Sciences
Trees alter the environment in which we live by moderating climate, improving air quality, conserving water and harboring wildlife. Trees also add to the beauty and value of property. However, no one tree is perfect for all locations and purposes.
Much too often, the wrong tree is selected for a particular site which offers the owner little chance for a successful planting. The following information can aid in the selection of trees and assist in growing healthier trees. Planting the right tree in the right place insures success.
There are many factors which must be considered prior to selection. What is the intended function of the tree? Is it intended as a specimen, screen, border, shade or street tree? Trees should not be placed where they will interfere with utilities.
Tree size may vary due to genetic potential of the plant and the growing conditions provided. Knowing the mature size and shape of a tree is necessary in choosing the proper planting location. A common problem is planting trees too close together or too close to buildings.
This will vary greatly with culture and environmental conditions under which the tree grows. Proper planting, adequate water, fertilization, mulching and freedom from pests will encourage growth. General guideline: slow—1 foot or less/year; medium—1-2 feet/year; fast—over 2 feet/year.
The United States Department of Agriculture places nearly all of North Dakota in zones 4a (-25 F to -30 F) and 3b (-30 F to -35 F) on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Hardiness zone maps are based upon average annual minimum temperature experienced at weather stations over a period of years. Therefore, woody plants used in North Dakota should be able to withstand temperatures of -25 F to -35 F to be considered winter hardy. See also hardiness zone map
Trees need a minimum of six inches of topsoil for growth; 15 inches or more is better. Most trees prefer medium loamy-to-sandy soil textures with good moisture and drainage. In our area, many problems have been encountered when planting certain trees in heavy clay soils. Soil conditions need to be considered before making final selection of trees to plant.
Plant trees that are of the proper size class, that are acclimated to the site and can provide the desired effect, plant them where they have the best chance to survive and thrive and have the best chance of accomplishing the desired function.
Prune out only broken, dead or crushed roots and broken branches—do not cut the tops back. Do shaping or corrective pruning after the trees have become well established, usually in year two or three.
The planting hole should be wider than deep, saucer shaped, not cup shaped, at least 2-3 times the width of the root ball. Loosen the soil beyond the hole if possible.
Plant the tree at the same depth as it was grown in the nursery. Do not bury grafts.
Backfill with the same soil that is taken out of the hole. Adding organic material or fertilizer to the backfill is usually not desirable. Add backfill gradually and tamp gently to avoid root damage. Watering helps to settle the soil and to remove air pockets.
Stake only if necessary. Large caliper nursery stock may require staking. Allow for several inches of sway. Do not tie anything tightly around the trunk. Remove staking after one year.
Weeds and grass need to be controlled to assure initial survival. Grasses, especially quack and brome grasses, provide the most severe competition for trees.
Mulching controls competition, conserves moisture, keeps soil temperatures stable, keeps lawn mowers and string trimmers away, and reduces soil compaction. A 3-4 inch mulch depth is highly recommended.
hardiness zone: 3
height: 15-20 feet
spread: 15-18 feet
growth rate/form: medium/rounded
fall color: yellow to red
cultivars: 'Flame’, ‘Embers’, ‘Redwing’
additional notes: can be maintained as multi-stemmed small tree or large shrub
Prunus triloba ‘Multiplex’hardiness zone: 3
height: 8-12 feet
spread: 8-10 feet
growth rate/form: medium/oval to rounded
fall color: yellow to bronze
cultivar: 'Multiplex'
additional notes: beautiful double pink flowers in early spring, also known as Rose Tree of China
hardiness zone: 4
height: 6-15 feet
spread: 6-15 feet
growth rate/form: slow to medium/oval to rounded
fall color: green
cultivars: ‘Canzam’ Camelot®(10 feet); ‘Coralcole’ Coralburst® (8 feet); ‘Select A’ Firebird® (5 feet); ‘Guinzam’ Guinevere® (8 feet); ‘Lansam’ Lancelot® (8 feet, gold fruit); ‘Tina’ (6-8 feet)
additional notes: selections vary in disease tolerance (fireblight and apple scab); check with local nurseries for other selections and disease resistance information; cultivars may vary in winter hardiness
hardiness zone: 3
height: 15-20 feet
spread: 15-20 feet
growth rate/form: medium/oval to rounded
cultivars: 'Ivory Silk' (more compact growth form), ‘Summer Snow’
additional notes: large creamy white flowers June-July
PALIBIN DWARF KOREAN LILAC – Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’
hardiness zone: 3
height: 8-10 feet
spread: 5-6 feet
growth rate/form: slow/globe
fall color: green
cultivars: ‘Palibin’ (light purple flowers), ‘Bailbelle’ Tinkerbelle™ (a hybrid, pink flowers)
additional notes: Very hardy, grafted on Japanese Tree Lilac to produce a small tree form. Normally grown as a 5-6' shrub on its own root.
Syringa pekinensishardiness zone: 3-4
height: 12-18 feet
spread: 12-15 feet
growth rate/form: medium/oval to rounded
cultivars: ‘SunDak’ Copper Curls® NDSU introduction, ‘Morton’ China Snow®, ‘DTR124' Summer Charm
additional notes: similar to Japanese Tree Lilac except smaller and finer-textured leaves
Euonymus bungeanus ‘Verona’
hardiness zone: 3
height: 12-15 feet
spread: 15 feet
growth rate/form: slow/rounded
fall color: red
cultivars: ‘Verona’ Prairie Radiance®, NDSU introduction
additional notes: attractive pink fruit capsules
Prunus nigra ‘Princess Kay’
hardiness zone: 2
height: 15 feet
spread: 8-10 feet
growth rate/form: medium/narrow
fall color: orange to red
cultivars: ‘Princess Kay’
additional notes: showy white double flower clusters in early May
PURPLELEAF SANDCHERRY – Prunus x cistena
hardiness zone: 3
height: 6-8 feet
spread: 5-6 feet
growth rate/form: medium/rounded
fall color: red
additional notes: Red leaf color with pink spring flowers and purple fruit. Produces some suckers
Acer tataricum
hardiness zone: 3
height: 15-20 feet
spread: 10-15 feet
growth rate/form: medium/oval
fall color: yellow
cultivars: ‘Actar’ Summer Splendor™, ‘Patdell’ Pattern Perfect®
additional notes: tolerates high pH soils and drought, red seed clusters
Crataegus x mordenensis 'Toba' hardiness zone: 3 height: 12-25 feet spread: 12 feet growth rate/form: slow/upright to rounded fall color: green cultivars: ‘Toba’, ‘Snowbird’ additional notes: fragrant large double pink flowers (Toba), double white flowers (Snowbird); scattered thorns, hardier than other hawthorns, Toba is subject to fireblight |
– Prunus maackii hardiness zone: 3a height: 25-30 feet spread: 15-20 feet growth rate/form: medium/rounded fall color: brownish-yellow additional notes: very attractive cinnamon-brown to coppery exfoliating bark |
CANADA RED CHERRY – Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’
hardiness zone: 2
height: 20-25 feet
spread: 18-25 feet
growth rate/form: fast/oval to rounded
fall color: red
cultivars: ‘Schubert’, ‘Schubert Select’
additional notes: red-purple leaf color with creamy white spring flowers; susceptible to Black Knot; produces root suckers
– Betula platyphylla ‘Fargo’
hardiness zone: 3
height: 25-30 feet
spread: 7 to 8 feet 'Fargo'
growth rate/form: fast/columnar
fall color: yellow
cultivars: ‘Fargo’, ‘VerDale’ Prairie Vision™
additional notes: heat and drought tolerant, possible birch borer resistance, tolerant of high pH soils, develops white papery bark, Prairie Vision™ 'VerDale' is a new NDSU introduction that has resisted bronze birch borer attack for over 25 years, available 2004-05. Tree form not narrow like 'Fargo'
EUROPEAN MOUNTAINASH – Sorbus aucuparia
hardiness zone: 2
height: 20-30 feet
spread: 20-25 feet
growth rate/form: medium/rounded
fall color: burgundy to burnt orange red
additional notes: white flowers in spring, develops orange/red fruit in late summer retained into winter, attractive coppery-brown bark color, requires well-drained soil
– Malus species hardiness zone: 3 height: 15-25 feet spread: 15-25 feet growth rate/form: medium/rounded, dense fall color: yellowish to orange cultivars: 'Red Splendor' (25 feet); 'Spring Snow' (20 feet); 'Thunderchild' (20 feet); 'Radiant' (25 feet); 'Snowdrift' (20 feet); Harvest Gold® (20 feet); ‘Indian Summer’ (20 feet); ‘Indian Magic’ (15 feet); ‘Adams’ (25 feet); ‘Liset’ (20 feet); ‘Robinson’ (25 feet); ‘Profusion’ (20 feet); ‘Louisa’ (15 feet, weeping tree form, gold fruit); Madonna® (15 feet); ‘Prairifire’ (15 feet), ‘Radiant’ (20 feet), Centurion® (25 feet) additional notes (flowering crabapple): selections vary in disease tolerance (fireblight and apple scab); check with local nurseries for other selections and disease resistance information |
– Salix pentandra hardiness zone: 3 height: 35-40 feet spread: 35-40 feet growth rate/form: fast/rounded fall color: non discript additional notes: attractive glossy green foliage |
– Tilia cordata hardiness zone: 3 height: 30-40 feet spread: 30-40 feet growth rate/form: medium/oval to pyramidal fall color: yellow cultivars: 'Greenspire’, 'Morden,’ ‘Ronald’ Norlin™ ‘Baileyi’ Shamrock®, Golden Cascade (weeping form from Canada) additional notes: very fragrant flowers in late June and early July; pH adaptable |
– Viburnum lentago
hardiness zone: 2
height: 20 feet
spread: 8-10 feet
growth rate/form: medium/upright
fall color: purplish red
additional notes: native with white flowers in spring, glossy foliage, blue-black berries, tree form available
– Sorbus x hybrida
hardiness zone: 3
height: 30 feet
spread: 20 feet
growth rate/form: medium/oval
fall color: rust
additional notes: oak-like leaves, bright red fruit clusters, fireblight resistance
– Aesculus glabra hardiness zone: 3 height: 20-40 feet spread: 20-40 feet growth rate/form: medium/rounded fall color: orange to brilliant red cultivars: 'Autumn Splendor' 'Homestead' and ‘Bergeson’ Prairie Torch™ (NDSU introduction) are improved hybrids with superior foliage qualities additional notes: chestnut-like fruit (inedible); large cream colored flowers in spring; may need supplemental water |
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– Salix x ‘Prairie Cascade’ hardiness zone: 3 height: 35-40 feet spread: 35-40 feet growth rate/form: fast/weeping fall color: yellow cultivars: 'Prairie Cascade' additional notes: dull yellow stem color, may require supplemental water, good for wet sites |
– Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Princess Diana’
hardiness zone: 3
height: 20 feet
spread: 15 feet
growth rate/form: medium/rounded
fall color: red to orange
cultivars: ‘Princess Diana’
additional notes: white flower blossoms in spring, showy purplish sweet edible fruit
– Populus tremuloides hardiness zone: 2 height: 30-40 feet spread: 20-30 feet growth rate/form: fast/pyramidal, full fall color: golden yellow additional notes: produces root suckers |
–Sorbus decora hardiness zone: 2 height: 20 feet spread: 20 feet growth rate/form: slow/rounded fall color: red additional notes: smaller and more disease resistance than European Mountainash |
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– Pyrus ussuriensis
hardiness zone: 3
height: 18-25 feet
spread: 15-20 feet
growth rate/form: slow to medium/rounded to upright
fall color: yellow
cultivars: ‘MorDak’ Prairie Gem® (rounded form, NDSU introduction), ‘Bailfrost’ Mountain Frost™ (narrower form)
– Thuja occidentalis hardiness zone: 3 height: 15-25 feet spread: 6-8 feet growth rate/form: fast/narrow to pyramidal or oval cultivars: ‘Techny’, ‘Wareana’ (Siberian A), very hardy |
– Juniperus scopulorum
hardiness zone: 3
height: 15-25 feet
spread: 15-20 feet
growth rate/form: slow/narrow to wide pyramidal
fall color: green
cultivars: 'Medora’, 'Moffetii’, 'Grizzly Bear’, ‘Blue Trail’, ‘Sutherland’, ‘Welchii’
additional notes: many uses as a landscaping tree, tolerates different soil types, watch for spider mites during periods of hot, dry weather
– Tilia americana hardiness zone: 3 height: 50+ feet spread: 30-45 feet growth rate/form: medium/round or oblong, dense fall color: green to yellow cultivars: 'Dakota’, pyramidal selections: ‘Boulevard’, ‘Bailyard’ Frontyard®, 'Redmond’ additional notes: may need supplemental water |
– Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’ hardiness zone: 4 height: 50-60 feet spread: 40 feet growth rate/form: fast/rounded fall color: orange-red cultivars: ‘Jeffersred’ additional notes: hybrid of silver and red maple, drought tolerant |
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– Fraxinus nigra
hardiness zone: 3
height: 30-45 feet
spread: 15-20 feet
growth rate/form: medium/columnar
fall color: yellow
cultivars: 'Fallgold', narrow upright form
additional notes: subject to male flower gall, not as drought tolerant as green ash
– Quercus macrocarpa hardiness zone: 2 height: 50+ feet spread: 30-60 feet growth rate/form: medium/round, variable fall color: yellow additional notes: deep taproot, spreading, easier to transplant container-grown nursery stock |
– Celtis occidentalis hardiness zone: 2 height: 40-60 feet spread: 25-60 feet growth rate/form: medium/broad, full, open fall color: yellow, yellow/green cultivars: 'Oahe’, 'Delta’, ‘Chicagoland’ additional notes: adapted to a wide range of soil types, good disease resistance, dormant nursery stock should be sweated prior to planting |
– Populus deltoides hardiness zone: 2 height: 50-80 feet spread: 30-50 feet growth rate/form: fast/vase shaped, full fall color: yellow/green additional notes: female plants produce cotton (seed); roots can cause problems with sewer lines, sidewalks, etc. |
– Fraxinus pennsylvanica hardiness zone: 2 height: 30-50 feet spread: 15-25 feet growth rate/form: fast/round to conical fall color: yellow cultivars: ‘Wahpeton’ Dakota Centennial®, 'Leeds’ Prairie Dome®, 'Patmore’, 'Kindred’, ‘Rugby’ Prairie Spire® (columnar growth habit), 'Bergeson’, ‘Summit’ additional notes: stressed trees susceptible to ash borer |
– Fraxinus mandshurica hardiness zone: 3 height: 30-50 feet spread: 35-40 feet growth rate/form: medium/pyramidal when young, spreading at maturity fall color: yellow cultivars: 'Mancana' additional notes: large tree that requires plenty of space |
MANITOBA MAPLE (BOXELDER) – Acer negundo
hardiness zone: 2
height: 30-50 feet
spread: 30-70 feet
growth rate/form: fast/rounded, dense
fall color: green/yellow to red/brown
cultivars: ‘Baron’ (male selection, Morden research station introduction)
additional notes: large spreading tree needs plenty of space, very sensitive to 2,4-D herbicide
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– Acer saccharinum hardiness zone: 3 height: 50-70 feet spread: 30-65 feet growth rate/form: fast/oval to rounded fall color: green/yellow cultivars: 'Northline’, 'Silver Queen’, ‘Silver Cloud’ (newer Canadian selection) additional notes: can cause problems with sewer lines, sidewalks, etc.; protected site recommended; may need supplemental water |
– Picea glauca var. densata hardiness zone: 3 height: 50+ feet spread: 20-35 feet growth rate/form: slow/conical, dense fall color: green additional notes: avoid heavy clay soils, prefers good drainage, good disease resistance |
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Pinus ponderosa
hardiness zone: 3
height: 50+ feet
spread: 25 feet
growth rate/form: slow to medium/columnar to open
fall color: green
additional notes: avoid heavy clay soils; prefers good drainage
– Pinus sylvestris hardiness zone: 3 height: 40-60 feet spread: 30-40 feet growth rate/form: medium to fast/pyramidal, open fall color: yellow needles in winter additional notes: avoid heavy clay soils; prefers good drainage, develops flaky, peeling orange bark color with age |
SIBERIAN LARCH – Larix sibirica
hardiness zone: 2
height: 50+ feet
spread: 25-30 feet
growth rate/form: medium to fast/pyramidal
fall color: yellow
additional notes: deciduous conifer (needles turn yellow in fall and then drop)
– Phellodendron amurense hardiness zone: 3b height: 25-30 feet spread: 30 feet growth rate/form: medium/vase shaped fall color: yellow cultivars: ‘Macho’, ‘His Majesty’ (a cultivar of P. sachalinense) additional notes: very beautiful and unusual bark pattern, tolerates alkaline soils |
– Betula sp. ‘Crimson Frost’
height: 30-35 feet
spread: 20 feet
growth rate/form: fast/broad-upright
cultivars: ‘Royal Frost’ (newer purple-leaved cultivar)
additional notes: striking reddish/purple leaves all summer, white bark, tolerates moist heavy soils, possible borer susceptibility, additional hardiness testing needed
– Prunus serotina hardiness zone: 4b height: 30-50 feet spread: 20-40 feet growth rate/form: slow to medium/rounded at maturity fall color: yellow to red additional notes: white flowers in spring; fruit good for jellies; valuable wood, use only hardiest seed sources |
– Juglans nigra hardiness zone: 3b height: 40-50 feet spread: 50-75 feet growth rate/form: slow to medium/oval to rounded, crown somewhat open additional notes: avoid heavy clay soils; prefers good drainage; difficult to transplant |
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– Ostrya virginiana
hardiness zone: 3
height: 25-35 feet
spread: 20-30 feet
growth rate/form: slow/rounded
fall color: yellow
additional notes: tolerance to most soil types, also called American Hop-hornbeam
– Ulmus davidiana var. japonica
hardiness zone: 3
height: 30-50 feet
spread: 30-35 feet
growth rate/form: medium/rounded
fall color: yellow
cultivars: 'Discovery'
additional notes: attractive umbrella to vase-shaped form; good shade tree
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LARCH – Larix sp.
hardiness zone: 3
height: 40-50 feet
spread: 25-30 feet
growth rate/form: fast/large pyramidal trees
fall color: yellow color
additional notes: deciduous conifer (drops needles in the fall): European (L. decidua); American (L. laricina); and Japanese (L. kaempferi)
– Prunus armeniaca var. mandshurica
hardiness zone: 3
height: 15-20 feet
spread: 15-20 feet
growth rate/form: medium/rounded
fall color: yellow to red
cultivars: 'Mandan’, 'Moongold’, 'Scout’, 'Sungold'
additional notes: limited fruit production; suitable for jelly
– Catalpa speciosa hardiness zone: 4 height: 50-60 feet spread: 35-40 feet growth rate/form: medium/upright oval additional notes: large lavender flowers in late June, extremely drought tolerant, very large heart-shaped leaves, borderline in winter hardiness |
– Acer platanoides hardiness zone: 4b height: 30-50 feet spread: 25-35 feet growth rate/form: slow-medium/columnar to broadly oval cultivars: ‘Crimson King’ (purple leaves), ‘Crimson Sentry’ (purple leaves), ‘Schwedler’, ‘Emerald Queen’, ‘Pond’ Emerald Lustre®, ‘Deborah’, borderline in winter hardiness |
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– Betula papyrifera ‘Renci’ Renaissance Reflection ™ hardiness zone: 3 height: 60 feet spread: 25 feet growth rate/form: fast/pyramidal fall color: yellow cultivars: developed for bronze birch borer resistance, very heat tolerant additional notes: requires moist site with good drainage; stressed trees may be susceptible to bronze birch borer damage |
– Elaeagnus angustifolia
hardiness zone: 3
height: 15-25 feet
spread: 15-25 feet
growth rate/form: medium/rounded
fall color: grayish green
additional notes: adapted for a wide range of soils; branches have thorns; susceptible to canker diseases, invasive
– Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis
hardiness zone: 3b
height: 30-50 feet
spread: 25-35 feet
growth rate/form: fast/open spreading crown
fall color: yellow to yellow-green (leaves fall early)
cultivars: ‘Wandell’ Perfection™, 'Imperial’, 'Skyline’, ‘Harve’ Northern Acclaim™ (NDSU introduction, increased hardiness), ‘Prairie Silk’ (new Canadian introduction)
additional notes: protected site recommended; drought tolerant; salt tolerant; susceptible to canker diseases if mechanical bark injuries occur
TOWER POPLAR – Populus x canescens ‘Tower’
hardiness zone: 3
height: 50-65 feet
spread: 10-15 feet
growth rate/form: fast/narrow columnar
fall color: yellow
cultivars: ‘’Tower’
additional notes: more resistant to canker diseases than previous upright forms, suckers objectionably
Picea pungens hardiness zone: 3 height: 50+ feet spread: 20-30 feet growth rate/form: slow/pyramidal fall color: green/blue cultivars: 'Glauca' (blue needles) additional notes: sensitive to environmental stress; avoid heavy clay soils; prefers good drainage, use adequate spacing to reduce needlecast disease |
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca
hardiness zone: 3
height: 40-80 feet
spread: 12-20 feet
growth rate/form: medium/pyramidal
additional notes: prefers wind protection, the variety glauca, native to the Rocky Mountains, is hardier than the species P. menziesii
Pinus strobus hardiness zone: 3 height: 50-80 feet spread: 20-40 feet growth rate/form: fast/pyramidal when young, irregular at maturity additional notes: intolerant to saline and alkaline soils, fine-textured needles |
Pinus banksiana
hardiness zone: 3
height: 35-50 feet
spread: 20-35 feet
growth rate/form: slow to medium/pyramidal when young, open spreading at maturity
fall color: green
additional notes: avoid heavy clay soils; prefers good drainage
Picea abies hardiness zone: 3 height: 40-80 feet spread: 25-30 feet growth rate/form: fast/pyramidal when young, pendulous as it matures additional notes: questionable drought tolerance, need to water during drought |
Pinus resinosa hardiness zone: 3 height: 50-80 feet spread: variable growth rate/form: medium/pyramidal to oval fall color: scaly orange/red bark additional notes: intolerant of alkaline and saline soils |
Due to: lack of hardiness, potential for diseases/insects and other factors:
- Dwarf Alberta Spruce
- American Elm (however, several new cultivars have high Dutch Elm Disease resistance and need further testing)
- Austree Willow
- Bald-cypress
- Black Oak
- Callery Pear
- Emerald Arborvitae
- Fraser Fir
- Lombardy Poplar
- Red Maple (new Minnesota cultivars may merit testing)
- Red Oak
- Robusta Poplar
- Siberian Elm
- Siouxland Poplar
- Sugar Maple
- White Ash (the cultivar ‘Northern Blaze’ merits testing)
- White Oak
- Weeping Birch
Landscape Plants of the Upper Midwest
(Trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover)
For more information contact:
Kurt Froelich, Extension
Agent/Stark-Billings County
(701) 456-7665
