Tough Trees for Tough Sites Todd West, Ph.D. NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program 1
Shade Tolerant Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) U.S. Native 15-to 25-foot height and spread Scaffolding branches are very ornamental Fragrant clusters of white flowers in spring followed by blue fruits and purple fall color. Underutilized species Wind Resistant European Larch (Larix decidua) Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) Native is as well suited for the plains and rural areas as it is for urban sites. Cold hardy and tolerant of winds and varied conditions, 40-70 feet with a 50-foot spread and has a broad crown with arching branches. 2
Drought Tolerant - Dry Soils Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) Thornless Honeylocust(Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) Kentucky Coffeetree(Gymnocladus dioicus) Flowering Crabapple (Malus hybrids) Amur Corktree(Phellodendron amurense) Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata) American Linden (Tilia Americana) Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Thornless Honeylocust (Gleditia triacanthos var. inermis) Native to parts of the central United States Northern Acclaim ( Harve ) NDSU Selection hardy Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) U.S. Native 40 x 35 Pest Free Tolerant of urban conditions It s kind of an ugly duckling when first planted, but then it grows into a wonderful tree seedless Amur Corktree (Phellodendron amurense) Native to China, Manchuria and Japan 40 x 35 Pest Free 3
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Native to eastern and central United States White oak group 50 x 50 55 x 15 Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata) Native to northern Japan 25 x 20 Flowers early June Pest free Snowdance ( Bailnce ) -20 x 20, sterile (produces no seed), flowers at early age Wet Soils Box Elder (Acer negundo) Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) Niobe (Golden) Weeping Willow (Salix alba Tristis ) Sensation Box Elder (Acer negundo Sensation ) 35 x 25 Red fall color which is atypical for the species Male clone, no seeds Tolerant of dry soil as well 4
Saline Soils Increased Salt Levels Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Thornless Honeylocus(Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) American elm (Ulmus americana) Taylor Juniper (Juniperus virginiana Taylor ) 30 x 3 Deer resistant Drought resistant Dry soil tolerant Prairie Expedition American Elm (Ulmus americana'lewis & Clark ) 60 x 40 DED resistant Compacted Sites Prairie Horizon Manchurian Alder (Alnushirsuta Harbin ) River Birch (Betula nigra) 40-70, Peeling cinnamon-brown bark, often multi-stemmed Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) 45-75, Oval crown with pendulous branches, transplants well, fast growth Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) American Larch (Larix laricina) 40-70, Native, deciduous conifer, yellow fall color, few pests Flowering Crabapple (Malus hybrids) Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) 40-50, Scale-like leaves, broad pyramidal form; Techny recommended Not deer resistant (recommend Taylor Juniper as substitute if deer are an issue) Prairie Horizon Manchurian Alder (Alnus hirsuta Harbin ) Native of China 30 x 25 Northern Tribute River Birch (Betula nigra Dickinson ) 35 x 30 ph tolerant 5
Utility Friendly (Under 25 Maximum Height) Flowering Crabapple (Malus hybrids) Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata) Prairie Gem Flowering Pear (Pyrus ussuriensis MorDak ) Marilee Flowering Crabapple (Malus Jarmin ) 24 x 10 Narrow upright Pink budded, double white large flowers Fruitless Good disease resistance Prairie Gem Flowering Pear (Pyrus ussuriensis MorDak ) 6 25 x 20 Fast growth rate Showy flowers emerge before foliage Tolerant of urban pollution More Information: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/plantsciences/research/woody-plants Overview page https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/plantsciences/research/introductions Links to datasheets for individual introductions https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/plantsciences/research/woody-plants/research Links to PDF lists of the NDSU introductions Dr. Todd West NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program Contact: todd.p.west@ndsu.edu Greg Morgenson NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program Contact: gregory.morgenson@ndsu.edu Thank You! 6