TODD SWCD TREE HANDBOOK 607 9 TH ST NE LONG PRAIRIE MN 56347 Phone: 320-732-2644 Website: www.toddswcd.org
Evergreens
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) Needle-like, but flat; length 1/2" to 1" with rounded point; dark green and lustrous above and silvery-white beneath; arranged on twig apparently in two ranks; resinous and fragrant. Cones upright on branches, purple, oblong; length 2" to 4"; become ripe in the autumn of the first year; cone scale wider than long; seeds have very wide wings, and when ripe, fall together with scales of cone, leaving hard central axis standing upright on twig like a spike. The bark is smooth, grayish, prominently marked by blisters filled with resin or balsam pitch. Balsam fir is one of the most prolific conifers. It accounts for one quarter of our merchantable wood. The spruce budworm feeds on its needles and devastates wide swaths of the coniferous forest. Balsam fir prefers moderately well drained soil, but adapts to a variety of sites. It forms pure stands but often associates with spruce, white birch and trembling aspen. Its hardiness and good shade tolerance enable it to grow in the understory and quickly dominate a site after a disturbance. Almost white, balsam wood is light, soft and not very strong. Widely used in the pulp and paper and construction industries, it is also a favorite Christmas tree. Medium size; height 40' to 60' with continuous straight tapering trunk from root to top; diameter 9" to 20" or more; spreading branches form a handsome, symmetrical, slender pyramid. Prefers a rich, well drained soil and requires ample moisture. Performs best in cool climates; foliage becomes sparse in hot, dry conditions. Not a high quality landscape plant outside of its native habitat.
Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens) Colorado spruce is a broad, dense, pyramidal tree with stiff branches horizontal to the ground. The largest tree in North Dakota is 85 feet tall with a canopy spread of 30 feet. The growth rate is slow. The average height is 70 feet. Branching is broad and dense with branches extending to the ground. Root System is shallow and wide spreading. Bud arrangements are in whorls. Bud color is a yellowishbrown, not resinous. Bud Size is broadly conical; tips are blunt, about a ½ inch long. Leaf type and shape are sharply pointed needles are attached individually on peglike projections called sterigmata. The needles are 4-sided. Leaf surface is variably glaucous, 4 to 5 stomatal lines on both sides. Leaf needles are 3/4 to 1 ½ inches long. The width of the leaf is 1/16 inch needles. Leaf color varies from dull green, blue-green, to silvery-blue, glaucous. Cones are 2 ½ to 4 inches long, with papery cone scales that have a truncated edge; small, winged seeds, chestnut brown. Fruit color is a light yellow-brown or tannish cones with chestnut brown seeds. Bark is scaly or flaky and ash-brown. Prefers a moist, well drained soil, but will tolerate drier soil. Colorado spruce is adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Full sun, especially for blue foliage types which will lose blueness in shade.
Norway Pine (Pinus resinosa) Norway pine, also known as the Red pine is certainly one of our most beautiful conifers. Its clusters of long, dark-green needles stand out against an azure sky. The tall, slender trunk and reddish bark beautify our forest landscapes. Because of its attributes, it is a popular choice for reforestation. Typically found on sandy, rocky terrain, Norway pine can sometimes adapt to very poor soil. It forms pure stands, especially on sites cleared by fire, but also associates with other pines. Norway pine grows rapidly. The color of the wood varies from light brown to reddish brown. It is quite light, slightly resinous, and straight-grained. Norway pine absorbs preservatives well. It is used in construction and is made into interior wood trim, moldings, poles, piles, etc. Height 60' to 80', sometimes 100', diameter 30" to 40"; straight trunk; branches on mature trees form an open, rounded, picturesque head. Needle-like, occurs in clusters of two; dark green; needles are 4" to 6"; breaks cleanly when bent. Cones are about 2" long, light brown fading to gray; thin, slightly concave cone scales are without spines or prickles and are free from resin; cones ripen about the middle of September of their second season, but stay on branchlets until following spring or summer; seeds small, length about 1/8", dark or mottled brown, winged and widely scattered by the wind. Becomes divided into large reddish-brown plates as it matures, which gives tree its characteristic appearance and its common name, red pine. Norway pine does best in Northern areas and very cold hardy and tolerant of dry, acid & sandy soils. Norway pine needs full sun, and is fairly drought tolerant.
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Norway spruce is a fast growing tree that can grow to 150 ft. The Norway spruce should reach 5 ft. in 6 to 7 years, starting with a 2-yr. seedling. Dense, dark green needles never get longer than 1". Thrives well in average soil conditions, but prefers moisture in the soil to maintain its deep green color. The Norway spruce is highly valued ornamental and timber tree. 40 to 60 feet with a 25 to 30 foot spread. Persistent for several years, those on the upper side of the stem more or less overlapping and pointing forwards, those on the lower side spreading right and left and exposing the stem; 1/2 to 1" long, stiff, straight or curved; light or dark green. Monoecious, male flowers are axillary and infrequent whereas female flowers are terminal, spread on the crowns of the trees and reddish pink in color. Cones are cylindrical, 4 to 6" long, 1 1/2 to 2" wide, pendulous, purple or green in youth, light brown at maturity, seeds 1/6" long, brownish black with a pale brown, 1/2" wide wing. Usually thin on young trees; on old trees thick with small, thin, graybrown, flaking surface scales. The Norway spruce prefers soil with ample moisture. Norway spruce transplants well, does best in full sun, since foliage becomes sparse in shade.
White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) White cedar one of the few conifers with scaly leaves. Its wood is also the most decay-resistant. Cedar is thought to have been used in the Indian remedy for scurvy that saved Jacques Cartier and his crew. Typically found in areas where the underlying rock is limestone, cedar can tolerate very dry soil. This tree also grows in wet, marshy areas. It often forms pure stands in lowlands and is sometimes associated with black spruce, tamarack and balsam fir. Light brown, soft and weak, it is the lightest of our woods and has a characteristic odor. Because of its light weight and resistance to decay, it is made into pickets, poles, shingles, siding, canoes and boats. Compact, pyramidal; height 50' to 60', diameter 24" to 36"; trunk often twisted, strongly tapered, and frequently divided into two or more direct stems; branches short and nearly horizontal; sometimes forms almost impenetrable thickets as dead branches are very stiff and persistent; in the open, develops a conical, symmetrical crown. There are numerous ornamental or garden varieties of white cedar known as arborvitae. Scale like; green to yellowish-green; length 1/8" to 1/4", arranged to make the small branches flat; pleasant, aromatic scent when crushed; pungent to the taste. Small, oblong cone ripens in the fall of the first year; yellowish- brown; size about 1/2" with six to 12 scales borne singly or in large clusters on ends of branches. The bark is thin, gray to reddish brown, separating in long, vertical, narrow shreds strips. White Cedar needs a moist rich soil, somewhat tolerant to wet soils. Will tolerate light shade, but will be more open in growth habit. White cedar can be sheared readily.
White Spruce (Picea glauca) Leaves & Buds: Needlelike, four-sided, crowded along branchlets; length 1/3" to 3/4"; pale bluish when young, dark bluish-green when mature; sharply pointed; has a slightly disagreeable odor when crushed. White spruce adapts to a surprising variety of environments and climates. Ranging from southern Quebec to the tree line in the far North, it is one of our most wide-spread coniferous trees. White spruce is rarely found in pure stands. It usually associates with black spruce, balsam fir, trembling aspen, and white birch. Almost white, its wood is soft, light-weight, and moderately strong with a straight grain. Like other species of spruce, this wood does not absorb preservatives well. White spruce is of great importance to the construction and pulp and paper industries. Height usually 40' to 60', occasionally 100', with a diameter of 24"; straight trunk; long, stout branches form broad conical head. Slender cone, length about 2"; cone scales round and soft at ends; cone thin and flexible when mature; narrow-winged seeds mature in one season; cones drop during winter after opening and shedding seeds. The bark is dark gray or gray-brown and scaly. It prefers moist, well-drained alluvial soil, but grows on a wide diversity of sites.
Tall Trees
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) Height 30' to 60', diameter up to 24"; in the forest has a long clear trunk with little tapering; in the open, trunk is short with many branches and an irregular spreading crown. Simple, alternate on stem, length 2" to 6", oval or pointedly lance-shaped with finely toothed margins; thick, shiny above, paler below; yellow to yellowish-red in autumn. Flowers are followed by drooping clusters of pea-sized cherries, dark red to nearly black; edible but somewhat tart; ripens in late summer turning dark purple black in September. On young trunk smooth and bright, reddish-brown, marked by conspicuous narrow, white horizontal lines, has bitter almond taste; on older trunks, thin, dark brown, rough, and broken into thick irregular plates. Black cherry requires a well drained soil and ample moisture. The black cherry, also called rum cherry, is a native species valuable for its rich, reddish-brown wood. It can grow up to 30 meters high and live as long as 150 years. The wood is used in fine furniture and the cherries are used in jellies and wine. The cherries are excellent bird food during midsummer. Black cherry does not grow in pure stands as black walnut. It should be planted either in wildlife habitat for a bushy large tree or with other species like walnut in a forest plantation.
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) The Hackberry is a native tree throughout the upper Midwest. It grows on various soils but prefers deep moist soils. It occurs in Canada because birds on their northward migration bring the nuts in their excrement. The hackberry can regenerate by stump shoots and seed dispersion. In fact, because birds and small animals adore the hackberry fruit, the seed is widely dispersed. Its fruit is a berry-like drupe, with a pitted stone. Its wood is heavy but weak, and is therefore not used in carpentry. The hackberry is often used in landscape planting as a substitute for elm, which is subject to Dutch elm disease. Height 40' to 75', diameter 10" to 36"; limbs often crooked and angular; tree-head made up of slender, hanging branches or short, bristly, stubby twigs when growing in the forest; in the open, crown is generally symmetrical. Simple, alternate on stem, length 2" to 4"; has long narrow, tapering points and sharply toothed margins; uneven at base; prominent veins; hairy on upper side; turns yellow in autumn. Berrylike drupe, 1/4" to 1/3" in diameter; thin, purplish skin, sweet yellowish flesh; sometimes called sugar berry; ripens in September; frequently hangs on tree most of winter, providing an important food supply for several wildlife species. Grayish-brown, much roughened with prominent, short, corky ridges. The Hackberry is adaptable to a broad range of soil conditions. Prefers a moist loam soil but tolerates drought and hot summers winds. Its adaptability makes it a popular choice for urban plantings.
Red Oak (Quercus rubra) Throughout time and across cultures, the oak has symbolized strength. In the Odyssey, Odysseus (Ulysses) twice consulted the "divine foliage" of Zeus's majestic oak. The Celts prized the oak as a symbol of hospitality. The tree also personifies pride and wisdom. Oaks are beautiful, their wood valuable and their fruit a source of food for animals. Red oak has a medium growth rate and oval shaped crown with bronze-red autumn color. This long-lived species is excellent for wildlife. It will provide food, shelter, and nesting for a wide variety of birds and animals. Height 55' to 80' with diameters ranging from 24" to 36"; tall and straight with clear trunk and narrow crown. Leaves, alternate on stem, length 5" to 9"; divided into seven to nine lobes, each extending halfway to the midrib; each lobe somewhat coarsely toothed, bristletipped, firm; dull green above, paler below, often turning a brilliant red in fall. Buds are thick and pointed at top. Red Oaks have large, bitter acorns, maturing the second year; length 3/4" to nearly 2"; blunt-topped, flat at base with base enclosed in a very shallow, dark brown cup. Acorns are an important winter food source for squirrels, deer, wild turkeys, and several songbirds. On young stems smooth, dark gray to dark brown; on older trees, thick and brown broken by shallow fissures into regular, flat, smooth-surfaced vertical plates. Red oak trees transplants fairly well with proper care and are fairly tolerant to a range of soil and site conditions. Also, requires well drained soils and is one of the faster growing oaks.
Robusta Poplar (Populus deltoides x nigra) Robusta Poplar is a fast growing, seedless hybrid cottonwood. Well suited to moderate and arid conditions. Many hybrid clones between Populus species have been planted in the Northern Great Plains. Most hybrids grow very fast but often lack the cold and drought hardiness of the native cottonwood. The most common parent species of these hybrids are Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and Black Poplar (Populus nigra). Growth Habit is upright spreading branches but not as spreading as cottonwood. Many clones exhibit pyramidal or columnar forms. Crown height is 40 to 60 feet and crown width is 20 to 35 feet. Bud arrangement - Alternate. Bud Color - Varies between hybrids. Bud Size - Varies between hybrids. Leaf Length - 2 to 5 inches. Leaf Width - 2 to 5 inches. Leaf Color - Green to dark green; yellow fall color. Flower Type - Unisexual catkins; dioeciously. Flower Color - Tiny brownish-red flowers early in spring. Fruit Type - Dehiscent capsule. Fruit Color - Light brown, seeds in a mass of cotton. Gray-green when young, turning ash-gray and forming darker gray, furrowed bark at maturity. Robusta Poplar requires a moist site, will not tolerate drought on upland sites. High water table required on coarse-textured soils.
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) This fast-growing tree has magnificent leaves: deeply notched, they show a silvery underside when turned by the wind. This maple blooms in early May, before the leaves appear. This species prefers moist bottomlands. Silver maple tolerates spring flooding. Its seeds (keys), of limited longevity because of their sensitivity to dryness, germinate soon after they fall in early June. Its wood, creamy white to light brown, is heavy and hard. It is not, however, as strong as the sugar maple. Height 100' or more with a diameter of up to 36" or more; trunk usually short, divided into a number of long ascending limbs that are again divided and their small branches droop but turn upward at tips, forming a broad, rounded crown. Simple, opposite on stem, length 4" to 6"; three to five lobes ending in long points with toothed edges and separated by deep, angular openings; pale green on upper surface and silvery underneath; pale yellow to orange in autumn. Buds are rounded and red or reddish-brown. A pair of winged seeds (samaras), 1" to 2" long, on slender, flexible, threadlike stems about an inch in length. On young branches smooth and varying in color from reddish to a yellowish-gray; on old branches dark gray and broken into long flakes or scales. The Silver maple needs full sun. The tree tolerates a wide range of soil types. Prefers a deep, moist soil but will grow in poor soil. Silver maple requires corrective pruning to develop good form and to remove broken branches. Old, multi-trunked specimens often require cabling.
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) On young trees light gray to brown and somewhat smooth; on older trees gray to almost black with irregular plates or scales. Twigs are smooth and reddish-brown with sharp-pointed winter buds. The Sugar Maple requires a fertile, well drained soil and ample moisture, full sun or partial shade. Performs poorly in compacted soil with limited root space. Sugar maple has a dense, upright oval to rounded crown. The lobed medium green leaves develop outstanding fall color ranging from clear yellow to golden orange to orangish red. Sugar maple makes an excellent specimen or shade tree in sites with ample root and crown space. It is native from Minnesota eastward, with a few outlying populations in eastern South Dakota. Sugar maple sap is a collected in late winter and boiled down to make maple syrup. Height 80' or more with a diameter of up to 24" or more; symmetrically rounded crown. Simple, opposite on stem, length 3" to 5"; three- to five-pointed, smooth-edged lobes; division between lobes rounded; dark green on upper surface, lighter green below; in autumn turns to brilliant shades of dark red, scarlet, orange, or yellow. Consists of two slightly connected wings (samaras), each containing one seed; length about 1"; easily carried by the wind.
Short Trees & Shrubs
American Plum (Prunus americana) A large shrub or small tree (20 to 30 feet tall). Bud color is brown to dark brown, 1/8-1/4", simple leaves, elliptical to oblongovate. Branches and twigs are an attractive dark reddish-brown and sometimes have thorny lateral branchlets. Edible fruit used to make preserves and jellies. The American Plum is a native tall shrub to small tree which is thorny, winter-hardy, and thicket-forming. It has rapid growth with wide-spreading branches and grows well in outer rows of multiple-row windbreaks. This plum flowers profusely in late spring, making it an attractive addition to any planting. Its dense growth provides cover and nesting sites for many species of birds. American plum is a small, deciduous, single trunk tree or multi-stemmed shrub which occurs in rocky or sandy soils in woodlands, pastures, abandoned farms, streams and hedgerows throughout the State. Although the plums can be eaten raw, the quality is somewhat poor. Toothed, oblong to ovate leaves are 3-4" long and turn yellow to red in autumn. Grayish black and becomes quite scaly on older plants. All prunus species require a well drained soil and a sunny location. American Wild Plum is quite tolerant of drought and a fairly wide range of soil ph conditions.
Amur maple is a tall shrub or small tree native to northern Asia. Subject to chlorosis on heavy alkaline soils. Popular as a small, multi-stemmed specimen tree. Outstanding bright reddish fall colors are influenced by soil conditions and the cultivar grown. The largest tree in North Dakota is 22 feet tall with a canopy spread of 30 feet. Amur maple is a small tree up to 20' high with a broad crown, but sometimes pruned as a hedge. Twigs are smooth and light colored. Amur Maple (Acer ginnala) Opposite, longer than wide and have three shallow lobes and double toothed edges, turning a brilliant red in fall. Fragrant flowers appear in loose clusters with young leaves in May and June. Numerous reddish, two-winged, inch long fruit mature in late summer. The bark is grayish-brown on older branches. Amur maple is adaptable to a variety of soil, except alkaline or poorly drained soils. Prefers moist, well drained soils and the Amur maple is moderately drought tolerant.
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Chokeberries are cultivated as ornamental plants and also because they are very high in antioxidant pigment compounds, like anthocyanins. The name "chokeberry" comes from the astringency of the fruits which are inedible when raw. The berries can be used to make wine, jam, syrup, juice, soft spreads, tea and tinctures. The fruits are eaten by birds (birds do not taste astringency and feed on them readily), which then disperse the seeds in their droppings. Height and weight can be 3-6 feet. Clusters of small, white flowers in midspring; small, round dark purple to black fruit in late summer and autumn; autumn color is red. The leaves are alternate, simple, and oblanceolate with crenate margins and pinnate venation; in autumn the leaves turn a bold red color. Dark trichomes are present on the upper midrib surface. The flowers are small, with 5 petals and 5 sepals, and produced in corymbs of 10-25 together. Hypanthium is urn-shaped. The fruit is a small pome, with a very astringent, bitter flavor. Multi-stemmed with suckers; stems are upright and the shrub tends to form broad thickets. Full sun to partial shade; tolerates both wet and dry sites; prefers acid soil.
Caragana (Caragana arborescens) Caragana also called Siberian peashrub is a large spreading shrub. It provides dense cover for wildlife and is ideal for the shrub row in a windbreak. Caragana is adaptable to conditions of extreme cold and wind. It tolerates a wide range of soil types, including alkaline and saline soils. Grasshoppers can be a problem, but very rarely kill an established plant. Caragana is one of the toughest upright growing shrubs and is extremely hardy and drought resistant. Upright shrub or small tree, up to 18' high. Narrow branching, gray bark and branches; young twigs, yellowish-green. Alternate, compound, 2-4" long consisting of 8-12 pairs of leaflets; leaflets elliptic. Yellow, single, tubular, at the end of a stalk that grows from the leaf axil; blooms in May - June. Pods 1-2" long, sharply pointed, brown and smooth. Bark of the trunk and stems retain a greenish color for several years. Needs full sun and a well drained soil for good performance, requires little maintenance. Very tolerant of drought, cold winter temperatures and poor soil conditions. Has a good tolerance to alkaline soils and deicing salt. Not bothered by rabbits.
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) The average height is 10-15 feet. Light brown bud color, small 1/16-3/16", simple, broadly elliptical. Edible berries and commonly used for jelly and wine. The bark is gray-brown color and is one of the most important plants for food and cover. Twigs and foliage are heavily browsed by deer. A very hardy, large shrub or small tree, growing fast to a mature height of 10 to 25 feet. Purple-leaved selections are popular landscape plants. Fruits are commonly used for jellies and jams. The fruits are a wildlife favorite and make good jellies and pies. The largest tree form in North Dakota is 41 feet tall with a canopy spread of 28 feet. The Chokecherry is a tall shrub for farmstead and field windbreaks, riparian plantings and highway beautification. Because of its dense growth form, chokecherry is an excellent choice for outer rows of multiple-row windbreaks. The fruits are a prime source of food for chipmunks and many songbirds in the fall. The Chokecherry adapts to a wide variety of soils. Chokecherry is shade tolerant, but needs full sun to produce a good fruit crop and is has moderate drought tolerance.
Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) Common Lilac is a non-suckering, upright shrub that is best located in the outside row of windbreaks. Fragrant white to lavender flowers bloom during May. Lilac is rarely used in wildlife plantings since it does not form thickets and the seeds have little food value. Has excellent fresh cut flowers. Lilacs have been a garden favorite for years and often evoke nostalgic feelings of home and childhood. Upright leggy shrub with irregular outline which grows 8-15 feet tall. Bud color - brown, 1/8 to 1/2". Perfect, fragrant, borne in large terminal panicles, singles and doubles which are white to purple; variety of color. Young bark is green-brown, older bark is gray-brown. Common Lilac is not demanding of soil type; they do not tolerate poorly drained soils. They require full sun for best performance. Plant Common lilac in an area with good air circulation to reduce problems with powdery mildew, also requires renewal pruning to maintain desired height and improve form.
CotoneAster (CotoneAster integerrimus) European Cotoneaster is a large shrub native to Europe, western Asia and Siberia. Centennial was released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plant Materials Center at Bismarck. Produces showy red fruits. CotoneAster is used as a tall shrub for farmstead and field windbreaks. Has spreading, open and uprights arching branches, and is a large shrub. Bud color is brown to pale gray. Leaf is color is dark blue-green above with whitish gray hairs below and fall color is yellow. CotoneAster flowers are pinkish-white and fruit type is berry-like pome. The bark is glossy-brown. CotoneAster adapts to a variety of soils, likes sites with moisture or a high water table and does NOT do well on droughty or poorly drained soils. CotoneAster needs full sun or light shade.
American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) American Hazelnut is a native, deciduous, rounded, multi-stemmed shrub which typically grows 8-16' tall and occurs statewide in dry or moist thickets, woodlands and wood margins, valleys, uplands and prairies. Monoecious (separate male and female flowers on the same plant). In spring, male flowers appear in showy, 2-3" long, yellowish brown catkins and female flowers appear in small, reddish, inconspicuous catkins. Female flowers give way to small, egg-shaped, 1/2" long, edible nuts (maturing July-August) which are encased in leafy, husk-like, ragged-edged bracts. Fall color is quite variable, ranging from attractive combinations of orange, rose, purplish red, yellow and green to undistinguished, dull yellowish green. Small shrub, often in clumps reaching 12 feet in height. Alternate, simple with a doubly serrated margin, broadly oval with a heart-shaped or rounded base, dark green above and paler below, 2 ½ to 5 inches in length. Edible Nuts enclosed in thin, flattened, hairy raggededged papery husks. Light grayish brown and smooth, later develops a mid criss-cross netted pattern. American hazelnut occurs in moist to dry woods and thickets, forest margins, roadsides, and fencerows and other disturbed areas. It grows best on rich, moist, well-drained soils but often may be found close to streamsides and also grows on prairies. Open habitats are common, but it also can grow successfully in deep shade and is found at 0-750 at meters in elevation. This species flowers in March May before the emergence of leaves and fruits in July September.
High Bush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) A large, leggy, poorly branched native shrub found in wooded, usually moist areas, competing with the rest of the underbrush. In cultivation it may assume a fully branched, reasonably dense form. High Bush Cranberry has excellent orange-red fall color and red fruits. It is a medium to large shrub for farmstead windbreaks and riparian plantings. Growth Habit - Round topped and fairly dense under cultivation, poorly branched and open in native habitat. Rounded or truncate at base, lobes acuminate tipped, coarsely dentate, sometimes middle lobe elongated and entire, petiole with shallow groove and small dome-shaped, usually staled glands. Flower color is white. Berry-like drupes. Fruit color is bright red to scarlet. The bark is gray-brown and with a waxy appearance. High bush cranberry grows in wet woods, along streams, and on moist wooded hillsides, requiring moist but well-drained sites for best development. Prefers fertile loamy soils.
Mid-West Crab Apple (Malus baccata) Crabapples are a group of small flowering trees used for conservation and landscape plantings. They are valued for their foliage, fruit, flowers, wildlife benefits, and variations in form and size. Many varieties of conservation crabapples are hybrids of this species. Flower and fruit are of particular interest. Mid-West crab apple is the hardiest species of the Malus genus and produces white flowers. The largest tree in North Dakota is 32 feet tall with a canopy spread of 40 feet. Used for small tree for farmstead windbreaks, riparian plantings and highway beautification. Crabapples provide fair cover and high quality fruit and browse for many birds and mammals. Rodents and rabbits can destroy trees by girdling them. Average size 20 feet. Reddish-brown with several imbricate scales, 1/8-1/4" long. Leaves are simple and elliptical. Edible berry. Gray-brown to reddish-brown. Mid-West crab apple trees adapted to a variety of soils, prefer a heavy loam soil and they also need well-drained, moist soils with full sun light.
Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana) Found scattered in the woods of northern Minnesota as far south as Pine and Mille Lacs counties; best development in northeastern Minnesota; numerous along edges of swamps; does best in moist locations, thriving fairly well in drier areas and on thinner soils. Small tree, height sometimes 20' to 30', diameter 4" to 12"; spreading, slender branches create a narrow round-topped crown. Alternate on stem, length about 6" to 8", pinnately compound with 13 to 17 leaflets each 2" to 4" long, pointed and sharply toothed; bright green above, turning bright yellow in fall. Bright red-orange, rounded berry, diameter about 1/4"; has thin layer of sour flesh; fruit gives tree ornamental appearance. The bark is smooth, light gray surface, irregularly broken by small, flat, platelike scales. Mountain Ash prefers a cool, rich loam soil with good drainage. Full sun is needed for good development. Keep well watered during hot and dry periods.
Nanking Cherry (Prunus tomentosa) Nanking Cherry is a broad, spreading shrub. It is grown primarily for its showy white flowers which cover the plant in early spring. The flowers are borne sessile along the stem. The 1/2" bright red fruit which ripen in early July are edible but a little tart for fresh eating. They make excellent jams and jellies. The pit is quite large in relationship to the fruit size. The fruit is relished by birds. Foliage is very attractive, dark green with fuzzy undersides; turning yellow in the fall. The plant works well as a mass planting or informal hedge. The Nanking cherry is a medium shrub for farmstead windbreaks. Upright, semi-spreading, and densely, twiggy and are 6-10 feet tall. Buds are brown and medium to dark green above; white hairs below; yellow fall color. Flowers are small but numerous and are pink in bud, becoming near white. The fruit is cherryshaped drupe and are dark red. Shiny brown and exfoliating when mature. Nanking cherry requires a good, well drained soil is fairly drought tolerant. It does best in full sun and also needs cross pollination to produce fruit.
Red Splendor Flowering Crab (Malus hybrids) The flowering crabapples are a group of durable and highly useful ornamental trees that are strikingly beautiful in bloom. The flowers, fruit and fall color are dependent on the species or cultivar. It is of utmost importance when selecting a crabapple that disease resistant (primarily to apple scab) and fruit quality (persistence, bright color and small size) is considered. The following species and cultivars are widely regarded as the best overall performing ornamental crabapples. Ornamental crabapples are a group of small flowering trees used for landscape plantings. They are valued for their foliage, flowers, fruit and variations in form and size. Use small tree for farmstead windbreaks and highway beautification. Fruits range form red to yellow to green. The bark is gray-brown to reddish-brown. Red Splendor Flowering Crabapple adapts to variety of soils, prefers a heavy loam soil, prefers well-drained, moist soils, and needs full sun. Range from tall informal spreading to densely oval, narrow upright forms, usually between 15-20 feet. The buds are reddish-brown with several imbricate scales. The leaf color is dark or olive green above, paler green beneath, and yellow fall color.
Redosier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) Redosier Dogwood is an open, spreading, multi-stemmed and medium to large shrub with horizontal branches at the base. Freely stoloniferous as it spreads by natural layering of lower, relatively prostrate stems. Dark, bloodred bark provides winter color. It is a medium to tall shrub for farmstead and field windbreaks, riparian plantings and highway beautification. Grows to a maximum of 4-5 feet tall. Ovate to lanceolate, dark green leaves (2-4" long) turn an attractive reddish purple in autumn. Tiny white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters (to 2.5" diameter) in late spring, with sparse, intermittent, additional flowering sometimes continuing into summer. Flowers give way to clusters of whitish (sometimes with a bluish tinge) drupes in late summer. Fruit is quite attractive to birds and is generally considered to have as much if not more ornamental interest than the flowers. The bark is dark, blood red. Redosier Dogwood adapts to a variety of soils. Grows best in moist to somewhat loams, and requires full sun to partial shade.