WW-06989     Reviewed 2009  

Recommended Trees for Northern Tallgrass Prairie:
An Ecosystem Approach

Authors: Gary R. Johnson, University of Minnesota Extension Service, Urban and Community Forestry; Peter Bedker, Treescapes-Community Forestry Consultants

Technical Adviser: Gerald L. Jensen, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry
Reviewed and updated (2009): Adam Flett, University of Minnesota Extension Service, Forest Resources

Copyright ©  2009  Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Trees shade and cool us in the summer, protect us from cold winter winds, supply us with clean air to breathe, beautify our communities and provide habitat for wildlife. Selecting the trees that will survive and grow into healthy urban forests requires a thorough analysis of the planting site and a careful match of the trees to that environment.

The Recommended Trees series recognizes that Minnesota is an ecologically diverse state. For this series, the state is divided into six major ecological regions, each with characteristic soils, precipitation patterns, topography, and natural vegetation. Recommended trees for each region perform reliably in that environment, and should thrive for many years.

Back to Recommended Trees Overview

Northern Tallgrass Prairie

Bounded to the west by the Red River and extending eastward to the limits of continuous tall grass prairie presettlement vegetation, much of this region is a large lake plain formed by the Glacial Lake Agassiz. Soils range from clays to sandy/gravelly beach ridges, may be poorly to moderately well drained, and are often very alkaline. Originally, the area was vegetated by bluestems, Indian grass, and other grasses. Narrow, forested floodplains were common along larger streams and rivers. Broader zones of woodland were common along the fire shadows of streams.

Recommended Trees for Northern Tallgrass Prairie

Recommended Trees: Trees in these sections include species that have a history of performing well as street, boulevard, or landscape trees in general for Northern Tallgrass Prairie Minnesota.

Limited Use: Trees in these sections may have some value in certain instances, such as unusually harsh planting sites, or for wildlife cover, but are not recommended for general use.

Trees to Try: Trees in these sections have shown promise in landscapes or as street trees, but either do not have a long history of use in Northern Tallgrass Prairie Minnesota or require specific siting requirements such as wind protection or acidic soils. Use caution until their performance is better documented.

Caution: Trees in these sections either have chronic problems with growing and overall health, such as damaging diseases or site intolerances, or are not reliably hardy to the area, e.g., they are out of their natural cold hardiness zone. Use these trees with moderation in very well-prepared landscape sites with regular maintenance or well-protected microclimates.

Deciduous Trees for Northern Tallgrass Prairie Recommended Trees (46 K XLS) Recommended Trees (275 K PDF) Limited Use (45 K XLS) Limited Use (275 K PDF) Trees to Try (37 K XLS) Trees to Try (300 K PDF) Trees to Use With Caution (37 K XLS) Trees to Use With Caution (249 K PDF)

Conifers for Northern Tallgrass Prairie Recommended Trees (31 K XLS) Recommended Trees (205 K PDF) Limited Use (31 K XLS) Limited Use (154 K PDF) Trees to Try (30 K XLS) Trees to Try (196 K PDF) Trees to Use With Caution (30 K XLS) Trees to Use With Caution (144 K PDF)

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This publication was produced with the support of the USDA Forest Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact your University of Minnesota Extension office or the Extension Store at (800) 876-8636.