Minnesota’s climate is changing, and therefore what we decide to plant for the future may also have to change, including choosing the right tree species. Adding diversity to your yard, including a mix of tree species that are projected to adapt well to our changing climate will ensure a resilient urban forest canopy into the future. Below are some native tree species that are expected to thrive despite a changing climate.
American Elm (Ulmus Americana) Once decimated by Dutch Elm Disease, American Elm are now making a come-back through breeding of disease-resistant species cultivated from survivors that exhibited a natural resistance to the disease. Some of these hybrid elms now available in local nurseries are St. Croix, Cathedral, Prairie Expedition, and Princeton. American Elms are known and loved for their graceful, stately shape. They have alternate, simple, sharply-toothed leaves that turn golden in the fall. They grow well in moist to well-drained soil in full sun, growing to a height of more than 40 feet. They also show tolerance to clay soils, dry conditions, and road salt. Elms make up 3.8% of the total Tree Canopy Area in Mendota Heights (Mendota Heights Natural Resources Management Plan, 2022).
Bur Oaks (Quercus macrocarpa) make up 8.2% of the total Tree Canopy Area in Mendota Heights (Mendota Heights Natural Resources Management Plan, 2022), and have an extensive range throughout the Midwest. Bur Oaks are usually found in open stands or savanna ecosystems. They require dry to moist, well-drained soil and grow well in full sun to part shade. Bur Oaks can grow up to a height of 80 feet and have a stately appearance, with branches that are large and spreading. Bur oaks have unique, deeply furrowed bark. Leaves are simple, alternate, and lobed.
White Oaks (Quercus alba) have bark that is light ashy gray and shallowly furrowed. Leaves are dark green and turn red in the fall. White oaks grow at a slow-medium rate, growing to a height of 50 to 80 feet. White Oaks are usually found in open stands or savanna ecosystems. They require dry to moist, well-drained soil and grow best in full sun. Oaks are one the most beneficial species for a variety of wildlife and are unique in that they grow both male and female flowers.
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) make up .8% of the total Tree Canopy Area in Mendota Heights (Mendota Heights Natural Resources Management Plan, 2022). Hackberry establishes easily and adapts well to a variety of soil conditions and types. It is also tolerant of heat, drought, road salt, ice, and short-term flooding. Hackberry have a unique bark that is heavily textured and corky. Hackberry are usually found in open stands or savanna ecosystems. They require dry to moist, well-drained soil and grow well in full sun to part shade.
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) gets its name from its bark that peels away in large, flat plates. It is a slow grower, growing to a height of 80 feet. It comes from the Walnut family, producing edible nuts that ripen in the fall. Leaves are compound and alternate, with 5-7 leaflets with serrated margins. This species originally was native to most of the Eastern US, from southern Wisconsin to Georgia. It is tolerant of both drought and occasional flooding. Shagbark hickory grow best in full sun.