Top 5 Shade Trees for Minnesota

#1 Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

• Alternate varieties include Bur, White & Heritage Oak

• 50-60 feet tall / 40-50 feet wide

• Tolerates drought and poorly drained soils

• Moderate growth rate

• Dark burgundy fall color 

#2 Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

• Main varieties include Fall Fiesta, Green Mountain, & Northern Flare

• 40-50 feet tall & wide

• Symmetrical growth form

• Orange / red fall color

 #3 Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

• 50 feet tall & wide

• Moderate to fast growth rate

• Yellow fall color

• Very few insect or disease problems

• Adaptable to wide range of soil conditions

#4 Hybrid Elm (Ulmus species)

• 60-70 feet tall / 50-70 feet wide

• Varieties include New Harmony, Princeton, St. Croix and Valley Forge

• Yellow fall color

• Very fast growing and urban tough

• Resistant to Dutch elm disease

• Will need pruning to train structure

• Can attract Japanese beetles

#5 Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

• 50 feet tall / 40 feet wide

• Moderate to fast growth rate

• Yellow fall color

• “Filtered” shade tree

• Plant ‘Skyeline” a seedless variety