Tree Species Guide

Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

• Wisconsin Native: Yes
• Mature Height: 15-25 feet
• Mature Spread: 15 feet
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
• Light Required: Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours direct light daily)
• Soil Types: Moist, loamy, well-drained. Tolerant of many soil types, not drought tolerant.
• Flower: White, showy may flowers
• Fruit: Purple berry, known as juneberries, edible – sweet & juicy! They can be eaten fresh or made into pies, jams, and jellies.
• Fall Color: Orange red
• Wildlife: Songbirds love the berries, attracts all manner of wildlife and pollinating insects. Butterflies use the serviceberry species as a host plant. This tree is somewhat deer and rabbit resistant.

Other Notes: Tolerant of salt from roadways, smooth grey bark for multi-season interest, good choice for under power lines.

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

• Wisconsin Native: No
• Mature Height: 20-30 feet
• Mature Spread: 25-35 feet
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Light Required: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Types: Tolerant of many soils, except wet, does well in dry, alkaline soils
• Flower: Purple-pink, fragrant, showy, blooms in April and May
• Fruit: Small seed pod, 2-3 inches long
• Fall Color: Yellow
• Wildlife: Provides habitat and food for birds, bees love the flowers and the nectar is a food source for the Henry’s elfin butterfly

Other Notes: The flowers are edible and can be used in salads, the twigs can be boiled to produce yellow die. This tree works well as an understory plant beneath existing trees. Something to consider is that it drops its fruit and plant parts so can be messy.

Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana)

• Wisconsin Native: Yes
• Mature Height: 25-40 feet
• Mature Spread: 15-40 feet
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Light Required: Full sun to full shade
• Soil Types: Tolerant of many soils, intolerant of flooding, alkaline soil
• Flower: Catkins
• Fruit: Hop-like strobili, green to brown, showy
• Fall Color: Yellow
• Wildlife: This tree is a good food source for wildlife and birds, it’s also the host plant for several moths and butterflies

Other Notes: This tree is intolerant of road salt and pollution; it should not be planted near busy roads.

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

• Wisconsin Native: Yes
• Mature Height: 40-60 feet
• Mature Spread: 40-60 feet
• Growth Rate: Fast to moderate
• Light Required: Full to partial sun
• Soil Types: Tolerates a wide range of soil and moisture conditions, its preference is alkaline soil, moist, well-drained soil
• Flower: Whiteish/greenish
• Fruit: Dark red to purple when ripe, has a sweet, slightly tart flavor
• Fall Color: Sometimes yellow
• Wildlife: Birds love this tree’s fruit, and its branches and canopy make a good nesting site. Other wildlife also love this tree.

Other Notes: Tough and adaptable tree. Not suitable for areas with a high-water table. Serviceberries are good companion trees for hackberries.

Espresso™ Kentucky Coffeetree

(Gymnocladus dioicus ‘Espresso-JFS’)

• Wisconsin Native: No
• Mature Height: 50 feet
• Mature Spread: 35 feet
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Light Required: Full sun
• Soil Types: Performs best in alkaline soils
• Flower: Insignificant, white flowers
• Fall Color: Variable, yellow with red petiole
• Wildlife: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds enjoy these trees.

Other Notes: This tree is durable and good for urban environments.

Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)

• Wisconsin Native: Yes
• Mature Height: 50-80 feet
• Mature Spread: 50-70 feet
• Growth Rate: Very slow
• Light Required: Full sun
• Soil Types: Alkaline soil, moist, well-drained soil. Adaptable, but does not like wet soils
• Flower: Insignificant flowers emerge in spring with leaves
• Fruit: Acorn, small and shiny
• Fall Color: Yellow, orange, brown
• Wildlife: Birds and mammals both enjoy feasting on these acorns

Other Notes: Drought tolerant tree, very adaptable to a variety of environments. The chinkapin oak does not produce acorns in consistent amounts. Like all oaks, you should avoid pruning this tree during the growing season, prune in winter after the leaves have fallen. Ironwood trees are good companion trees for this oak. The acorns are also valued by foragers for cooking.

Basswood (Tilia americana)

• Wisconsin Native: Yes
• Mature Height: 75 feet
• Mature Spread: 50 feet
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Light Required: Full sun to full shade
• Soil Types: Adapts to many soils
• Flower: Yellow and fragrant
• Fruit: Pea-sized single, helicopter fruit
• Fall Color: Yellow
• Wildlife: Many animal and insect species enjoy the Basswood. Honeybees especially love to make honey from Basswood nectar.

Other Notes: Basswood trees like to stay in moist soil, make sure your Basswood has enough water during droughts. Oaks, sugar maples, beeches, and shagbark hickory are all great companion trees.

White Oak (Quercus alba)

• Wisconsin Native: Yes
• Mature Height: 80-100 feet
• Mature Spread: 50-80 feet
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Light Required: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Types: Adapts well to average soils. Performs best in slightly acidic, moist loamy soils.
• Flower: Male catkins 2-4 inches long; female flowers small single spikes
• Fruit: Acorns up to 3/4″ long
• Fall Color: Orange red
• Wildlife: Oaks support more life than any other North American tree genus. More than 180 different kinds of birds and mammals use oak acorns as food.

Other Notes: Maintaining a white oak’s health is the best way to prevent disease or pests. They need to stay adequately watered and mulched. Like all oaks, you should avoid pruning this tree during the growing season, prune in winter after the leaves have fallen.

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

• Wisconsin Native: Yes
• Mature Height: 70-80 feet
• Mature Spread: 75-90 feet
• Growth Rate: Moderate to slow
• Light Required: Full sun
• Soil Types: Adaptable to many soils and moisture levels except flooded sites
• Flower: Small flowers emerge in spring, inconspicuous.
• Fruit: Acorn, 3/4 inch
• Fall Color: Yellow brown to tan
• Wildlife: Blue jays, crows, and many mammals love the acorns as a food source.

Other Notes: Best for backyard trees, not near the street. Bur oaks are great as a shade tree. Like all oaks, you should avoid pruning this tree during the growing season, prune in winter after the leaves have fallen.

Exclamation! London Planetree – Sycamore hybrid (Platanus x acerifolia ‘Morton Circle’)

• Wisconsin Native: No
• Mature Height: 70-100 feet
• Mature Spread: 65-80 feet
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Light Required: Full sun
• Soil Types: Tolerant of many soils, salt, and pollution
• Flower: Insignificant flowers, male flowers are green, and female flowers are burgundy red.
• Fruit: Seed heads paired with long stalks.
• Fall Color: Yellow to brown
• Wildlife: Birds and small mammals benefit from the tree as a minor food source and good cover.

Other Notes: Tough tree, good choice for urban spaces.