Meet Your Trees!
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
Zone: 3-8
Soil Type: Preference for fertile, well-drained loam soils.
Moisture: Prefers moist soils, can tolerate drier, sandy soils.
Habitat: Full/Partial Sun (Moderately shade tolerant). More commonly found in mixed woodlands than Bur Oak.
Growth: Moderate/Fast (12-24"/yr), up to 50-80' tall.
Ecological Functions: Food & Shelter for wildlife.
​
Highly susceptible to oak wilt, typically dying within a single year if infected. Acorns are highly favored by blue jays, wild turkeys, squirrels, small rodents, white-tailed deer, raccoons, and black bears. Deer also browse the buds and twigs heavily, protection needed! Used for mushroom log production.
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Zone: 3-8
Soil Type: Clay, Loamy & Sandy Soils
Moisture: Dry to Average Soils, Drought Tolerant (Has been known to live in flood plains in parts of Minnesota.)
Habitat: Full/Partial Sun, Prairie to Open Forest, more typically found in Oak Savanna ecotype than Red Oak.
Growth: Slow to Moderate (12"+/yr), up to 80-100' tall and 60' wide. In an open forest setting Bur Oaks will have few, short lower branches with a spreading crown.
Ecological Functions: Food & Shelter for Wildlife.
Can persist for centuries. Susceptible to Oak Wilt, but may take several years to die from the infection. Used for lumber, beams and also for mushroom log production.
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Zone:
Soil Type:
Moisture:
Habitat: Full/Partial Sun, Prairie to Open Forest.
Growth: Moderate (12-24"/yr), up to 80-100' tall.
Ecological Functions:
Yellow Birch (Betula allegheniensis)
Zone:
Soil Type:
Moisture:
Habitat: Full/Partial Sun, Prairie to Open Forest.
Growth: Moderate (12-24"/yr), up to 80-100' tall.
Ecological Functions:
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Zone:
Soil Type:
Moisture:
Habitat: Full/Partial Sun, Prairie to Open Forest.
Growth: Moderate (12-24"/yr), up to 80-100' tall.
Ecological Functions:
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Zone:
Soil Type:
Moisture:
Habitat: Full/Partial Sun, Prairie to Open Forest.
Growth: Moderate (12-24"/yr), up to 80-100' tall.
Ecological Functions:
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Zone:
Soil Type:
Moisture:
Habitat: Full/Partial Sun, Prairie to Open Forest.
Growth: Moderate (12-24"/yr), up to 80-100' tall.
Ecological Functions:
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Zone:
Soil Type:
Moisture:
Habitat: Full/Partial Sun, Prairie to Open Forest.
Growth: Moderate (12-24"/yr), up to 80-100' tall.
Ecological Functions:
Pin Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)
Zone:
Soil Type:
Moisture:
Habitat: Full/Partial Sun, Prairie to Open Forest.
Growth: Moderate (12-24"/yr), up to 80-100' tall.
Ecological Functions: