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Keeping your soil in mind, as well as the temperature and the wind, here are the nine best trees to plant in Minneapolis.<\/p>
- Hardiness Zone<\/a><\/li>
- Coniferous Trees for Minneapolis<\/a>
- Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)<\/a><\/li>
- Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)<\/a><\/li>
- Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)<\/a><\/li>
- White Fir (Abies concolor)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Deciduous Trees for Minneapolis<\/a>
- Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)<\/a><\/li>
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)<\/a><\/li>
- River Birch (Betula nigra)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Special Trees for Minneapolis<\/a>
- Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)<\/a><\/li>
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- A Word on Tree Planting<\/a><\/li>
- When to Call In a Professional<\/a><\/li>
- FAQs: Pests, Deer, and Peeling Bark<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Hardiness Zone<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"USDA](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Usda-Hardiness-Zones-Outline-Map-2-1.jpg\")
Minneapolis sits in the USDA hardiness zone<\/a> 4b-5a. <\/figcaption><\/figure> Coniferous Trees for Minneapolis<\/strong><\/h2>
Conifers are trees that bear their seeds in cones (leading to the name conifer) and are known for their needles. Most conifer species keep their needles all year, leading to the term \u201cevergreen\u201d.<\/p>
They are good trees to plant for privacy and wind breaks.<\/p>
Good ones for Minneapolis:<\/p>
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/eastern-red-cedar-juniperus-virginiana-joshua-mayer-ccsa20.jpg\")
Eastern red cedar.
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC by SA 2.0<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>Eastern red cedars are native to southeast Minnesota and prefer sunny, well-drained sites where there isn\u2019t much competition from hardwood species. Avoid planting too close to your garden or on small lots, as the roots spread and rob available moisture from the soil.<\/p>
To Note: <\/strong>If you live near apple orchards, you may want to consider a different tree. Eastern red cedars and apple trees spread cedar-apple rust<\/a> to each other if they are planted too closely together.<\/p>
Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 2-9<\/p>
Sun:<\/strong> Full<\/p>
Soil: <\/strong>Clay, loam, sand. Acidic, alkaline, well-drained.<\/p>
Mature size:<\/strong> 40-50 feet tall<\/a>; 10-20 feet wide<\/p>
Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Tolerates drought, dry soil, and road salt. <\/p>
Maintenance:<\/strong> Low<\/p>
Foliage:<\/strong> Silver-blue in the spring, turning blue-green through the summer <\/p>
Flowers: <\/strong>A dark blue berry-like cone that birds flock to during winter<\/p>
Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"white](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/rsz_northern-white-cedar-thuja-occidentalis-kateterhaar-cc20-1024x768-1.jpg\")
Northern white cedar.
Photo Credit: Kate Ter Haar<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>Native to the Twin Cities Highlands, white cedars<\/a> are also known in gardening circles as Arborvitae. Though called a cedar, this is actually a variety of cypress, and it enjoys cool, moist soil. The oldest tree in the state is a white cedar estimated to be 1,100 years old<\/a>. <\/p>
Arborvitae is often used in hedges and can tolerate partial shade. Sadly, it\u2019s a favorite of deer, so if you have a nearby deer population, you may want to avoid this species.<\/p>
Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 2-7<\/p>
Sun:<\/strong> Full sun to partial shade<\/p>
Soil: <\/strong>Clay, loam, sand. Acidic, slightly alkaline. Extended flooding, well-drained.<\/p>
Mature size:<\/strong> 25-40 feet tall; 10-12 feet wide<\/p>
Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Wet or moist soil<\/p>
Maintenance: <\/strong>Low<\/p>
Foliage:<\/strong> Fragrant, needled evergreen<\/p>
Flowers: <\/strong>Yellow, small<\/p>
Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"scots](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/39412434302_2e0afaf618_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Medium growing and long-lived, Scots pines (aka Scotch pines<\/a>) are beautiful evergreen conifers with showy orange bark. Hardy and adaptable, these trees can serve as accents, shade trees, or windbreaks \u2014 and do a mighty fine job as Christmas trees. While native to Europe, they have become naturalized in the U.S. and thrive in northern climates. <\/p>
Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 3a-8a<\/p>
Sun:<\/strong> Full sun<\/p>
Soil: <\/strong>Clay, loam, sand. Acidic, slightly alkaline. Well-drained.<\/p>
Mature size:<\/strong> 40-50 feet tall; 25-30 feet wide<\/p>
Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Can\u2019t tolerate \u201cwet feet\u201d caused by standing water<\/p>
Maintenance: <\/strong>Low<\/p>
Foliage:<\/strong> Evergreen<\/p>
Flowers:<\/strong> Non-flowering<\/p>
White Fir (Abies concolor<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"white](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/31179490991_63b0015805_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: S. Rae<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> If you\u2019re concerned about tree \u201clitter,\u201d from messy leaves or fruit that fall on cars and clog gutters, this tree is perfect. White fir<\/a> trees are slow-growing, tidy trees that are low-maintenance. <\/p>
Able to withstand heat and drought, these evergreens can grow to over 40 feet tall. White firs are a good substitute for blue spruce trees, which are susceptible to several debilitating diseases.<\/p>
Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 3a-7b<\/p>
Sun:<\/strong> Full sun, partial sun, partial shade<\/p>
Soil: <\/strong>Clay, loam, sand. Acidic. Well-drained.<\/p>
Mature size:<\/strong> 40-50 feet tall; 15-25 feet wide<\/p>
Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Can\u2019t tolerate \u201cwet feet\u201d caused by standing water<\/p>
Maintenance: <\/strong>Medium<\/p>
Foliage:<\/strong> Evergreen, needled evergreen, blue-green needles<\/p>
Flowers:<\/strong> Red <\/p>
Deciduous Trees for Minneapolis<\/h2>
Deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall or winter, and in beautiful displays of color. If they are planted on the south side of a home, they provide shade in the summer and warmth in the winter, when there are no leaves to block the sun.<\/p>
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Bur](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_bur_oak_-_flickr_-_treegrow.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Katja Schulz<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure> The bur oak is a native Minnesota savannah tree. It\u2019s a slow-growing, long-lived tree that loves full sun and provides dense shade. Resistant to heat stress and air pollution, the bur oak<\/a> drops large, fringed acorns in the fall, earning it another name, the mossycup oak.<\/p>
Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 3a-8b<\/p>
Sun:<\/strong> Full sun<\/p>
Soil: <\/strong>Clay, loam, sand. Acidic, alkaline. Tolerates well-drained soils or soils with extended flooding.<\/p>
Mature size:<\/strong> 70-90 feet tall; 60-80 feet wide<\/p>
Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Tolerant of both drought and flooding<\/a>. <\/p>
Maintenance:<\/strong> Low<\/p>
Foliage:<\/strong> Green turning brown in the fall. Come winter, its magnificent bark (gray, thick, deeply grooved) is visible.<\/p>
Flowers: <\/strong>Insignificant<\/p>
Red Maple (Acer rubrum<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/rsz_1red-maple-tree-1106613001860497ss.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PublicDomainPictures<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Red maples are a favorite landscape tree in Minnesota, prized for their exceptional fall foliage and ability to thrive in a wide variety of soils. These trees are well suited as shade, accent, or specimen plantings. Also known as swamp maples<\/a>, they are sensitive to salt, so protect them from road salt spray<\/a>.<\/p>
Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 4a-9b<\/p>
Sun:<\/strong> Full sun, partial sun, partial shade<\/p>
Soil: <\/strong>Clay, loam, sand. Acidic. Extended flooding or well-drained.<\/p>
Mature size:<\/strong> 60-70 feet tall; 25-35 feet wide<\/p>
Moisture requirements:<\/strong> If the soil isn\u2019t naturally moist, then water regularly.<\/p>
Maintenance: <\/strong>Low<\/p>
Foliage:<\/strong> Spectacular red, orange, or yellow fall color, often on the same tree<\/p>
Flowers: <\/strong>Red or pink<\/p>
River Birch (Betula nigra<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"River](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/river-birch-fd-richards-ccsa20.jpg\")
The papery bark of a river birch.
Photo Credit: F.D. Richards<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>Fast-growing and native, river birches are easy to transplant. They can thrive in sandy to clay soils and have no problem growing in wet, poorly-drained soils. River birches<\/a> are heat tolerant, enjoy full sun, and can reach heights of more than 40 feet. There is a range of varieties available with different shapes, bark color, and foliage.<\/p>
Hardiness zones:<\/strong> 4a-9a<\/p>
Sun:<\/strong> Full sun, partial sun, partial shade<\/p>
Soil: <\/strong>Clay, loam, sand. Acidic. Wet to well-drained.<\/p>
Mature size:<\/strong> 40-50 feet tall; 25-35 feet wide<\/p>
Moisture requirements:<\/strong> Needs wet soil, the kind found near rivers or in bogs. Don\u2019t plant near concrete. <\/p>
Maintenance: <\/strong>Low<\/p>
Foliage:<\/strong> The bark of the tree draws gasps throughout its life. When young, it flakes into paper-like pieces that are orange and white in color before morphing into orange brown. After its third year, the bark becomes scaly and its color becomes dark red-brown fading into black.<\/p>
Flowers: <\/strong>Inconspicuous<\/p>
Special Trees for Minneapolis<\/strong><\/h2>
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Ginkgo](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Ginkgo_biloba_MN_2007-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: SEWilco<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Imported centuries ago from China, ginkgo trees have deep roots that prevent them from being knocked over by strong winds, making them a perfect choice to plant in Minneapolis and its average winds of 10.5<\/a> miles per hour. <\/p>
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)<\/a><\/li>
- Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)<\/a><\/li>
- Coniferous Trees for Minneapolis<\/a>