New Trees for a Better Tree Canopy
Meet the new trees in a neighborhood near you! Great River Greening is planting trees in cities across Minnesota through our Cooling Minnesota Communities program. We work with city officials, school district staff, and other community partners to choose the right trees and the right planting spots. Planting new trees is a critical part of creating healthier, more resilient urban tree canopies.
New Trees for a Better Canopy
When choosing which species to plant, it is critically important to also look at the existing trees that make up the local tree canopy. Great River Greening works with local partners to assess the types of trees that are already growing in an area and uses that information to inform our planting plans and make sure no tree species, genus, or family is planted in significantly greater numbers than others.
Maintaining diversity within the mix of tree types we are planting provides a level of protection for the canopy as a whole. If a new disease or pest affects or kills a particular species and the percentage of that species within the canopy is relatively low, the overall loss of trees in an area will be significantly lower than if that species represented a large minority or even majority of the trees in the canopy. And as temperature and precipitation patterns change, greater diversity creates a greater likelihood of the trees we plant surviving, thriving, and providing benefits to Minnesotans for years to come.
Through 2025, Great River Greening has planted trees of more than 80 different species representing more than 18 different families!
Looking at the Whole Canopy
What species?
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Native species are generally well-adapted to local weather patterns and provide vital habitat and food resources to native wildlife that have evolved alongside these trees. These species include:
River birch
Ironwood
Bur oak:
Hackberry
Swamp White Oak
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We also plant species that are not native to Minnesota but are widely used in urban plantings. These trees have proven to be resilient to the many challenges of city life, like not enough water, too much water, soil compaction, air pollution, and de-icing salt. These species have been planted successfully in urban areas in Minnesota and elsewhere without becoming invasive or otherwise harming native plants and animals. This includes species like:
Northern catalpa, Catalpa speciosa
Once you’ve met one catalpa, you’ll find others easy to recognize by their large, heart-shaped leaves and long, pod-like seed capsules. These trees are well suited to urban environments, as they are drought-tolerant, flood-tolerant, and salt-tolerant.
Kentucky coffeetree, Gymnocladus dioicus
Kentucky coffeetree is actually native to some parts of Minnesota, but is rarely found in the wild. But it is frequentlyfound in cities because it is tolerant of pollution and can grow in a wide range of soils. Look for large leaves made of many smaller leaflets and (sometimes) seed pods that, despite the tasty/familiar name, should not be eaten.
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Great River Greening is also exploring species that are new to Minnesota but are expected to grow well in a variety of climate and environmental conditions. Weconsult with our partners at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and University of Minnesota about new-to-the-region species that can be integrated into our plantings without becoming problematic. This includes:
London Planetree
Ohio buckeye (range expansion)
Baldcypress (species migration)
Learn more about these trees (and many others!) by checking out these great resources from our partners:
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Best native yard trees for our changing climate
University of Minnesota: Urban Forestry Outreach and Research (UFOR)
Where to put each species?
When choosing which tree species to plant at a location, we work with our community partners to answer a number of questions about the site, including:
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How much sunshine does this area receive?
What are the soils like?
Does the area flood frequently
How much road salt would a tree here be exposed to?
Where does snow get plowed into piles in the winter?
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Which other species are present?
Which species have done well? Which are struggling?
Are any species overrepresented?
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How do people use this area?
Are there sports fields that should be kept clear of plantings?
Where would shade most benefit the people gathering in or moving through the area?
Taking the time to answer these questions helps to ensure that we are planting the right trees in the right places, giving them the best chance at survival.
For more information on tree species selection, check out these great resources from Hennepin County, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Minnesota!
Funding for this project provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) or by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service through the Urban and Community Forestry Program. USDA and Great River Greening are equal opportunity providers and employers.