Free Trees for the East Side and North End

The East Side and North End have lower tree canopy coverage than other parts of the city. We are working to change that. Our conservation crews have planted thousands of trees in our public parks over the years, and now we want to bring the trees directly to you!

In 2023, through a collaboration with the US Forest Service, AmeriCorps, Tree Trust, Human Nature (formerly Frogtown Green), and nearby neighborhood organizations, we are helping to facilitate tree-planting in Hamline-Midway, Summit-University, and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods. Human Nature has a goal of 1,000 new trees planted by 2027! You can learn more by visiting their webpage.

Donated trees are kept over the summer months in our innovative community gravel beds located at the Rivoli Bluffs Farm and Restoration Site. By adding to the tree canopy of our community, we help improve the environmental health of residents and visitors.

This project is funded by the MNDNR ReLeaf Grants, as appropriated by the 2023 Minnesota Legislature.

Interested in a Free Tree?

Here’s how to do it!

Our trees will not be ready for ordering until May 2026. If you are interested in receiving a free tree in 2026, please fill out the “Tree Waitlist Form” below, and we will contact you as soon as we have them available. In the meantime, please review our list of available tree species below.

Disclaimer: We give trees away on a first come first serve basis and will reach out if and when we can give you a tree.

Tree Waitlist Form

Bringing the Benefits of Trees to All

1. Verify You’re Within Our Service Area→

View the map

2. Browse Tree Species

We offer a variety of tree species, from smaller fruit trees to larger shade trees, to suit your yard’s needs. Once you decide on a species (or two, or three), you can fill out our tree waitlist form.

3. Fill Out a Tree Request⟶

If the tree species you are interested in is not listed as an option, it means it is currently unavailable. It is possible that we will receive more, so if there is a species you are particularly interested in, please let us know.

4. Set Up a Site Visit

Once you complete the form, we will contact you to arrange a site visit at your home. During this site visit, we will discuss potential planting locations and address any other questions you may have.

5. Submit a Utilities Check

After the site visit, a staff member will submit a utilities check with the city to confirm that the area we chose is safe to dig. This may take up to two weeks.

6. Plant Your Tree!

Once receiving confirmation that the chosen planting spot is safe to dig, we will set up a date to get your tree planted. If you are able, you can dig the hole ahead of time. Otherwise, our staff will deliver and plant the tree for you.

7. Follow-up Tree Care

You will receive follow-up emails from staff with tips on how to take care of your newly planted tree. You can also check out our website for a variety of tree care resources.

Learn Your Tree Canopy Score →

Find out more about how your neighborhood ranks and the current canopy cover. Powered by the Tree Equity Score project.

Download Our Tree Care Guide

Looking for more information on caring for your new tree? Download the tree care guide pdf below.

Urban Roots Tree Care Guide

2026 Tree Catalog

Fruit/Ornamental Trees

SERVICEBERRY

Common Name: ‘Autumn Brilliance’ Serviceberry
Botanical Name: Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’
Mature Height: 20-25 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-20 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Ornamental Tree • This popular tree offers white blossoms in spring, followed by sweet purplish-black, edible fruit over a long harvest period. Berries are good fresh, jarred, or frozen (no pitting or peeling required). Heavily branched, the tree has an interesting spreading pattern and attractive light gray bark with brilliant red-orange fall leaves. As serviceberry is a native tree species, the clusters of white flowers are particularly important to local pollinators.

REDBUD

Common Name: ‘Minnesota Strain’ Redbud
Botanical Name: Cercis canadensis ‘Minnesota Strain’
Mature Height: 25 ft.
Mature Spread: 30 ft.
Exposure: Partial to Full sun

Ornamental Tree • Smaller statured understory tree developed at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, this tree is typical of eastern and southern climes but has been bred to be hardy to Zone 4. Beautiful clusters of rose-pink to magenta pea-like flowers emerge along its branches in May and form small seed pods in the summer. Prefers well drained soil and cannot tolerate salt. Can be susceptible to verticillium wilt, leaf spots, mildew, Japanese beetles, borers and scale.

CRABAPPLE

Common Name: ‘Adirondack’ Crabapple
Botanical Name: Malus ‘Adirondack’
Mature Height: 15-20 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-20 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Ornamental Tree • The adirondack crabapple is a hearty and relatively disease resistant fruiting ornamental tree. This tree is well known for its long bloom season and large, white blooms in the Spring. Produces fruit that is edible for humans and wildlife.

Shade Trees

KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE

Common Name: ‘Espresso’ Kentucky Coffeetree
Botanical Name: Gymnocladus dioicus ‘Espresso’
Mature Height: 60-75 ft.
Mature Spread: 40-50 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Shade Tree • Despite being commonly named the Kentucky Coffee Tree, this tree is native to small pockets of moist woodlands in Minnesota. It is tolerant of many conditions including a variety of soil types, road salt, and occasional drought, making it a good choice for an urban environment. The fragrant flowers attract pollinator insects and the seed pods do create winter interest, but can be messy.

LINDEN

Common Name: American Linden
Botanical Name: Tilia americana
Mature Height: 40-60 ft.
Mature Spread: 25-30 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Shade Tree • Also known as a Basswood, this rapid growing tree has fragrant yellow flowers in spring and dense foliage of heart shaped leaves that provide shade in the summer and turn golden in the fall. These flowers are very attractive to local pollinators and make delicious honey. Produces bird friendly berries in the summer. Prefers moist, well drained soils, but will grow in a variety of soil conditions. ‘Redmond’ is a smaller statured variety of linden with a pyramidal form when mature.

ELM

Common Name: ‘Princeton’ Elm
Botanical Name: Ulmus americana ‘Princeton’
Mature Height: ~60 ft.
Mature Spread: 35-40 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Shade Tree • A true American elm, these trees are clones of an anomalous Dutch-elm resistant tree found in the Chicago area.

BUR OAK

Common Name: Bur Oak
Botanical Name: Quercus macrocarpa
Mature Height: 60-80 ft.
Mature Spread: 60-80 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Shade tree • This is an iconic staple of the Minnesota natural landscape. A very distinctive species of white oak, bur oaks sport a wide canopy, zig-zagging branches, and notable large, burred acorns. Notably a savannah species, this tree is tolerant of a range of soil types and drought conditions.

NORTHERN CATALPA

Common Name: Northern Catalpa
Botanical Name: Catalpa speciosa
Mature Height: 40-60 ft.
Mature Spread: 20–40 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Shade Tree • Catalpas are a common urban tree in the Twin Cities. They are known for their attractive, large leaves and distinctive fruits, but can grow to impressive sizes and grow quite rapidly. They are tolerant to harsh environments, but they can have weak branch structure so it may be wise to keep them away from driveways and homes.

AMERICAN SYCAMORE

Common Name: American Sycamore
Botanical Name: Platanus occidentalis
Mature Height: 75-100 ft.
Mature Spread: 50-70 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Shade Tree • American Sycamores are another species that is a potential candidate for introduction in Minnesota. These trees are famous for being giants of the forest and having majestic, iconic structures that have made them one of the most famous American tree species. They are not particularly hearty to cold weather, so make sure to monitor the tree over the first few years to make sure it does not succumb to the cold winters here. We are happy to replace trees if the winter is too harsh!

Urban Roots Free Trees