Free Trees for the East Side

The East Side has 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, Frogtown Green, and nearby neighborhood organizations, we are helping to facilitate tree-planting in Hamline-Midway, Summit-University, and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods. Frogtown Green has a goal of 1,000 new trees planted by 2025! 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.

Disclaimer: Tree varieties will be updated for 2024. We give trees away on a first come first serve basis so feel free to express interest in a tree and we will reach out with this years available species when we know what they will be.

Interested in a Free tree?

Here’s how to do it!

Learn about our trees and fill out the form below.

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From fruit to shade trees, we have something for every East Side yard! Read about our options and decide what’s best for you. Tell us your tree preference and how to get in touch with you by filling out the form below.

In fall, you dig a hole, and we plant your tree.

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Youth interns will plant the tree for you! All you have to do is dig a hole for your new tree. And you’ll need to water it regularly! We’ll send additional tips on how to take care of it.

Tree Catalog

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: ‘Red Jewel’ Crabapple
Botanical Name: Malus ‘Red Jewel’
Mature Height: 12-15 ft.
Mature Spread: 8-10 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Ornamental Tree • This small statured ornamental crab blooms early in the season with pink buds that yield fragrant, self-pollinating white flowers. The abundance of persistent ½” bright red fruit makes it lovely for year-round interest. Leathery, shiny green foliage is moderately disease resistant to fireblight, cedar apple rust, scab and mildew.

RIVER BIRCH

Common Name: ‘Heritage’ River Birch
Botanical Name: Betula nigra ‘Heritage’
Mature Height: 40-70 ft.
Mature Spread: 40-60 ft.
Exposure: Partial to Full sun

Shade tree • This medium sized native Minnesota tree is common in swamplands and river bottoms. Heavy exfoliating bark with salmon-cream to dark brown colors create year round visual interest in both single stemmed and multi-stemmed forms. The ‘Heritage’ variety is a vigorous grower that is resistant to the bronze birch borer. Prefers moist, fertile soils, but can tolerate drier conditions as well, making it a good choice for an urban environment.

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: ‘Prairie Expidition’ Elm
Botanical Name: Ulmus americana ‘Lewis & Clark’
Mature Height: ~60 ft.
Mature Spread: 35-40 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Shade Tree • A true American elm, these trees are clones of a Dutch elm disease-resistant tree found in the Wild Rice River bottom near Fargo, North Dakota. A large native Minnesota shade tree that tolerates urban conditions well, this is a classic boulevard tree for city streets.

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO CLAIM YOUR FREE TREE