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.

ALLEGHENY SERVICEBERRY

Common Name: Allegheny Serviceberry
Botanical Name: Amelanchier laevis
Mature Height: 15-25 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-20 ft.
Exposure: Partial to Full sun

Ornamental Tree • The Alleghany Serviceberry is a multi-stem understory tree that makes a wonderful addition to any yard due to its year-round beauty. In the springtime, you will be greeted with slightly fragrant, star-shaped white flowers, which will mature into small, blue, edible berries in the summer. These small fruits, also known as juneberries, are similar in size to blueberries and can be used to make pies and jams. But you won’t be the only one enjoying these berries, as pollinators like native bees and birds love to browse these trees as well. In the fall, the leaves will turn into a beautiful red-orange color. And even when the tree has lost its leaves for the winter, you will witness the unique smooth grey bark.

CRABAPPLE

Common Name: ‘Adirondack’ Crabapple
Botanical Name: Malus ‘Adirondack’
Mature Height: 15-20 ft.
Mature Spread: 10-20 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Ornamental Tree • The Adirondack Crabapple is a hardy and relatively disease-resistant fruiting ornamental tree. This tree will do well in smaller spaces as it has a more dense, upright form while still showing off its beautiful white flowers in the springtime. It produces small, bright-red apples about ½ inch in size that are edible for humans and wildlife.

AMERICAN PERSIMMON

Common Name: American Persimmon
Botanical Name: Diospyros virginiana
Mature Height: 35-60 ft
Mature Spread: 20-35 ft
Exposure: Partial to Full Sun

Ornamental Tree • Listed as a climate-resilient tree by the University of Minnesota, this species will make a unique addition to any space with its white flowers and attractive fruit. When ripe, the fruits are sweet and are edible for humans and non-humans alike. This tree is quite resistant as it can tolerate drought, urban conditions, and soils with a high pH. Although it is a fruiting tree, it can still grow quite large, as it can be anywhere from 35 to 60 feet tall. Finally, this cultivar is dioecious, meaning that each individual tree is either male or female, with only female trees producing fruit after being pollinated by a male. We would recommend planting at least two trees in your space to increase the chance of a fruit-bearing tree.

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.

PAW PAW

Common Name: Paw Paw
Botanical Name: Asimina triloba
Mature Height: 15-20 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-20 ft.
Exposure: Partial to Full sun

Ornamental Tree • If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind species that will bring a tropical vibe to your space, look no further than the Paw Paw tree. Typically grown in zones 5 to 9, this species has been introduced to Minnesota despite our shorter growing season and hardier winters, which this species is not typically used to. If your tree is lucky enough to produce fruit, you will be greeted with a unique taste not found here, as the fruits grown in other parts of the U.S. don’t tend to travel well. But either way, the unique drooping leaves and purple flowers in the springtime will be a colorful addition to any space.

UMBRELLA MAGNOLIA

Common Name: Umbrella Magnolia
Botanical Name: Magnolia tripetala
Mature Height: 25-30 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-25 ft.
Exposure: Partial Shade

Ornamental Tree • Description Coming Soon!

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!

AMERICAN HORNBEAM

Common Name: American Hornbeam
Botanical Name: Carpinus caroliniana
Mature Height: 20-30 ft.
Mature Spread: 20-35 ft.
Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Shade

Shade tree • This tree is known by several names, including Ironwood, Blue Beech, and Musclewood. It belongs to the birch family and stands out for its smooth bark that looks like rippling muscles. Since it grows naturally beneath larger trees, it thrives in shady areas, making it a great choice for woodland gardens. Its leaves change color throughout the year, starting with a reddish-purple in spring, turning dark green in summer, and then yellow and orange in the fall, so you can enjoy a variety of colors. Additionally, this species is friendly to many forms of wildlife including pollinators, mammals, and birds.

RIVER BIRCH

Common Name: River Birch
Botanical Name: Betula nigra
Mature Height: 50-75 ft.
Mature Spread: 35-50 ft.
Exposure: Full sun

Shade Tree • Description Coming Soon

NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR

Common Name: Northern White Cedar
Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis
Mature Height: 20-40 ft.
Mature Spread: 10-15 ft.
Exposure: Partial to Full Sun