Native Tree Species and Planting Information

Aitkin County is home to a number of native tree and shrub species, all with their own unique combinations of wildlife, food, shelter, forest product, and aesthetic benefits. Many of these species are sold through the Aitkin County SWCD’s annual Native Tree and Plant Sale, but availability does change from year to year. Trees can be ordered from local greenhouses and plant nurseries, or in large quantities (more than 500) from the MN Department of Natural Resources’ state nursery in Badoura, near Akeley.

Click on each tree or shrub below for more information about the benefits, planting environment, maintenance, and common issues of each species.

Conifers

The drooping branches of a jack pine tower about surrounding vegetation.
Jack Pine
A single red pine is silhouetted against a cloudy sky.
Red Pine
A tall white pine in a clearcut area.
White Pine
A young balsam fir with tall grass surrounding its base.
Balsam Fir
A single black spruce, isolated, in a field.
Black Spruce
A white spruce isolated against a snowy backdrop.
White Spruce

Deciduous

A quaking aspen silhouetted against a blue sky.
Quaking & Bigtooth Aspen
A lone balsam poplar.
Balsam Poplar
Paper Birch
Yellow Birch
Red Maple
Sugar Maple
Silver Maple
Bur Oak
Red Oak
Green & White Ash
Black Ash
American Elm
Basswood
Box Elder

Shrubs

A chokecherry branch bends over, with heavy chains of dark fruit.
Chokecherry
A juneberry bush laden with small white flowers.
Juneberry
A maintained nannyberry bush with palm-sized white flower clusters.
Nannyberry
A cluster of white berries of redosier dogwood.
Red-Osier Dogwood
A close-up of several wild plum fruits on a branch.
Wild Plum