Trees and Shrubs
A guide to some of the trees and shrubs, both planted and naturally occurring, that could be found in the Arboretum.
- Plant Family
- Native Range
- Location in arboretum or on campus
- Known cultivars planted
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
- Small plantation behind President’s House
- Eastern and central Canada, northeastern and north-central United States
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
White Fir (Abies concolor)
- Planted ornamentally near Interpretive Center and elsewhere on campus
- Mountains of western United States
- Cultivars: ‘Candicans’
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Korean Fir (Abies koreana)
- Planted in Interpretive Center’s perennial gardens
- Mountains of South Korea
- Cultivars: ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)
- A few trees planted in conifer garden southwest of Interpretive Center
- Mountains of western North America
- Cultivars: ‘Glauca’
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
- Planted ornamentally in maple collection south of Borgeson cabin, has spread into Arb’s deciduous forest
- Northeastern Asia
- Maple Family (Aceraceae)
Boxelder (Acer negundo) L.
- A couple trees planted on west side of Jim Gilbert Teaching Pond, also commonly found in deciduous forest in Arb
- Eastern, central, and parts of western United States and southern Canada, also south to Guatemala
- Maple Family (Aceraceae)
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) L.
- Planted ornamentally in maple collection south of Borgeson cabin
- Eastern and central Europe and southwest Asia
- Cultivars: ‘Crimson King’
- Maple Family (Aceraceae)
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) L.
- Planted ornamentally along Ring Road and elsewhere across campus and in Arb
- Eastern North America
- Cultivars: ‘Northwoods’
- Maple Family (Aceraceae)
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) L.
- Planted ornamentally across campus, also found in deciduous forest in Arb
- Eastern North America
- Maple Family (Aceraceae)
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
- Commonly found in deciduous forest in Arb, also planted across campus
- Northeastern and north-central North America
- Maple Family (Aceraceae)
Freeman Maple (Acer x freemannii)
- Planted across campus
- Hybrid of Red Maple and Silver Maple
- Cultivars: ‘Autumn Blaze’
- Maple Family (Aceraceae)
Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra)
- Small plantation west of maple collection in Arb, also two trees in mall area between Confer/Vickner and Nobel halls
- Midwest United States, also some areas in southern United States and south-central Canada
- Soapberry Family (Sapindaceae)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
- Plantation east of Borgeson cabin in Arb
- Eastern North America
- Cultivars: ‘Autumn Brilliance’
- Rose Family (Rosaceae)
River Birch (Betula nigra) L.
- Small plantation southwest of Interpretive Center, also some trees planted in deciduous forest of Arb
- Eastern and central North America
- Birch Family (Betulaceae)
Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
- Small plantations southwest of Interpretive Center and west of Borgeson cabin
- North America
- Birch Family (Betulaceae)
Shellbark Hickory (Carya laciniosa)
- Single trees planted on west side of Borgeson cabin in Arb
- Eastern and Midwest United States
- Walnut Family (Juglandaceae)
Southern Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides)
- Small plantation east of Interpretive Center
- Southeast United States
- Trumpet Creeper Family (Bignoniaceae)
Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
- Small plantation east of Interpretive Center
- Midwest United States
- Trumpet Creeper Family (Bignoniaceae)
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) L.
- Planted across campus and in Arb
- North America
- Elm Family (Ulmaceae)
Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) L.
- Found throughout Arb, especially near wooded areas and along prairie edges
- Northern and western North America
- Dogwood Family (Cornaceae)
Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis)
- Planted across campus, especially near campus center on north side of campus
- Eastern and central North America
- Rose Family (Rosaceae)
Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
- Small plantation west of Interpretive Center, planted elsewhere across campus
- Eastern and central North America
- Cultivars: ‘Summit’
- Olive Family (Oleaceae)
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) L.
- Individual trees planted near Interpretive Center and elsewhere on campus
- Eastern China
- Ginkgo Family (Ginkgoaceae)
Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) L.
- Planted across campus, also found in deciduous forest in Arb
- Eastern and central North America
- Cultivars: ‘Suncole’
- Legume Family (Fabaceae)
Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
- Small plantation east of Interpretive Center
- Midwest United States (as far north as Le Sueur, MN)
- Legume Family (Fabaceae)
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) L.
- Individual trees planted south of Borgeson cabin in Arb near buckeye plantation and elsewhere across campus
- Eastern and central North America
- Walnut Family (Juglandaceae)
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) L.
- Commonly found in coniferous and deciduous forests in Arb
- Eastern and central North America
- Cypress Family (Cupressaceae)
European Larch (Larix decidua)
- Small plantation on north side of Jim Gilbert Teaching Pond in Arb
- Central Europe
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Tamarack or American Larch (Larix laricina)
- Small plantation on north side of Jim Gilbert Teaching Pond in Arb, also individual trees planted near Interpretive Center
- Northern North America
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Magnolia (Magnolia sp.) L.
- Individual trees planted near Interpretive Center and campus center on north end of campus
- North America
- Magnolia Family (Magnoliaceae)
Apple (Malus domestica)
- Small plantation near Borgeson cabin in Arb
- Central Asia, but naturalized widely throughout the world
- Cultivars: ‘Northwest Greening,’ ‘Honey Gold Semi-Dwarf,’ ‘Wolf River Semi-Dwarf,’ ‘Haralson,’ ‘Honey Crisp,’ ‘Fireside,’ ‘Beacon,’ ‘Haralred’
- Rose Family (Rosaceae)
Crabapple (Malus sp.) L.
- Individual trees planted widely throughout Arb and across campus
- Northern Hemisphere
- Cultivars: ‘Flame,’ ‘Red Splendor,’ ‘Prairie Fire,’ ‘Sparkler’
- Rose Family (Rosaceae)
Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) L.
- Found in deciduous and coniferous forests in Arb
- Eastern and central North America
- Mulberry Family (Moraceae)
Ironwood or American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
- Individual trees planted across campus, also found in deciduous forest in Arb
- Eastern and central North America
- Birch Family (Betulaceae)
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
- Individual trees planted widely across campus and near Interpretive Center
- Europe
- Cultivars: ‘Aarburg,’ ‘Acrocona,’ ‘Cincinatii,’ ‘Pendula Major’
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
White Spruce (Picea glauca)
- Individual trees planted across campus and near Interpretive Center
- Northern North America
- Cultivars: ‘Coerulea,’ ‘Pendula’
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
- Small plantation in conifer garden southwest of Interpretive Center
- Northern North America
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika)
- Individual trees planted in conifer garden southwest of Interpretive Center
- Western Serbia
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)
- Individual trees planted widely across campus and near Interpretive Center
- Western North America
- Cultivars: ‘Globosa,’ ‘Iseli Foxtail,’ ‘Montgomery’
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)
- Several trees planted in coniferous forest near North Arb Ponds
- Northeastern and north-central North America
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
- Individual trees planted near Jones Northern Forest Ponds and east of Interpretive Center parking lot
- Western North America
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Red or Norway Pine (Pinus resinosa)
- Planted widely across campus and in coniferous forest in Arb
- Northeast and north-central North America
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
- State Tree of Minnesota
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) L.
- Planted widely across campus and in coniferous forest in Arb
- Eastern and central North America
- Cultivars: ‘Alba,’ ‘Macopin’
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris) L.
- Planted widely across campus and near Interpretive Center
- Europe and western Asia
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
- Commonly found in deciduous forest in Arb, also planted elsewhere across campus
- Eastern, central, and southwest United States, northern Mexico
- Willow Family (Salicaceae)
Quaking Aspen (Poplulus tremuloides)
- Commonly found in deciduous forest in Arb, also planted elsewhere across campus
- North America
- Willow Family (Salicaceae)
Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) L.
- Small plantations southwest of Interpretive Center and near Borgeson cabin
- Northern North America
- Rose Family (Rosaceae)
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
- Small plantations southwest of Interpretive Center and near Borgeson cabin
- Eastern and southwest North America
- Rose Family (Rosaceae)
Common Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) L.
- Small plantation southwest of Interpretive Center
- North America
- Cultivars: ‘Canada Red’
- Rose Family (Rosaceae)
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
- Individual trees planted near Interpretive Center on south side of parking lot
- Western North America
- Cultivars: ‘Blue’
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
White Oak (Quercus alba) L.
- Individual trees planted in Presidents Oak Grove west of Interpretive Center and elsewhere across campus
- Eastern North America
- Beech Family (Fagaceae)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
- Individual trees planted in Presidents Oak Grove west of Interpretive Center and elsewhere across campus
- Midwest and northeast United States, southeast Canada
- Beech Family (Fagaceae)
Northern Pin Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)
- Individual trees planted in Presidents Oak Grove west of Interpretive Center and elsewhere across campus
- Northern Midwest United States, south-central Canada
- Beech Family (Fagacea)
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
- Individual trees planted in Presidents Oak Grove west of Interpretive Center and elsewhere across campus, also commonly found in deciduous forest in Arb
- Eastern and central North America, south-central Canada
- Beech Family (Fagaceae)
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
- Individual trees planted in Presidents Oak Grove west of Interpretive Center
- Eastern United States
- Beech Family (Fagaceae)
Red Oak (Quercus rubra) L.
- Individual trees planted in Presidents Oak Grove west of Interpretive Center and elsewhere across campus, also commonly found in deciduous forest in Arb
- Eastern North America
- Beech Family (Fagaceae)
White Willow (Salix alba) L.
- Plantation near Jim Gilbert Teaching Pond
- Europe, western and central Asia
- Cultivars: ‘Tristis’
- Willow Family (Salicaceae)
Corkscrew Willow (Salix matsudana)
- Plantation near Jim Gilbert Teaching Pond
- Northwest China
- Cultivars: ‘Tortuosa’
- Willow Family (Salicaceae)
European Mountain-Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) L.
- Small plantation west of Interpretive Center
- Europe and northern Asia
- Rose Family (Rosaceae)
Canada Yew (Taxus canadensis)
- Planted behind Interpretive Center and near buildings across campus
- Eastern and central North America
- Yew Family (Taxaceae)
Arborvitae or White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) L.
- Planted ornamentally across campus and in Arb
- Northeastern North America
- Cultivars: 'Sunkist'
- Cypress Family (Cupressaceae)
American Basswood or Linden (Tilia americana) L.
- Individual trees planted widely across campus and near Interpretive Center
- Eastern and central North America
- Cultivars: ‘Sentry’
- Mallow Family (Malvaceae)
Greenspire Linden (Tilia cordata)
- Individual trees planted in Linden collection west of Borgeson cabin?
- Europe and western Asia
- Mallow Family (Malvaceae)
Littleleaf Linden (Tilia x flavescens)
- Individual trees planted in Linden collection west of Borgeson cabin
- Hybrid from American Basswood and Greenspire Linden
- Cultivars: ‘Glenleven’
- Mallow Family (Malvaceae)
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
- Individual trees planted near campus center and Nobel Hall, also single tree planted in lawn area west of Interpretive Center
- Eastern North America
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana) L.
- Individual trees planted in perennial gardens near Interpretive Center and elsewhere in Arb
- Western Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia
- Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae)
Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) L.
- Plantations behind Interpretive Center and southeast of Borgeson cabin in Arb
- Northern North America
- Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae)
* All photos taken at Gustavus by Bob Dunlap, Arboretum Naturalist unless otherwise noted.