Trees and Shrubs

A guide to some of the trees and shrubs, both planted and naturally occurring, that could be found in the Arboretum.

1. Plant Family
2. Native Range
3. Location in arboretum or on campus
4. 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.