Native Tree and Shrub Descriptions & Pictures

This is the place to learn about the character and growth habits of the different native trees and shrubs we offer. From the brief description here, please Click the Underlined Name to learn and see more about your selected plant species in the USDA Plants Database. The database is a great resource. In addition to illustrations and photos for each species, be sure to explore their Plant Guide (pdf or doc) and Characteristics.

Also, to see the overall growth-form of mature native trees, go to the DNR's interactive native tree poster.

ASH, MOUNTAIN – Sorbus americana (small deciduous tree)
Though it is a relatively slow-growing tree that is short lived, Mountain ash is favored for its lovely berries. It reaches a height and crown spread of 15 to 25 feet. Mountain ash has an open rounded crown. It prefers the richer soils of valleys and slopes, but will tolerate other types of soils. A pH range of 4.0 to 7.0 is acceptable. Mountain ash is shade and drought intolerant. Leaves are thin and dull green. Small white fragrant flowers in dense flat-topped clusters appear in June. Bright orange-red shiny fruit in large clusters ripen in September or October. The raw fruit is not palatable but can be made into jelly. Mountain ash is susceptible to borers, aphids, lace miner, mites, wilt, powdery mildew, leaf blight and spot, canker and decay. Uses include; wildlife plantings (very good), decor in landscape and shelterbelt applications. OK to plant near power lines.

ASPEN, QUAKING – Populus tremuloides (tall tree)
The most abundant tree in Minnesota, Quaking aspen is a tall, slender tree. It creates dense groves in which the creamy tree trunks dominate, with rustling leaflets high overhead. Leaves turn golden in fall. It grows quickly in dry to moist uplands in sandy to sandy-loam soils. Does not tolerate shade. It spreads through root suckering. Do not plant near power lines.

BASSWOOD / AMERICAN LINDEN – Tilia americana (tall deciduous tree)
Basswood has a moderate growth rate reaching 70-100 feet at maturity with a crown spread of 50-75 feet. The roots are wide-spreading and deep. The tree is monoecious (male and female on the same tree), the flowers are fragrant and it is sometimes called the bee tree because it makes excellent honey. Linden prefers loamy, well drained, but moist soils. It will not tolerate drought or salt spray, is a fair tree for wildlife. It has unique fruit that hang from a long stalk attached to a long, narrow leaf-like appendage. Do not plant near power lines.

BIRCH, PAPER – Betula papyrifera (tall deciduous tree)
Two other names for this tree are the white birch and the canoe birch. It has a fairly rapid growth rate and can reach a height of 50 to 70 feet with a crown spread of 30 to 50 feet at maturity (80 years). Paper birch has an upright oval form. It prefers sandy loams with a pH range of 5.0 to 8.0, but will tolerate a variety of soil types. Plant in cool, moist, well-drained sites. The paper birch is shade and drought intolerant. Dark green leaves turn yellow in the fall. It is susceptible to the bronze birch borer, leaf miner, canker and decay. Uses include; wildlife plantings (fair to good), horticultural applications (specimen tree) and commercial products. Do not plant near power lines.

CEDAR, WHITE – Thuja occidentalis (tall conifer)
White cedar (also called arborvitae) commonly overhangs our area rivers and lakeshores. It has a slow to moderate growth rate and can reach a height of 40 to 50 feet with a crown spread of 10 to 20 feet at maturity (200 years). White cedar has a dense columnar to pyramidal shape; the main trunk often divides into several leaders. It prefers a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 and soils that are fine clay, medium loams to moderately coarse sandy loams that are not limestone. Will grow in wet or dry soils. White cedar is moderately tolerant to shade and can withstand drought conditions. Needles are a soft yellow-green to bright green and may turn yellow brown in the winter and shed needles the second year. Fruit is a small light brown cone that matures in the fall of the first year. Good seed production occurs at age 20 to 25 years old with a large seed crop occurring every 3 to 5 years. It is susceptible deer browse, and to spider mite, root weevil, blight and canker. Uses include; wildlife plantings (very good), wood products, and the inside row of shelterbelts (excellent). Do not plant near power lines.

CHERRY, CHOKE– Prunus virginiana (small deciduous tree)
This tree has a moderate to rapid growth rate and reaches a height of 20 to 30 feet with a crown spread of 15 to 35 feet. Chokecherry is short-lived and has an upright oval form. It prefers rich, loamy, moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 but will tolerate dryer conditions. Chokecherry is shade intermediate and can tolerate drought. Leaves are a medium dull green. Chokecherries produce long clusters of white flowers in spring. The small black tart fruit ripens in July and August and can be used for preserves. Chokecherry is susceptible to ugly nest and tent caterpillar, black knot and shot hole. Uses include; wildlife plantings (very good to excellent) fuel wood and horticultural plantings. Questionable to plant near power lines.

CHERRY, PIN - Prunus pensylvanica (small tree, tall shrub)
The pincherry is a member of the rose family and is native reaching into the far north of Canada. This winter-hardy tree produces small, bright fruit containing a single seed in August. Fruits can be made into jellies, juice and syrup. Needs rich soil and full sun. Root system is shallow. The tree can reach 20 feet in height, but is usually shorter.

CHERRY, SAND – Prunus besseyi (small deciduous shrub)
Produces a profusion of white flowers in spring, followed by purple to black, edible fruit. Leaves are silvery green and it reaches a height and width of 6 feet. In ideal conditions the plant will grow from 12 to 18 inches a year. Prefers full sun and can tolerate hot dry sites. OK to plant near power lines.

CHOKEBERRY, BLACK – Aronia melanocarpa (medium deciduous shrub)
This shrub produces clusters of white flowers in spring and black fruits in fall. It has shiny, dark-green leaves. Best in open areas, away from faster growing shrubs. Tolerates various soils, but thrives in rich soil, where it spreads by rhizomes into colonies.

CRANBERRY, HIGHBUSH OR AMERICAN – Viburnum trilobum (large deciduous shrub)
This bush has a moderate growth rate and reaches a height and a crown spread of up to 16 feet. It has a rounded appearance but can become leggy; occasional pruning is required to keep it in good form. High bush cranberry grows on most soil types but prefers cool conditions on moist, well-drained soils. It does well in full sun but is fairly shade tolerant. Leaves turn from dark green to bright red in fall (sunny location). White flat-topped clusters of flowers appear in June, followed by bright red fruit ripening in early September and persisting throughout the winter. The fruit is edible and can be used for preserves. High bush cranberry is susceptible to bean aphid, snowball aphid and leaf spot. Uses include; wildlife planting (good), horticultural planting (screens, shrub borders). OK to plant near power lines.

DOGWOOD, GRAY – Cornus racemosa (medium deciduous shrub)
Has a moderate growth rate reaching a height of 6-12 feet tall and a width of 6-8 feet. Grey dogwood has an oval shape and produces root suckers. It is moderately tolerant of poor drainage and prefers a moist, well-drained soil and is adaptable to most soil types. Grey dogwood will grow in clay or sandy soil and is moderately tolerant of alkaline soil, shade, and drought. Very dense light green foliage turns purplish in fall. Attractive 2-3 inch clusters of creamy white flat-topped flowers bloom June - July. Small white berries on red stalks mature late summer, the red stalks persist after berries and leaves have dropped. Produces fruit in three to five years attracting birds. Grey dogwood is susceptible to borers, scale, leafspot and leaf mite. Uses include; wildlife plantings (excellent), horticultural - foundation, border (withstands shearing and because of its dense growth makes a good screen), soil stabilization on banks (excellent root system). OK to plant near power lines.

DOGWOOD, RED OSIER – Cornus sericea (medium deciduous shrub)
Red osier dogwood makes its most striking displays in winter, when bright-red twigs contrast against sky and snow. This shrub has a moderately fast growth rate and can reach a height of 10 feet with a crown spread of up to 12 feet. Red-osier is a broad erect grower that is a many stemmed, thicket-forming shrub seldom with a single trunk. It is tolerant of diverse soil types and withstands poorly drained soils, preferring wet sites. Redosier dogwood grows well in either full sun or shade but is not tolerant of hot droughty locations. Leaves are medium to dark green turning yellow-orange to purple-red in fall. 2 to 3 inch flat-topped clusters of small white flowers appear in late May or early June. Small white berry clusters mature August to September and are readily eaten by birds. Redosier dogwood is susceptible to borers, red-humped caterpillar, scale, leafspot and leaf mite. Uses include; wildlife plantings (excellent, one of the best choices available), horticultural applications (hedge, shrub border, attractive winter red stem color requires pruning) and soil stabilization. OK to plant near power lines.

ELDERBERRY – Sambucus canadensis (small deciduous shrub)
This shrub has a fast growth rate reaching heights of 10 to 12 feet with a crown spread of 10 feet. The plant form is spreading and it produces root suckers. Elderberry prefers a slightly acidic loamy soil but will grow in other soils and can tolerate a pH of 7.0. It favors rich, moist lowlands but will grow in dryer sites and is somewhat drought tolerant. Elderberry prefers full sun but will tolerate a partially sunny site. Compound leaves turn yellow in the fall. Large, 10-inch white flat-topped flower clusters appear late June to July. The flowers can be used to make tea. Small purplish-black fruit appear in large clusters ripening in late summer-August. The fruit is aromatic and has a full-bodied flavor making it desirable for wine, preserves and pies. Uses include: wildlife plantings (excellent, 79 species use the plant, very attractive to songbirds), border plant (may prune). OK to plant near power lines.

FIR, BALSAM – Abies balsamea (tall conifer)
Balsam fir is the best conifer to plant in shady areas, where it is most tolerant. With a moderate to rapid growth rate, its mature height is 40-60 feet and crown spread is 20-35 feet with shallow wide spreading roots. It prefers medium soils, loams, silt loams & clay loams, but will grow more slowly in gravelly sands and peat swamps. Excellent for birds and severe weather cover for mammals, although a target for damage by sapsuckers. Do not plant near power lines.

GRAPE, RIVERBANK – Vitis riparia (vine)
Riverbank grape is commonly seen in woodlands and along stream banks. Fruit is small, purple-blue in color when ripe and can be used in jellies and wine. Grape leaves can be used for specialty cooking. The vines may reach 20-30 feet by means of tendrils. Utilized by many birds.

HAZELNUT (AMERICAN FILBERT) – Corylus americana (small tree/shrub)
This native shrub can be found throughout Minnesota. Called a multi-stemmed shrub by many, it can be pruned to form a small tree reaching a height of 10-16 feet. It is best grown in natural areas, windbreaks and wildlife shelterbelts, screenings and the back of a shrub border. Root suckers can be removed to prevent thickets. Grows in most soil conditions in full sun or part shade. Fall colors range from orange, rose, purplish red to dull yellow green. Hazelnut trees provide excellent food for many kinds of wildlife. Filberts/hazelnuts are edible, although it may be a challenge to get them before the animals do!

IRONWOOD – Ostrya virginiana (small deciduous tree)
One of the few deciduous trees extremely tolerant of shade, Ironwood (also called hop-hornbeam) can live its entire life in the shade of larger trees. Though relatively slow growing in natural habitat, ironwood grows rapidly in the open as a specimen tree.It prefers loamy or sandy soil, typically beneath the canopy of red oak, basswood or sugar maple. Avoid floodplains and wet areas.

JUNEBERRY (SASKATOON or SERVICEBERRY) – Amelanchier alnifolia (small deciduous tree)
Also known as Saskatoon and serviceberry, this is a thicket-forming (root sucker) shrub or tree that has a moderate growth rate reaching a height up to 10 feet with a crown spread of 5 to 8 feet. The tree form is oval to irregular and the plant can be pruned into a single small tree. Juneberry prefers moist well-drained soil with a pH of 7.0. It prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade. Leaves are a blue-green, turning yellow-orange to red-purple in fall. White showy flowers in early spring produce an edible bluish-purple fruit 1 inch in diameter that ripens in mid-summer. Juneberry is susceptible to leaf minor, wooly aphids, bores, rust, witches broom, fire blight, leaf spot and mildew. Uses include; wildlife plantings (excellent-most recommended species), horticultural applications (landscaping and borders). OK to plant near power lines.

MAPLE, RED – Acer rubrum (tall deciduous tree)
A moderate to fast growing tree obtaining maturity in 70 to 80 years reaching heights of 50 to 70 feet and a crown spread of 40 to 60 feet. Red maple has an oval to round crown. This tree prefers slightly acid (pH of 4.5 to 7.5) sandy loams that are well drained, but will tolerate other conditions. Red maple will grow in partial shade but does best in full sun and is moderately tolerant of drought conditions. Lobed leaves are a bright green and develop beautiful fall colors ranging from yellow to orange to vivid red. Small red flowers appear early in spring before the leaves unfold. Seeds (winged) ripen in late April to mid June. It is susceptible to scale, gall, tussock, looper, tar spot, canker and wilt. Uses include; wildlife plantings (very good to excellent), horticultural practices (specimen tree) wood products and maple syrup. Do not plant near power lines.

MAPLE, SILVER – Acer saccharinum (tall deciduous tree)
This tree has a rapid growth rate and reaches maturity in 50 to 100+ years with heights of 60 to 90+ feet and a crown spread averaging 75 feet. The form is massive and round topped. Silver maple prefers moist well-drained coarse sandy loams to fine sandy or silty clays but will grow in poor or wetter soils. It has a pH preference of 5.5 to 6.5. Silver maple will grow well in partial shade but does best in full sun and is very resistant to drought conditions. Leaves are bright green above and white to silvery underneath turning a yellow in fall. Small yellow to reddish flowers open in spring. Female trees release the seeds (winged) in late spring and produce large seed crops almost every year. It is susceptible to scale, tussock, borers, looper, gall, tar spot, canker and wilt. Because of its fast growth rate, silver maple is used as a temporary tree in shelterbelts and as a shade tree. Other uses include: wildlife plantings (very good) and wood products. Do not plant near power lines.

MAPLE, SUGAR – Acer saccharum (tall deciduous tree)
This tree has a slow to moderate growth rate obtaining a height and crown width of 60 to 80 feet at maturity (75 to 150 years). Sugar maple has a dense upright oval to rounded crown. It prefers moist well-drained loams and clay loams, with a pH preference of 5.5 to 7.3. Sugar maple is very shade tolerant but sensitive to drought, pollution, and salt. Bright green leaves develop outstanding fall color ranging from yellow to orange to red. Flowers appear in early spring with seeds (winged) are released in fall. It is susceptible to borers, gall, tussock, aphids, tar spot, canker and wilt. Uses include; wildlife plantings (excellent), ornamental and street plantings, wood products and maple syrup. Do not plant near power lines.

NANNYBERRY – Viburnum lentago (large deciduous shrub)
This fast-growing shrub grows to a height of 15 to 20 feet and has a crown spread of 6-10+ feet. It prefers moist moderately coarse sandy or gravelly loam, but does well in other types of soil. It grows best in full sun, but will tolerate some shade. Glossy green leaves turn deep maroon to red in the fall. Smnall white flowers in 2-3 inch flat topped clusters appear in May. Mature fruit is a bluish-black berry (September) that has a sweet, date-like flavor after the first frost. It is susceptible to plant bug, tree hopper, aphids, leaf spot and powdery mildew, especially when grown in shade with poor air circulation. Uses include: wildlife plantings (excellent), landscaping (shrub borders, foundation plantings, specimen tree. Prune to acquire tree form. OK to plant near power lines.

NINEBARK – Physocarpus opulifolius (small deciduous shrub)
This native to the north central U.S. will grow 4-8 feet in height and has a 4-8 foot crown spread. Growth rate is moderate and ninebark will grow in full sun or light shade. Young stems are bright red and smooth, old bark peels off in thin strips to expose a brown inner bark. Flowers are white or pinkish in terminal clusters. Fruit is small and red. Fall color is yellow. The flowers attract butterflies, insects and birds. Will grow in dry sandy soils as well as heavy clay. OK to plant near power lines.

OAK, BUR – Quercus macrocarpa (tall deciduous tree)
This tree has a slow growth rate and can reach a height of 70 to 80+ feet with a crown spread of 40 to 80 feet at maturity (200 to 300 years). Bur oak has a round to wide spreading form. It prefers moist loamy well-drained soils with a pH of 4.0 to 8.0, but will tolerate a wide range of soils with wet or dry conditions. Bur oak is intermediately tolerant of shade and is very drought tolerant. It is tolerant to urban pollution and root disturbance, but requires considerable space. Bur oak will begin producing sweet edible acorns when it is 30 to 35 years old and may continue for the next 200 to 300 years. Large seed crops are produced every 2 to 3 years ripening in the fall of the first year. Dark green leaves turn yellow, brown or red in fall. Bur oak is susceptible to twig pruner, canker worm, borers, oak lace bug, oak worm, oak leaf caterpillar, anthracnose and blister but, is resistant to oak wilt. Uses include; wildlife plantings (excellent) and wood products. Do not plant near power lines.

OAK, RED – Quercus rubra (tall deciduous tree)
This tree has a rapid growth rate and can reach heights of 60 to 80+ feet with a crown spread of 40 to 50 feet at maturity (200 to 300 years). Red oak is distinctly pyramidal in youth becoming rounded with age. It prefers well-drained rich moist soils, with a pH ranging from 4.5 to 7.0. The red oak will grow in partial shade and is moderately tolerant of drought conditions. Glossy dark green foliage turns orange to red for excellent fall color. Red oak requires 20 to 25 years to reach flowering stage and may take another 10 to 20 years to begin producing abundant crops. Large crop production occurs ever 2-5 years with bitter acorns ripening in the fall of the second year. It is susceptible to pruners, cankerworm, walking sticks, borers, oak wilt (do not plant in low areas and space plants well apart to minimize root grafting and do not prune April-June), anthracnose and blister. Uses include; wildlife plantings (excellent), wood products and landscaping (specimen tree). Do not plant near power lines.

PINE, JACK - Pinus banksiana (tall conifer)
Jack pine has the shortest needles of the pine varieties, occurring in pairs that fork out like jackrabbit ears. Rapid growth rate at first then slows until it reaches a mature height of 30-80 feet. Does not tolerate shade and prefers moist well-drained soils. Fair to good wildlife value for birds and mammals while trees are young.

PINE, NORWAY (RED) – Pinus resinosa (tall conifer)
Norway (red) pine is our Minnesota State Tree. It is moderate to fast growing, and reaches a height of 50 to 80 feet and a crown spread of 20 to 40 feet at maturity (200 to 300+ years). Norway pine is pyramidal when young, developing an oval crown with a unique tufted appearance with age. It prefers slightly acidic sandy soils that are moist and well drained with a pH range of 4.5 to 6.0, but will grow in poor dry soil and is cold winter hardy. Norway pine is shade intolerant and moderately tolerant of drought conditions. It is very susceptible to salt damage. Needles are medium green to yellow green and in groups of two. Reliable seed (cone) production begins at 20 to 25 years of age; with heavy seed crops produced every 4 or 5 years. The cones (2 inches) mature the second year. It is susceptible to weevil, sawfly, budworm, scale, shoot moth, spittlebug, rust, canker, blight and root rot (planting pine on hardwood stands). Uses include; wildlife plantings (good), wood products, landscaping (specimen tree) and Christmas trees (second most popular). Do not plant near power lines.

PINE, WHITE – Pinus strobus (tall conifer)
White pine is known as whispering pine for the sound of wind through its lofty branches. It is the tallest confer in Minnesota. This tree has a rapid growth rate and reaches a height of 80 to 100 feet with a crown spread of 50 to 80 feet at maturity (200 to 300 years). White pine has a somewhat pyramidal form when young and becomes broad with age. It prefers well-drained moist loam, silt loam or loamy sand soils, but will do well in a variety of soils. Its pH preference is 4.5 to 6.5. White pine can grow in partial shade but is intolerant of drought conditions, air pollution, and salt. It should not be planted along shorelines or natural cold drainage areas. Pruning bottom branches increases survival in moist areas. White pine has long thin soft bluish-green needles found in bundles of 5. Cones are 4 to 8 inches long and mature the second year. Seed production begins at 5 to 10 years of age but dependable production does not begin for another 10 years. Large seed crops are produced every 3 to 5 years followed by little or no production. White pine is susceptible to white pine blister rust (do not plant near currant or gooseberry bushes), blight, needle rust, sawfly, aphid, spittlebug, weevils and adelgid. Uses include; wildlife plantings (good to very good), landscaping (specimen tree) and wood products. Do not plant near power lines.

PLUM, AMERICAN (WILD) – Prunus americana (small deciduous tree)
This small, rapid-growing shrub or tree matures in 35 to 65 years and reaches a height of 20 to 25 feet with a broad spreading crown 15 to 25 feet. The american plum (wild plum) prefers a pH of 6.5 - 6.6 and well drained deep prairie loam, but will tolerate sand or gravely soils and a fairly wide range of soil pH conditions. American plum is shade intolerant, but it can tolerate drought conditions. Dark green leaves turn pale golden-yellow in the fall. Armed with short thorn-like spur branches, showy white fragrant flowers appear in April or May. Large edible fruit (1 to 1 1/2 inches) ripens in August or September and is red, orange or yellow. This tree is susceptible to black knot, brown rot, plum pocket, fire blight, eastern tent caterpillar and ugly nest caterpillar. Uses include; wildlife plantings (good to excellent) and horticultural applications (mass plantings or specimen tree). OK to plant near power lines.

SPRUCE, BLACK – Picea mariana (tall conifer)
Black spruce is the only conifer that thrives in wet or poorly drained soils. It is slow-growing, reaching a height of 25-50’ and living 125-150 years or more. Small to medium pyramidal shape with sparse upper drooping branches. Can have many dead lower branches. Purple pine cones will remain on the tree for up to 15 years. Fire causes cones to open, dispersing seeds. Do not plant near power lines.

SPRUCE, WHITE – Picea glauca (tall conifer)
A fairly rapid growing tree reaching heights of 40 to 80 feet and a crown spread of 20 to 30 feet at maturity (100 to 200 years). It is densely pyramidal in shape. White spruce prefers moist, well-drained medium to fine textured soils, but will grow in a variety of soils with a pH range of 4.5 to 7.5. White spruce is shade tolerant and moderately tolerant of drought conditions. Needles are dusty green to blue-green and sometimes have a rank odor when crushed. The tree begins to produce seed at 20 years of age, but reliable seed production may take twice that long. It is a good seed producer with heavy crops occurring every 2 to 5 years. The cones are 1 to 2 1/2 inches long and rarely persist through the first winter. White spruce is susceptible to sawfly, budworm, spider mite, adelgid, dwarf mistletoe, rust and root rot. Uses include: wildlife plantings (good to excellent), shelterbelts, christmas trees, landscaping (specimen tree) and wood products. Do not plant near power lines.

SUMAC, STAGHORN – Rhus hirta (tall shrub to small tree)
A native shrub named for the long, soft hairs covering its branching twigs in velvet. It spreads by root suckers to form dense thickets. However, root suckers can be eliminated and the plant grown as a loose, round headed, small tree which will reach a height of 14-30 feet. Excellent fall colors ranging from orange, bright red to maroon. Fruit have a dense covering of metallic-red hairs, and often persist through winter. Plant on steep slopes to prevent erosion. Grows in poor or dry soils where other shrubs will not grow. Prefers full sun. OK to plant near power lines.

TAMARACK (LARCH) - Larix laricina (tall conifer)
Tamarack is unique as a needle-leafed deciduous tree; its needles turn golden-yellow in fall, drop in winter, and reappear as soft green in spring. This tree has a fairly rapid growth rate, slower in wetter sites, reaching maturity in 100 to 200 years. It may reach a height of 50 to 75 feet with a crown spread of 15 to 25 feet. Tamarack is pyramidal when young, becoming more irregular and wider with age. It prefers a pH of 4.0 to 7.5. Most commonly found in swamps, it will grow on well-drained upland sites and can tolerate a wide range of soil moisture conditions. Tamarack is very intolerant of shade and drought. It produces a cone, which persist for two years, good seed production occurs every 3 to 6 years. Tamarack is susceptible to larch sawfly and larch canker. Uses include; wildlife (fair to good), shelterbelts, wood products and horticultural plantings. Do not plant near power lines.

WILLOW, PEACH-LEAF – Salix amygdaloides (tall deciduous tree)
Peach-leaf willow likes seasonal flooding, making it a great pioneer for lakeshores, riverbanks, marshes, swales, and flood-prone lowlands. This midsize tree has one or a few upright, leaning trunks, with deep furrows and interlacing ridges in the bark. Long, slender leaves are dark green above, pale green beneath. Forest-grown specimens usually have a single tall, straight trunk. Grown in the open, multiple trunks will lean diagonally. Needs full sun.

WILLOW, SANDBAR – Salix exigua interior (tall shrub)
Sandbar willow is a large shrub with slender, erect stems and short, flexible branches. No other Minnesota willow has leaves so slender. As its name suggests, it likes riverbanks, sandbars, floodplains, lakeshores and shallow marshes. It prefers sandy, silt or loam soils. Thrives on exposed sandbars and mudflats created by receding floodwaters. Seasonal flooding and heavy sedimentation help establish and maintain sandbar willow colonies. Given the right conditions, it spreads through root suckers into thickets.

Thanks to Lincoln-Oakes Nursery and Schumacher's Nursery for growing native trees and shrubs, and for sharing thumbnail photos shown above.