Recommended boulevard trees for City of Billings

Large Trees 40 ft. and up Requires 40 feet spacing between trees and 7 ft. + planting strip Species Zone Notes

Siberian Larch 2 Deciduous conifer Larix siberica Baldcypress 4 Deciduous conifer, can develop chlorosis in high ph soils. Taxodium distichum Accolade Elm 4 Resistance to Dutch Elm Disease and elm leaf beetle, urban Ulmus ‘Morton’ and drought tolerant. Resembles American Elm. Triumph Elm 4 Cross between Vangaurd and Accolade Elm Ulmus ‘Morton Glossy’ Cathedral Elm 4 Cross between Japanese and Siberian Elm, resembles Ulmus ‘Cathedral’ Japanese Elm. Somewhat resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. Homestead Elm 5 Rapid grower, highly resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. Ulmus ‘Homestead’ Vangaurd Elm 3 Cross between Japanese and Siberian Elm, Dutch Elm Ulmus ‘Plainsman’ Disease and elm leaf beetle resistant, drought tolerant. Allee Lacebark Elm 5 Exfoliating bark that exposes shades of grey, green, brown, Ulmus parvifolia ‘Emer II’ and orange, Dutch Elm Disease resitant. Prairie expedition American Elm 2 Originated from North Dakota, adapted to cold prairie Ulmus Americana ‘Lewis & Clark’ conditions, Dutch Elm Disease resitant. American Elm 3 There are a number of new cultivars that are Dutch Elm Ulmus Americana Disease resistant. Call for specific cultivar approval. Bur Oak 3 Ph adaptable, more tolerant of city conditions than most Quercus macrocarpa oaks. Nipple Gall can make tree unsightly in the winter but is harmless to tree. Swamp White Oak 4 Chlorosis can occur in alkaline soil. Quercus bicolor Shingle Oak 5 Quercus imbricaria Northern Pin Oak 3 Tolerant of alkaline soils. Quercus ellipsoidalis Chinkapin Oak 5 One of the more alkaline tolerant oaks. Quercus muehlenbergi Northern Red Oak 4 One of the fastest growing oaks. Will develop chlorosis in Quercus rubra high alkaline soils. Regal Prince Oak 4 Columnar shape Quercus x warei ‘Long’ Heritage Oak 4 Hybrid of Bur and English Oak Quercus x macdanielii ‘Clemens’ Ginkgo 3-4 Select male varieties Ginkgo biloba Northern Hackberry 3 Nipple gall makes leaves unattractive but is harmless to tree. Celtis occidentalis Very tolerant of wind and cold. Magnifica Hackberry 5 More insect resistant than parent. Celtis ‘Magnifica’ Sterling Silver Linden 5 Similar to Tilia cordata Tilia tomentosa ‘Sterling’ American Linden 3 Pyramidal shape. Tilia Americana Espresso Kentucky Coffeetree 3 Upright arching branches with bipinate leaves that cast Gymnocladus dioicus ‘Espresso’ filtered shade, no serious pest problems. Northern Catalpa 5 8” to 12” long bean-like fruit capsules persist on tree Catalpa speciosa through winter. Sweetgum 5 Chlorosis on high ph soils, plant in protected site due to lack Liquidambar styraciflua of plant hardiness especially in young trees. Cucumbertree Magnolia 4 Bark easily damaged by lawn equipment. Magnolia acuminate Japanese Zelkova 5 Young trees are susceptible to frost. Zelkova serrata Bloodgood London Planetree 5 Will grow in about anything, mostly disease resistant. Plantanus x acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’ Northern Advance American 3 Not drought tolerant. Planetree Platanus occidentalis ‘Bismarck’ Norway Maple 4 Prone to frost cracking and sunscald, subject to limb Acer platanoides multiple breakage with high winds and heavy snowloads, prefers varieties sheltered location. Can be a highly desirable tree with proper growing conditions. Red Sunset Maple 4 As with all red maples, prone to iron chlorosis in high ph Acer rubrum ‘franksred’ soils, prefers sheltered location. Redpoint maple 4 More heat resistant and tolerates high ph better than most Acer rubrum ‘Frank Jr.’PP 16769 red maples. Freeman Maple (multiple 3 Hybrid of silver and red maple, fast grower. More drought cultivars) tolerant than Red Maple. Acer x freemanii Greencolumn Maple 4 Good heat tolerance. Acer nigrum ‘Greencolumn’ State Street Maple 4 Larger and more hardy alternative to Hedge Maple. Acer miyabei ‘Morton’ Silver Maple 3 Needs at least 8 ft. planting strip, fast growing tolerates Acer Saccharinum tough conditions but is weak wooded. Silver Queen Maple 3 More dominate central leader and slender branches with Acer saccharinum ‘Silver Queen’ better crotch angles than species. Sugar Maple 3 Subject to iron chlorosis, may frost crack in winter. Acer saccharum ‘Green Mountain’ American Yellowwood 5 Prefers alkaline soils, can loose excessive sap when pruned. Cladrastis lutea Turkish Filbert 5 No serious pest problems. Corylus colurna Honeylocust 4 Good urban tree but has been overplanted. Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ‘Skyline’ or ‘Shademaster’ Chinkapin Oak 5 Disease, drought and insect resistant. Quercus muehlenbergii Horschestnut 4 Similar to Ohio Buckeye, nuts are poisonous. Aesculus hippocastanum ‘Baumannii’ Highland Poplar 3 Fast grower, cottonless smaller than siouxland. Populas ‘Highland’ Siouxland Poplar 2 Very fast growing, cottonless, resistance to leaf rust. Populus deltoides ‘Siouxland’ Theves Poplar 4 Very fast growing, upright and narrow, reported to be more Populus nigra ‘Afghanica’ resistant to canker diseases.

Medium Trees 25 ft. to 40 ft. Require 30 feet spacing between trees and 5 to 7 ft. planting strip Species Zone Notes

Amur Corktree 4 Interesting corky bark, clusters of yellowish fruit turning to Phellodendron amurense black and persisting through winter. Hedge Maple 5 Best maple for dry alkaline soils, low branching, dense shade. Acer campestre Fall Grandeur Red Maple 3 Better adapted to the northern plains environment than other Acer rubrum ‘Minnkota’ cultivars. Rocky Mountain Maple 5 Needs protection from sun and heat. Acer glabrum Sensation Box Elder 4 Male, improved branch structure from species. Acer negundo ‘Sensation’ Sycamore Maple 4 Adaptable to high ph soils and exposed sites. Acer pseudoplatanus Canyon Treasure Bigtooth Maple 4 Acer Grandidentatum ‘Orbit’ Shantung Maple 4 No serious insect or disease problems, withstands Acer truncatum midsummer heat, prefers moist, fertile soil but tolerates alkaline soils, can be grown in shade. Black Alder 3 Alnus glutinosa River Birch 4 Resistant to Bronze Birch Borer and Japanese Beetle Betula nigra ‘Heritage’ Heritage Birch 4 Resistant to Bronze Birch Borer Betula nigra ‘Cully’ Katsuratree 5 Needs ample water Cercidiphyllum japonicum Carolina Silverbell 4 Exceptionally pest resistant Halesia tetraptera European Hornbeam 5 Generally free of problems Carpinus betulus Ohio Buckeye 3 Can get leaf scorch in summer, best in light shade. Nuts are Aesculus glabra poisonous. Prairie Torch Hybrid Buckeye 3 Far superior to species Aesculus x ‘Bereson’ Red Flowering Horsechestnut 4 Very little seadpods Aesculus x carnea ‘Brioti’ Spire Cherry 5 Prunus x hillieri ‘Spire’ Giant Dogwood 5 No serious pest problems. Cornus controversa Northern Acclaim Thornless 3 Similar to ‘Skyline’ but more winter hardy. Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ‘Harve’ Goldenrain Tree 5 Tolerant of most conditions. No serious pest problems. Koelreuteria paniculata Korean Mountain Ash 4 Ph adaptable, fireblight resistant, does not like polluted Sorbus alnifolia conditions. Oak leaf Mountain Ash 4 Leaves look similar to oak. Sorbus x hybrid Sun Beam Ironwood 3 No serious pest problems. Ostrya virginiana ‘Camdale’

Persian Parrotia 5 Excellent stress tolerance withstanding drought, heat, wind, Parrotia persica cold once established.

His Majesty Cork Tree 4 Tolerant of most conditions, no serious pest problems Phellondendron ‘His Majesty’ Sargent Cherry 4 Very beautiful in flower, purple-black fruit. Prunus sargentii Emerald Charm Cherry 3 Good alternative to crabapples having superior foliage. Prunus x ‘Morgenson’ Sawtooth Oak 5 Prefers acid soil, disease, heat, and insect resistant. Quercus acutissima Littleleaf Linden 4 Pyramidal shape. Becoming overplanted in Billings area. Tilia cordata Northern Prize Littleleaf Linden 4 Tilia cordata ‘Steele’ Harvest Gold Linden 2 Yellow fall color, exfoliating red bark. Tilia mongolica ‘Harvest Gold’ Discovery Elm 3 Resistant to Dutch Elm Desease, leaf aphid and elm leaf Ulmus davidiana var. Japonica beetle. ‘Discovery’ Frontier Elm 5 Tolerant of most conditions. Considerable resistance to Ulmus x ‘Frontier’ Dutch Elm Disease. Emerald Sunshine Elm 5 Same as above Ulmus propinqua ‘JFS-Bieberich’ Prospector Elm 4 Same as above, could be used under power lines due to it’s Ulmus wilsoniana ‘Prospector’ vase shape. Chanticleer Pear 4 Narrower than other pears, resistant to fireblight. Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ Prairie Gem Flowering Pear 3 Excellent resistance to fireblight, will not fruit without other Pyrus ussuriensis ‘MorDak’ pear nearby.

Dakota Pinnacle Asian White 3 Good resistance to Bronze Birch Borer, drought tolerant, Birch adaptability to heavy clay soils and fairly high ph. Betula platyphylla ‘Fargo’ Parkland Pillar Asian White Birch 3 Taller and narrower than ‘Fargo’ Betula platyphylla ‘Parkland Pillar’ Prairie Dream Paper Birch 2 Exceptional snow whit bark, resistant to bronze birch borer. Betula papyrifera ‘Varen’ Prairie Vision Asian White Birch 3 Resistant to Bronze Birch Borer Betula platyphylla ‘Verdale’ Prairie Stature Oak 3 Quercus x bimundorum ‘Midwest’ Prairie Pioneer Dwarf Chinkapin 4 Oak Quercus prinoides ‘Fort Lincoln’ American Hornbeam 3 No pest problems, no litter, slow growing, beautiful fall Carpinus caroliniana color. Merrill Magnolia 4 Blooms before crabapples. Magnolia kobus var. loebneri ‘Merrill’ Turkish Filburt 4 Pest-free, tolerates drought and alkaline soil. Corylus colurna Mountain Frost Pear 3 Heavily flowering, beautiful fall tree. Pyrus usseriensis ‘Bailfrost’ Prairie Horizon Manchurian Alder 3 Very drought tolerant Alnus hirsute ‘harbin Copper Curls Pekin Lilac 3 Syringa reticulatata ssp. Pekinensis ‘SunDak’ Prairie Gold Aspen 4 Adapted to heat, drought and humidity of the Midwestern Populas tremuloides ‘NE-Arb’ prairie. Swedish Columnar Aspen 2 Very narrow, good substitute for Lombardy. Populas tremula ‘Erecta’

Small Trees 15 ft. to 25 ft. Require 20 feet spacing between trees and 4 ft. + planting strip

Species Zone Notes Amur Maple 3 Tends to be multi-stemmed or low branched tree. Tolerant Acer ginnala of adverse conditions including drought. Tatarian Maple 3 Similar to Amur Maple, possibly more tolerant of high ph Acer tataricum soils. Red Emperor Japanese Maple 4 Leafs out 2 weeks later than other Japanese maples. Good Acer palmatum ‘Red Emperor’ performer in hotter areas. Northern Spotlight Korean Maple 3 Acer pseudosieboldianum ‘KorDak’ Flamingo maple 5 Seedless, variegated, marginal hardiness for this area. Acer negundo ‘Flamingo’ Globe Norway Maple 4 Globe shaped Acer platanoides ‘Globoso’ Tatarian Maple 3 Bright red samaras, adaptable to dry, high ph soils and cold Acer tataricum winters. Rugged Charm Maple 3 More shapely than species Acer tataricum Hot Wings Maple 3 Showy red samaras in summer. Acer tataricum Flamingo Box Elder 5 Variegated white and green with a pink tint, seedless. Acer Negundo ‘Flamingo’ Kelly’s Gold Box Elder 5 Bright yellow new growth which holds well through summer Acer Negundo ‘Kelly’s Gold’ heat, seedless. Variegated Box Elder 5 Silvery-gold appearance, female with pendulous chains of Acer Negundo ‘Variegatum’ sterile samaras. Rocky Mountain Glow Maple 4 Acer grandidentatum ‘Schmidt’ Robin Hill Serviceberry 3 Edible berries Amelanchier grandiflora ‘Robin Hill’ Princess Diana Serviceberry 3 Amelanchier grandiflora ‘Princess Diana’ Snowcloud Serviceberry 4 Edible berries Amelanchier laevis ‘Snowcloud’ Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry 4 Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’ Cole’s Select Serviceberry 4 Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Cole’ Crimson Cloud hawthorn 4 Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’ Snow Mantle Gray Dogwood 3 Best grown as multistem. Cornus racemosa ‘Jade’ Corneliancherry dogwood 5 Cherry-red fruit relished by songbirds or for jams and jellies, Cornas mas free of insects, disease, and cold injury, tolerates alkaline and heavy clay soils better than any dogwood. Princess Kay Plum 2 Very cold hardy, fruitless. Prunus nigra ‘Princess Kay’ Paul’s Scarlet Hawthorn 4 Susceptible to leaf spot Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ Lavalle Hawthorn 4 Crataegus x lavallei Snowbird hawthorn 3 Crataegus x mordensis ‘Snowbird’ Eastern Redbud 4 Cercis Canadensis Northern Herald Eastern Redbud 4 Slightly hardier than species Cercis Canadensis ‘Pink Trim’ Toba Hawthorn 3 Crataegus x mordenensis ‘Toba’ Golden Desert Ash 5 Fraxinus excelsior ‘Aureafolia’ Leprechaun Ash 3 Fraxinus pennsylvanica ‘Johnson’

Wedding Bells Silverbell 5 Halesia Carolina ‘UConn Wedding Bells’ Columnar Goldenrain Tree 5 Koelreuteria paniculata ‘Fastigiata’ Columnar Goldenchain 5 Laburnam anagyroides ‘Columnaris’ Amur Maackia 3 Blooms late summer, ornamental seed pods and bark offers Maackia amurensis winter interest. Starburst Amur Maackia 4 Maackia amurensis ‘Starburst’ Adirondack Crabapple 4 Disease resistance is good Malus ‘Adirondack’ Marilee Crabapple 4 Disease resistance is good, fruitless Malus ‘Jarmin’ Red Jewel Crabapple 4 Disease resistance is good, berries hold on till spring Malus ‘Jewelcole’ Red Barron Crabapple 4 Malus ‘Red Barron’ Golden Raindrops Crabapple 4 Malus ‘Schmidtcutleaf’ Sentinel Crabapple 4 Malus ‘Sentinel’ Gladiator Crabapple 2 Pink purplish flowers and less fruit. Malus ‘Gladiator’

Purple Spire Crabapple 3 Malus ‘Purple Spire’ Coralburst Crabapple 3 Nearly sterile. Malus ‘Coralburst’ Goldspur Amur Chokecherry 2 Interesting bronze exfoliating cherry-like bark. Prunus maackii ‘Jefspur’ Vanessa Persian Parrotia 5 Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’ Mt. St. Helens Plum 4 Prunus ‘Grankthrees Newport Plum 3 Prunus Newport Snow Goose Cherry 5 Prunus ‘Snow Goose’ Crimson Pointe Plum 4 Prunus cerasifera ‘Cripoizam’ Thundercloud Plum 5 Prunus cerasifer ‘Thundercloud’ Pink flair Cherry 3 Prunus sargentii ‘JFS-KW58’ Amanogawa Cherry 5 Prunus serrulata ‘Amanogawa’ Big Cis Plum 4 Prunus x cistena ‘Schmidtcis’ Jack Pear 4 Pyrus calleryana ‘Jaczam’ Red Cascade Mountain Ash 3 Sorbus Americana ‘Swarfcrown’ China Snow Tree Lilac Syringa pekinensis ‘China Snow’ Summer Charm Lilac 3 Syringa pekinensis ‘DTR124’ Beijing Gold Lilac 5 Syringa pekinensis ‘Zhang Zhiming’

Ivory Silk Lilac 4 Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’ Summer Sprite Linden 4 Tilia cordata ‘Halka’ City Sprite Zelkova 5 Zelkova serrate Wireless Zelkova 5 Zelkova serrata ‘Schmidtlow’

Planting Tips

 Avoid planting trees to deep. The trees first major root should be at ground level. Often time’s trees come too deep from the nursery and require having soil removed from the top of the root ball to reach the proper planting depth.  Keep sod away from the trees stem. The use of mulch is highly advised. Place 2-3 inches deep, out to the drip line of the tree.  Watering trees require different watering requirements than turf. Trees should be watered before and after planting. Deep root watering should be done until the tree is established approximately every 7-10 days.  Do not fertilize in first year of planting.  Call 811 for underground utilities prior to any digging.