Large Trees

Available at our Saturday Tree Sales

April 28th and May 2nd, 2012 

9am to 4pm

302 North St in Cambridge

purchase details

  • Prices: $28 to $188 each (includes tax)
  • Purchase at our Saturday Tree Sales
  • Trees are potted in five, seven or ten gallon containers
  • Height between five and 14 ft tall
  • Hardiness shows lowest temperature trees are guaranteed for
  • Learn more about trees here
  • 'Best Trees' guide for Cambridge area


Beech, Purple (Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea') The most expensive tree we offer...becomes a stately monument with time;  lives for up to 300 years...there "is no finer specimen tree" than a European beech according to noted horticulturist Michael Dirr...we offer the popular purple-leafed version: new growth is a deep black/red moving to a darker purple green during the summer months...smooth gray bark...easier to grow than American beech but requires good soil...tolerates sun or part shade...growth is slower, about 12" annually...Hardy to -30. Available now: 7-8' tall $188

Birch, Paper ‘Whitespire’ (Betula platyphylla ‘Whitespire’) Initially propagated at UW-Madison by Dr. Edward Hasselkus in the 1960s, ‘Whitespire’ is now the national standard white-barked birch...Attractive bark and glossy green leaves that turn yellow in the fall…‘Whitespire’ is superior to other white birches because it withstands stress better and is able to hold off disease and insect damage, leading to faster growth and a longer life...Growth has averaged 14.5” annually over 33 years at the UW-Arboretum...Hardy to -30. SOLD OUT

Birch, River ‘Heritage’ (Betula nigra ‘Heritage’) This birch features peeling tan, white and salmon-colored bark…Relatively fast growing, averaging 18" to 24” a year locally...Grows naturally along the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers…Requires a sunny location for optimal health and growth…A great birch tree for recently-developed subdivisions as it tolerates thin and compacted soils...Hardy to -30. Available now: 6' tall $48

Buckeye 'Autumn Splendor' (Aesculus glabra 'Autumn Splendor') Some of the nicest leaves of any Midwestern tree and yellow flowers in spring...this is a version of the Ohio buckeye that holds onto it's leaves longer and has a decent pumpkin-orange fall color...of all buckeyes and horsechestnuts in the UW-Arboretum - Autumn Splendor looks the best to me. available now: 8' tall $138

Crabtrees:

  • Pink Flowering (Malus x 'Robinson') crimson buds...large, dark green leaves…fast-growing...Hardy to -35. Available now: 7-8' tall $58

  • Red Flowering (Malus x 'Prairiefire') Dark purplish/red flowers and dark red fruits that persist through the winter months...prior to flowering 'Prairiefire' has nice looking red buds...glossy, green leaves…excellent choice if you want a vigorous, attractive red-flowered crab tree...Hardy to -35. Available now: 5' tall $38 or 6' $48
  • White Flowering (Malus x 'Spring Snow' 'Dolgo' and 'Sugar Tyme') Our white-flowering crabs are available with or without berries: 'Spring Snow' is fruitless while 'Sugar Time' and 'Dogo' have small red fruits which persist over the winter months if the birds don’t get at them…all three also have glossy, green leaves…Spring Snow is fast-growing; four trees planted along the 200 block of High Street a few years ago have averaged 29” of annual growth between 2006 and 2009…Hardy to -35. Available now: 4-8' tall: 'Spring Snow' 'Sugar Tyme' and 'Dolgo' from $28 to $68

Dogwoods:

  • White Flowering: (Cornus kousa) The perfect patio tree: attractive white flowers last up to four weeks at an unusual time: mid-June to mid-July - when little else flowers...grows to about 15-20 feet tall at a good rate: ours is averaging 18" annually in amended soil...fall color is typically wine red; can be brilliant red…exceptional exfoliating bark comes with age...full or part sun...Hardy to -25  Available now: 6' tall $68; 7' tall $78; 8' tall $88
  • Pagoda (Cornus alternifolia) Native dogwood that has an attractively tiered, horizontal branching pattern…pagoda dogwoods are bushy, small trees growing to about 15-20 feet tall at a rate of about 12” annually…fragrant white flowers bloom from late May to early June for a week or two…Fall color is nothing special…like most dogwoods, the pagoda prefers life in the shade; best landscape conditions are with morning sun and afternoon shade though it will thrive in shady areas as well...pagoda dogwoods are a great tree to frame the side of a house or to naturalize the edge of a property...Hardy to -30  Available now: 5' tall $58

Elm, American (Ulmus x ‘New Horizon’) This elm is highly resistant to Dutch elm disease...developed by the University of Wisconsin to be a fast growing, attractive tree with glossy, deep green leaves that turn yellow in fall...withstands poor, thin soils and drought - will grow just about anywhere. Available now: 6' tall $58

Gingko 'Saratoga' (Gingko biloba x 'Saratoga') A favorite of Frank Lloyd Wright, ginkgo trees feature what might be the most distinctive leaf of any deciduous tree: they're shaped like a fan, and nearly all of the leaves fall over a 24 hour time period in the autumn; as you can guess this reduces the annual autumn rake-up ‘hassle’ factor considerably...the leaves also have an exceptional clear-yellow fall color…Ginkgos are considered by many to be one of the most trouble-free trees available - no bugs or diseases are known to bother them and they are extremely hardy once established…during hot, dry summers Ginkgos planted along Greenway Boulevard in Middleton look great whereas leaves on lindens, maples and some other trees are drooping or browned-off...we offer the cultivar ‘Saratoga’ which is male and reputedly faster-growing for a Ginkgo, though that’s not saying much: perhaps 8-10” a year if watered regularly…trees in China are known to be over 1,000 years old...Hardy to -30 Available now: 6-7' ft. tall $108

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’ and 'Skyline')     Honeylocust is a great choice if you want a hassle-free, attractive, fast-growing (18”+ annually, more with watering) tree that won’t shade out your lawn and landscaping…honeylocust have very small leaflets that produce a filtered shade and, because they’re so small, they literally don’t require fall raking as they readily disappear into your lawn and decompose...new leaf growth and fall color is a nice yellow...the trees are also tough: poor soils, drought, heat, cold, and even standing water do not bother honeylocust…we offer thornless and seedless cultivars chosen for their quick growth and open branching patterns…...Hardy to -30. Available now: 6' tall $48; 7' tall $58

Katsuratree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) Considered by tree snobs to be one of the most beautiful and desirable trees...long-lived, low maintenance and attractive in all seasons: new leaves emerge reddish purple to an interesting round shape that flicker in the wind throughout summer; they remain disease free (Japanese beetles won’t touch this tree) well into autumn when they turn a nice amber-orange color and have a distinctive scent as well (like cinnamon or brown sugar)…exceptional resistance to insects and diseases...only liability is its need for regular watering when young...a katsuratree growing in the Nakoma neighborhood is 65’ tall...Hardy to -30. Available now: 6' tall $68

Linden 'American Sentry' (Tilia americana x 'McSnetry')  The best linden or 'basswood' as it resists Japanese beetle bites, which is saying a lot for a linden...tough and great looking...does well in newer subdivisions...attractive silver bark...reaches 45' with time...from McKay Nursery in Waterloo Available now: 6' tall $48 each

London Planetree 'Exclamation' (Platanus x 'Exclamation')  Great looking bark is a mosaic of tan, brown and white...Fast growing, tough and trouble free...reaches 60' with time...this particular tree was developed by 'Chicagoland Grows' and is well suited for life here in zone 5...other London planetrees suffer from bark splitting and this one does not.  Available now: 3' tall $38 each; 4' tall $38

Magnolia, Red Flowering 'Jane' (Magnolia x 'Jane')  Left alone this magnolia is a vigorous, upright rounded bush...or, it can easily be trained into a small tree between 10-15' high...flowers arrive in early May and are reddish purple on the outside, white on the inside...very cold hardy and quick-growing...a great patio tree or shrub. Available now: 3' tall $38 each; 4' tall $38

Magnolia, White Flowering 'Royal Star' (Magnolia x stellata 'Royal Star') A slow growing magnolia with reliable, pleasantly-fragrant and dense white flowers in late April..will reach 15' high...cold hardy to -30 Available now: 3-4' tall $48

Magnolia, Yellow Flowering (Magnolia x acuminata 'Butterflies') One of the few yellow flowering magnolias with upright, vibrant yellow flowers that appear mid-spring prior to the leaves coming out...grows to around 20' and is well suited to our climate and soils...one of most-requested trees...cold hardy to -25  Available now: 4' tall $58

Maple, Amur (Acer ginnala x 'Flame') One of the toughest and hardiest maples: will grow anywhere in the state (to zone 3) and it tolerates poor soils...Attractive in spring, summer and fall: nicely shaped, fragrant spring flowers; lustrous, waxy and dark green leaves with a vivid red fall color; showy red seeds from late June to September...Slow and low growing (20 ft.) makes the Amur maple an ideal tree for patios and small gardens...Has the typically heavy maple seed crops each year which can lead to weed seedlings...A great colorful small maple for newer subdivisions. Available now: 4' bushy tree form $28

Maple, Autumn Blaze (Acer x freemani 'Jeffersred')  Probably the most common landscape maple, this tree needs no introduction...Exceptional red fall color that lasts a long time...Is faster growing but not weak-wooded...Is nearly seedless and grows well in full or part sun...Happiest in good soils but withstands wet and dry soils...Hardy to -30. Available now: 6' tall $58 each; 8-10' $68

Maple, Japanese (Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood') We feature what is commonly considered the more cold-hardy Japanese maples - fully hardy to at least -25...colorful burgundy leaves when planted in the sun; also tolerates shade but the leaves are usually green in that setting...exceptional architectural shape and graceful branching...slower growing except when young...will reach no more than around 15 feet at maturity...not a very good choice for newer subdivisions unless soil is amended with organic matter (also must be planted above the clay line for drainage purposes) and protection from Western sun is provided. Available now: 4' tall $38 each

Maple, Sugar 'Fall Fiesta' (Acer x saccharum 'Fall Fiesta')  Faster growing sugar maple...glossy green leaves with exceptional orange colors in the fall...this tree will not grow in the poor soils of newer subdivisions...50 to 70' high eventually...Hardy to -30. Available now: 6' tall $58 each; 8-10' $68

Oak, Pin (Quercus palustris) The most popular American landscape tree, though it trails birch and maple in our area...very distinctive pyramidal form and horizontal branching...grows fairly quickly and tolerates wet conditions and poor soil...supposedly pin oak has issues with soil pH that isn't acid but I've seen very little evidence of that locally in areas where the pH is as high as 7.0...leaves are glossy green, deeply lobed and have good fall color, sometimes orange other times red...Hardy to -25. Available now: 4' tall $38 each; 8-9' tall $48 each

Oak, Red (Quercus rubra) One of our faster growing oaks, growing two feet annually in Cambridge with good soil and regular moisture…Red oaks are also tough: handling the poor, compacted soils that are common in newly constructed subdivisions, although growth isn’t as robust under those conditions…This oak is also very tolerant of drought and can handle wind, heat and being planted on slopes…Acorns arrive when tree is 20-25 years old and are quickly swiped by local squirrel packs…Leaves have a brilliant red fall color during good years; and, at worst, a russet red/brown  color…Red oaks reach 60’ high and commonly live to 150 years and older...Hardy to -35. Available now: 8-9' tall $48

Pear, White Flowering (Pyrus calleryana 'Cleveland Select')  Fast growing pear with a more formal, pyramidal shape; a great way to line a driveway...glossy leaves turn an excellent red in fall...reaches 30' tall and around 15 wide...will grow just about anywhere with a lot of sun…1/2" fruits are not edible and not ornamental...hardy to -25. Available now: 5' $48; 7-8' $78

Redbud, Eastern (Cercis canadensis)  Our best-selling tree has one of the more vivid spring flower shows around - a reddish-lavender spectacle that appears on all wood, not just the prior year’s growth as with most flowering trees…also has attractive, dark slate grey bark and dark green, heart-shaped leaves which emerge a reddish purple and turn to a warm yellow in the fall…Redbuds grow to about 20 feet tall…We offer trees that are from northern seed sources to assure hardiness to -25. Available now: SPECIAL 4' $18; 5' $38; 6-7' $68

Serviceberry ‘Autumn Brilliance’ (Amelanchier grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’) A good foundation, patio or small yard tree with white April flowers, interesting smooth, gray bark and a good red fall color…Grows to 25 feet tall at an average rate, around 12” annually…Produces mid-summer purple-colored berries that are edible and supposedly taste like blueberries, though not many people have tried them because of how quickly they’re taken away by song birds…We offer serviceberries in ‘clump’ form with several trunks or as a single-trunked tree…Grows just about anywhere with good soil, sun or shade is OK...Not a good choice for newer subdivisions...Hardy to -35. Available now: 6' tall $58

Sweet Gum: (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Moraine’) Interesting star-shaped aromatic leaves that feature a crimson, orange and yellow fall festival of rich color…Sweet gums also have ‘gum ball’ seed pods which hang on the tree throughout the winter…We’re seeing annual growth of 24” on recently-planted sweet gums in Cambridge…Tolerant of wet areas, poor soils and constricted areas with limited room for root expansion...Hardy to -25. Available now: 4-6' tall $58 SOLD OUT

Tuliptree: (Liriodendron tulipifera) Fast-growing, spring flowering, majestic member of the magnolia family...Street trees planted by the Cambridge Tree Project are averaging 24"+ of annual growth...Leaves have the interesting tulip shape and remain disease free (Japanese beetles won’t touch this tree) well into autumn when they turn an excellent yellow color...Do not choose this tree for an area with poor soil, especially new subdivisions, as it will perform very poorly...In good soil, however, after some TLC for a year or two (needs for regular watering when young) get ready!...Hardy to -30. Available now: 6' tall $48; 7' tall $58

Learn more about trees here

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