Large Trees - Available Now

• Prices: $28 to $188 each (includes tax)
• 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, for a reason: according to noted horticulturist Michael Dirr 'there is no finer specimen tree' than a European beech...we offer a purple-leafed version: new growth is a deep black/red moving to a darker purple green during the summer months...easier to grow than American beech but requires good soil...tolerates sun or part shade...growth is slow, about 12" annually...Hardy to -30. Available now: 6-7 ft. 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. Available now: 8 ft. tall $68

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: 14-16 ft. tall $78

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: 9 ft. tall $128

Chokecherry, Amur (Prunus Maackii) A great small ornamental: Shiny amber-colored bark stands out in the landscape...White spring flowers appear with the leaves in late spring...needs rich, moist soil...grows quickly when young: 18-24" annually...Very tolerant of cold: up to -40.  Sold Out

Coffeetree, Kentucky (Gymnocladus dioicus) A rare and beautiful Wisconsin native with a local tie: the second tallest coffeetree in America (112’ high) is found just south of Cambridge in the Town of Sumner…this tree has two great attributes: a light, airy shade because of very small leaflets and an open, picturesque shape…because of this grass and plants easily grow underneath it…coffeetree’s bark is rough-textured and the branches are stout, giving it a unique appearance in the winter...also, they are very tough: growing in just about any soil or environmental conditions and are disease and insect resistant – even Japanese beetles won’t touch them...in the winter female coffeetrees have persistent dark brown seed pods that prompt questions from those interested in nature…Hardy to -30. Sold Out

• Pink Flowering (Malus x 'Brandywine') Rose pink flowers...large, dark green leaves…fast-growing...Hardy to -35. Available now: 7-8 ft. 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 ft. 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: all are around 6 ft. tall: 'Spring Snow' (sold out) $58 each; 'Sugar Tyme' (1 available) and 'Dolgo' (sold out) are $48
  

Dogwoods:

• Yellow Flowering: (Cornus mas) An exceptional, care-free and beautiful small tree…Mature height is around 20 feet and can easily be trained to grow as a tree or a bush…also handles heavy pruning well: are used as a hedge throughout Olbrich Botanical Gardens…this is the first tree to flower in Cambridge: usually in late March to early April, along with crocus and daffodil…this dogwood's yellow flowers last for almost a month and give way to lustrous, dark green leaves that retain their vigor (no Japanese beetle issues) throughout the growing season…Fall color is a so-so violet to red, but to make up for that this dogwood produces edible bright-red berries that are popular with local birds…Another plus is the flaking bark which reveals a golden tan to gray inner color...cornelian cherry dogwoods are naturally resistant to disease and pests and are adapted to nearly all soils except those which are chronically wet...Hardy to -25. Available now: 6 ft. tall $78
  

• 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 a nice wine red to brilliant red…exceptional exfoliating bark comes with age...full or part sun...Hardy to -25  Available now: 7 ft. tall $78; 6 ft. tall $68; 5 ft. tall $58
  

• 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 ft. tall $58
  

Elm, American (Ulmus x ‘Morton Glossy’) This elm is immune to Dutch elm disease...developed by Dr. George Ware of the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL 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: 8 ft. tall $68

Elm, Lacebark (Ulmus parvifolia ‘Hallelujah’) In many parts of the country, lacebark elms are used as a replacement for the American elm given their fast growth, tolerance of extreme conditions (poor soil, drought, etc.) and the open, classic vase shape…this tree is also resistant to Dutch Elm Disease...fast growing (we’re seeing more than two feet annually) to a manageable mature height of around 30 feet...attractive small glossy green leaves with wine red fall color...exceptional bark that has exfoliating patches which reveal a warm tan color underneath…we offer one of the few known cultivars (‘Hallelujah’) that will tolerate temperatures down to -35. Available for purchase now: 4 ft. tall  $45

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: 6-8 ft. tall $148

Hawthorn, White Flowering: (Crataegus crusgalli 'inermis') One of the tougher flowering trees...grows better on poor soils than redbud, serviceberry or dogwood...flowers have disagreeable odor but look nice in May for about a week...glossy green leaves keep look good all summer and turn a decent purple/bronze color locally...grows around 12" annually and tends to be at least as wide as it is tall...deep red fruits persist all winter as birds tend to avoid them...hardy to -30  Available now: 7 ft. tall (sold out) $78

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: 10 feet tall $78; 6-7 ft. tall $48 each

Katsuratree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) Considered by tree snobs to be one of the most beautiful and desirable trees in the world...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: 4 ft. tall  $48; 6 ft tall $68; 7 ft tall $78; 6 ft tall multi-stem $98 each

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 for purchase now: 6 ft tall $58 each or 8-10 ft tall $68 each

Maple, Japanese(Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood') We feature what is commonly considered the most cold-hardy Japanese maple - fully hardy to at least -25...it also has attractive 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: 4-5 ft tall $58 each

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 ft tall (sold out) $38 each; 5 ft 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 ft tall (3 available) $68 each or 9 ft. tall (1 available) $75

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 for purchase now: 4 ft tall $38

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:  $58' multi-stem 6 ft. tall $58; multi stem 7 ft. tall $68

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: 5-6 ft. tall $58

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