Tonkadale is proud to partner with local grower Wilson's Nursery to bring you custom order large specimen trees! A special thanks to Connie Kratzke for providing her in depth knowledge of the best trees to plant in Minnesota yards.

Custom order trees are available for the 2024 growing season!

Maples should be protected from sunscald and frost crack injuries by placing white (or light-colored) wraps or guards on their trunks, October - April. This also protects against deer and rodent damage.

Autumn Blaze® Freeman Maple                               

Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’

Zone: 3

Size: 50’ H x 40’ W                           

This fast-growing, adaptable tree is well known for its superior, bright maroon fall color.  It seldom produces helicopters (virtually seedless), so it works well for shading decks and patios. While ‘Autumn Blaze’ thrives in neutral soils with consistent moisture, it also tolerates heavy clay and dry conditions. Due to its silver maple genetics, this tree has a substantial root system and that should be kept in mind when choosing planting locations. All Freeman Maples are crosses between Acer rubrum (Red Maple) and Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple). 

Sienna Glen® Freeman Maple

Acer x freemanii ‘Sienna Glen®’

Zone: 3

Size: 50’ H x 35’ W                           

Some consider this the best of the Freeman Maple cultivars, due to its excellent form. Dense, even branching and a tidy, pyramidal shape result in the perfect shade tree.  ‘Sienna Glen’ is a fast grower, but it puts on crown density and trunk diameter faster than height. Its fall color generally ranges from gold and orange to burgundy.  Color change is progressive, changing throughout the season. Virtually seedless, it offers hues similar to sugar maples without the mess. Its leaves are smaller than most of the Freeman cultivars, making it more like its Red Maple parent. Adaptable and hardy, ‘Sienna Glen’ really is a reliable performer. Due to genetics, its root system should be given ample room.           

Armstrong Freeman Maple

Acer x freemanii ‘Armstrong’

Zone: 3

Size: 45’ H x 15’ W                           

Don’t have the space for a stately shade tree?  ‘Armstrong’ is a great option! It grows just as fast as its rellies without occupying such a large footprint. Plenty of industry people have debated whether it is a straight Red Maple or Freeman hybrid. Many growers feel that it behaves more like a Freeman because it grows quickly and adapts well to less than ideal conditions. Fall color sets in a little late and is slightly variable, typically displaying oranges and reds. Heavy seed production does not seem to be an issue with this tree. Few are willing to commit to calling these hybrids totally seedless, since they are not male trees and can cross pollinate in the landscape. However, generally speaking, they are tidier options than Red and Sugar Maples.

Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple                                                                                          

Acer saccharum ‘Bailsta’

Zone: 3B

Size: 60’ H x 60’ W                           

‘Fall Fiesta®’ has been a crowd favorite for quite some time. It’s hard to argue with stunning fall color and thick, glossy foliage. Leaves turn lovely shades of gold, orange and red. Reds appear at the top where the sun hits most directly. This tree holds up in hot, windy weather better than the straight species. While it would love to be in consistently moist, loam soil with a slightly acidic pH, it adapts well to most soils. Avoid soggy clay substrates with high alkalinity. This tree is not seedless, but its seeds provide food for wildlife.

In Minnesota, Oaks should only be pruned during the dormant season (Nov. - Mar.) to avoid increasing their susceptibility to Oak Wilt, which tends to be more of an issue for Red and Pin Oaks. DNR guidelines are more lenient, stating that it’s best to avoid pruning between April and July, but the more restrictive guidelines are safer.

Kindred Spirit® Oak

Quercus robur x bicolor ‘Nadler’ PP17,604

Zone: 3

Size: 30’ H x 6’ W

Kindred Spirit®’ Oak is an English/Swamp White Oak cross, resulting in a tightly columnar tree that can fit just about anywhere. The dimensions given are roughly the 30-year size of the parent plant. Branched low, ‘Kindred Spirit®’ makes a great screen for all who prefer a different look than Arborvitaes can offer. Shiny, dark green leaves turn shades of orange to maroon in the fall. Excellent powdery mildew resistance is another of its claims to fame. This tree sells well and performs beautifully in most soils and environments with minimum maintenance.

Heritage® Oak

Quercus macdanielii ‘Clemons’ PP11,431

Zone: 4

Size: 60-80’ H x 40-50’ W

This tree caught growers’ attention right when it first came out because of its superior form. A straight trunk supports a pyramidal crown of densely packed, shiny foliage that resists mildew. The Crown will round-out with maturity. In the fall, yellow and tan tones appear. So far, Bur Oak Blight and Bullet Gall do not seem to be issues for this tree. That’s a huge plus, since they have been causing major issues for straight-species Bur Oaks. ‘Heritage®’ is a tough, adaptable, low-maintenance tree that has great longevity in the landscape. 

Swamp White Oak

Quercus bicolor

Zone: 4

Size: 50-60’ H x 40-50’ W

A native to Minnesota, Swamp White Oak is a solid recommendation for the heavy, wet soils that dominate a large portion of the West Metro and outlying area. This tree develops a broad, pyramidal crown of shiny, densely-packed leaves. Like most oaks, it retains its foliage well into winter. The term for that is “marcescense”. Tan, ruffled foliage and shaggy, exfoliating bark contribute a ton of textural interest to the dormant landscape. The Swamp White Oak is well suited to our area and generally quite resistant to pest and disease issues. Because of its fairly high iron requirement, you may see some signs of chlorosis in high pH soils. That said, it’s a valuable tree for wildlife that tolerates some road salt and urban conditions. 

Northern Catalpa                                                                                                        

Catalpa speciosa

Zone: 4

Size: 50-60’ H x 25-40’ W

A Native to Minnesota, Northern Catalpa has an exotic look to it that doesn’t feel native, despite the fact that its native range starts nearby in Illinois and Indiana.  Enormous, heart-shaped leaves set the background for clusters of showy, Azalea-like flowers that bloom in June. These flowers have deep purple and dark gold speckles and patches inside their throats.  Blooms become long, green bean-shaped pods in late summer. These pods persist into winter, which helps make litter more manageable. Arguably, this tree’s best asset is its adaptability. The Catalpa can handle high pH soils and extreme fluctuations in soil moisture.  Excessive heat and road salt are also well tolerated. While it can achieve some pretty awesome size, you don’t typically see huge examples in our region, despite the rapid growth rate. The Catalpa does benefit from some structural management to help develop stronger branch angles and reduce breakage susceptibility. 

True North™ Coffeetree

Gymnocladus dioicus ‘UMNSynergy’

Zone: 4

Size: 60’ H x 25’ W

‘True North™’ is a native cultivar and the product of the University of Minnesota’s breeding program. Selected in 1972 by a couple of industry celebs, it wasn’t actually introduced until 2015. Tested by time and evaluated by professionals, this is truly an exceptional cultivar. Reliably seedless, it will not produce any of the pods that deter some folks from planting the species. Like all Coffeetrees, ‘True North™’ produces bi-pinnately compound leaves. In other words, each leaf is comprised of a central stalk, with smaller stalks of opposite leaflets growing along it. As the tree grows, these leaves do too; eventually reaching over 2’ in length. For that reason, Coffees look pretty naked after leaf drop.‘True North™’ has a better form than its predecessors. Tolerant of cold, heat, drought and alkalinity; it stands up tall in the urban landscape. Observation would indicate moderate tolerance of periodic flooding as well.