TREES
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Morus Rubra (Red Mulberry)
$45.00This is a medium-sized tree with a short trunk, broad rounded crown and milky sap that should only be pruned in late fall or winter. Leaves are up to 8” long and are variable in shape. The fruit is edible and relished by birds and other wildlife. The bark was used by the native Americans to make rope and cloth. Leaves turn bright yellow in fall. Best grown in rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.
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Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum)
$45.00Leaves are smooth, waxy, and glossy. Known for its intense fall colors and beautiful silvery bark that is attractive in winter. Needs protection from west winds. Flowers are not showy but are an excellent nectar source for bees. Fruits are attractive to birds and wildlife. Full sun to part shade. Medium to wet soil. Female tree needs a male tree nearby to set fruit. Deer resistant.
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Pinus strobus (White Pine)
$45.00 – $175.00This native conifer demands the right site. Prefers good, well-drained soil and protection from the west wind. Does not like heavy, clay soil. Tolerates light shade. The pine is extremely susceptible to salt damage. Great winter shelter for birds.
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Platanus occidentalis (Sycamore)
$45.00 – $175.00One of our largest native shade trees that is fast growing (3-4 feet per year). Easily grown in medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade. The most striking feature of this tree is its camouflage bark that readily exfoliates. Its round seed balls persist into winter and the individual seeds are eaten by birds in the spring. Host for the tiger swallowtail butterfly. Deer resistant.
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Populus tremuloides (Quaking Aspen)
$45.00 – $175.00Aspen is native to the Chicago area. Displays yellow fall color, cream-colored bark, and trembling leaves. Best placed in full sun in rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil. Grows very fast and suckers vigorously. Attracts birds.
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Quercus alba (White Oak)
$45.00 – $175.00Illinois state tree. The only white oak with russet red fall color. Grows in sand and clay but not wet sites. Requires at least 3-4 hours of sun, but prefers full sun, moist, well-drained soil. Perhaps the flagship species of white oaks. Host tree for moths and butterflies. Tolerates the black walnut. Attracts wildlife.
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Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak)
$45.00 – $175.00The oak most tolerant of wet areas. Swamp oak has a symmetrical rounded head in youth. Fall color is yellow to brown. Prefers full sun. Host tree for moths and butterflies. Attracts wildlife.
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Quercus macrocarpa (Bur Oak)
$45.00 – $175.00A white oak very tolerant of heavy clay soil, high pH, and open areas. Full sun, well-drained soil. The tree is asymmetrical when young but with age becomes very stately. Bark is brown and deeply furrowed. Preeminent tree of the midwest savanna and one of the best oaks for today’s urban environment. Perhaps the most impressive of all trees! Host tree for moths and butterflies. Attracts wildlife.
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Quercus muehlenbergii (Chinquapin Oak)
$45.00 – $175.00Medium sized oak of the white oak group. Easily grown in moist, well-drained soils in full sun, although is relatively drought tolerant. Fruits are small oval acorns, but it may take up to 30 years for the tree to bear a first crop. Acorns are a valued food for a variety of wildlife. Leaves are not lobed, but have serrated teeth along their margin and resemble the leaves of the chestnut. Host plant for butterflies and moths.