Tree & Shrub guide

Buffaloberry

Bur Oak

Choke Cherry

Colorado Blue Spruce

Eastern Red Cedar

Green Ash

Jack Pine

Lodgepole Pine

Manitoba Maple

Pin Cherry

Plains Cottonwood

Red Elder

Red-Osier Dogwood

Saskatoon

Scots Pine

Sea-Buckthorn

Shrub Willow

Siberian Crab

Siberian Larch

Trembling Aspen or White Poplar

Villosa Lilac

Western Sandcherry

White Birch or Paper Birch

White Spruce

Willow

Wood's Rose

Growing tips, tricks & info

Common name: BUFFALOBERRY

Species very drought hardy and salt tolerant; commonly used in wildlife plantings and for shelterbelts.

Latin name: Shepherdia argentia Nutt

Type of tree: broadleaf (native shrub)

Bark (color and texture): lateral branches have sharp spines at tip and are almost perpendicular to the main branch
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): silvery, 2 to 5 centimetres in length
Form: bushy shrub with an irregular growth habit

Height: 4 to 5 metres

Growth rate: medium

Fruit and flowers: small yellow flowers appear in late June or early July; male and female flowers are borne on separate plants; female plants bear orange-red berry-like fruit

Soil: performs best in moist well-drained sites; good alkali tolerance

Limitations: suckers freely and forms dense irregular hedge that may be considered undesirable

Bur Oak Common name: BUR OAK

Drought tolerant; moderately shade tolerant.

Latin name: Quercus macrocarpa Michx

Type of tree: broadleaf (native)

Bark (color and texture): gray and flaky, becoming deeply furrowed as tree matures
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): dark shiny green upper surface, paler and hairy beneath; deeply cut with 7-9 rounded lobes
Form: small tree with rounded crown supported by crooked and gnarled branches

Height: 15 to 20 metres

Growth rate: medium (but slow to establish)

Fruit and flowers: acorns, 2 to 2.5 centimetres long with hairy fringed cap.

Soil: grows best in deep, rich bottom lands, but is adapted to wide range of soils

Limitations: on dry sites it may be reduced to a small scrubby tree

Choke Cherry Common name: CHOKECHERRY

Moderately drought hardy; provides food source for birds and deer; suitable for shelterbelts.

Latin name: Prunus virginiana L. var. melanocarpa (Sarg.)

Type of tree: broadleaf (native shrub)

Bark (color and texture): smooth and dark grayish-brown
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): dark green, 6 to 12 centimetres long, oval, tapered to sharp tip; finely toothed margins; leaf arrangement is alternate
Form: spreading shrub or small tree

Height: 7 metres

Growth rate: fast

Fruit and flowers: white flowers form dense cluster, maturing into a crimson to black berry-like fruit in late summer; fruit makes excellent jelly and wine

Soil: grown best on moist well-drained soils; fair alkali tolerance

Limitations: performs poorly in arid southwestern region of province; shade intolerant; cultivation is required to control suckering

Common name: COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE

Drought tolerant, winter hardy and resistant to winter browning; provides nesting and roosting cover for small birds; commonly used on inside row of shelterbelt plantings.

Latin name: Picea pungens Engelm

Type of tree: coniferous (introduced)

Bark (color and texture): wrinkled, light ash-brown
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): needle shaped; 2 to 3 centimetres in length; color from green to blue; stiff, very sharp and borne singly on stem
Form: pyramidal

Height: 25 to 30 metres

Growth rate: slow to medium

Fruit and flowers: winged seeds produced in straw-colored cones, from 7 to 10 centimetres in length; mature in August

Soil: clay or clay-loam soils preferred, but sandy soils are tolerated; poor alkali tolerance

Limitations: does not perform well on unprotected sites; will not tolerate flooding; some protection should be provided during establishment

Common name: EASTERN RED CEDAR

This species is unproven in the province but has had good success in North Dakota and the Plains states; branchlets turn coppery or reddish-brown in winter; commonly used as an ornamental.

Latin name: Juniperus virginiana L

Type of tree: coniferous (introduced)

Bark (color and texture): thin; fibrous; reddish-brown; separating into long, narrow shreddy strips
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): scale-like; dark bluish-green; overlapping and covering twigs in four rows forming four-sided mini-branches
Form: pyramidal, with dense crown of short, slender, ascending branches

Height: 5 to 10 metres (in native range)

Growth rate: slow

Fruit and flowers: berry-like cones, 2 to 7 millimetres in diameter; ripen in early fall and contain one or two wingless seeds

Soil: adapted to variety of sites, but grows best on sandy loam soils

Limitations: generally unproven in Saskatchewan

Common name: GREEN ASH

Very drought tolerant and winter hardy; excellent field shelterbelt tree; seeds and twigs provide a good food source for birds and animals.

Latin name: Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh

Type of tree: broadleaf (native)

Bark (color and texture): brownish gray with shallow fissures
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): compound leaf, consisting of 7 oval shaped leaflets, 8 - 14 centimetres in length; leaf arrangement is opposite
Form: narrow, oval crowned, upright tree

Height: 6.5 to 15 metres

Growth rate: Medium

Fruit and flowers: male and female flowers are inconspicuous and found on separate trees; female flowers develop into narrow winged seeds (samara) 2.5 to 5 centimetres in length

Soil: performs well on most sites, but does best on well-drained soils; fair to good alkali tolerance

Limitations: grows slowly under dry conditions;leaves appear late in spring, drop early in fall

Common name: JACK PINE

Well adapted to surviving fires, which open the cone to release seeds.

Latin name: Pinus banksiana Lamb

Type of tree: coniferous (native)

Bark (color and texture): brown to gray darkening with age; flaky surface becomes furrowed at maturity
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): needle shaped; 2 to 5 centimetres long; yellow-green color; twisted, stiff, sharp; borne in groups of two on the stem
Form: branchy with irregular crown

Height: 15 to 20 metres

Growth rate: medium

Fruit and flowers: seeds borne in hard knobby persistent cones, 5 to 7 centimetres long; curved in toward supporting branch; mature after two years

Soil: common on variety of sites; best growth in sandy soils; tolerates acidic conditions

Limitations: susceptible to Dwarf Mistletoe disease, which attacks tree, producing thick, tufted growths of small branches (witches brooms)

Common name: LODGEPOLE PINE

Naturally confined to Cypress Hills in Saskatchewan, its most easterly location in Canada.

Latin name: Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm

Type of tree: coniferous (native)

Bark (color and texture): brownish to gray or blackish on older trees; rough, scaly
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): needle shaped; 3 to 7 centimetres long; twisted, sharp; borne in groups of two on stem
Form: tall, slender, narrow crowned tree

Height: 15 to 30 metres

Growth rate: slow to medium

Fruit and flowers: winged seeds produced in hard, straight 2.5 to 5 centimetres long cones; cone scales bear curved prickle; cones take up to two years to mature and persist on tree for many years

Soil: found in variety of soil types, but best growth occurs on well-drained loam sites

Limitations: species very intolerant of shade and competition; poor alkali tolerance

Common name: MANITOBA MAPLE

Provides food and shelter for birds and wildlife throughout year; can be tapped for syrup production.

Latin name: Acer negundo L.

Type of tree: broadleaf (native)

Bark (color and texture): brownish gray to black, becoming furrowed with age
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): light green; compound with 3 to 7 irregularly lobed leaflets; leaf arrangement is opposite
Form: open spreading crown; main trunk tends to divide near ground giving appearance of multiple-stemmed tree

Height: 6.5 to 14 metres

Growth rate: fast

Fruit and flowers: male and female flowers, borne in clusters on separate trees, developg into straw-colored paired winged seeds

Soil: performs best in well drained, moist areas

Limitations: not drought tolerant; may die back under dry conditions; prolific seed production can result in weed problems

Common name: PINCHERRY

The flesh of the cherry is the only edible part.

Latin name: Prunus pensylvanica L.f.

Type of tree: broadleaf (native)

Bark (color and texture): smooth; shiny; dark reddish-brown with conspicuous large widely-spaced orange powdery horizontal markings (lenticels) on mature trees
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): lance-shaped; 3 - 10 centimetres long gradually tapering to slender sharp tip; shiny; yellowish-green; often turning purplish-red in autumn; margins have uneven teeth
Form: small tree; shrub on unfavorable sites

Height: 1 to 5 metres

Growth rate:medium/fast

Fruit and flowers: tassel-like cluster of white flowers appearing when leaves are half grown; bright red berries, 6 - 8 millemetres across; sour edible flesh; ripening in late July to early September

Soil: grows best in well drained sites; usually found in areas recently cleared and along rivers in prairies

Limitations: intolerant of shade

Common name: PLAINS COTTONWOOD

One of the fastest growing native trees a parent of many poplar selections; often planted where fast growth is main requirement.

Latin name: Populus deltoides Bartr. Ex. Marsh

Type of tree: broadleaf (native)

Bark (color and texture): smooth; yellowish gray; becoming dark gray and deeply furrowed with age
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): triangular; 5 - 10 centimetres long; 5 - 15 rounded teeth per side and rounded base; upper surface bright shiny green, slightly paler beneath; often pendulous
Form: medium to large tree; can have large branches forming an angle of 45 degrees with trunk

Height: 30 metres

Growth rate: very fast

Fruit and flowers: long catkins; 15 - 25 centimetres long; seed capsules oval; 8 to 12 millemetres long split into 3 or 4 parts when mature

Soil: prefers rich moist soils; commonly found in prairies along water courses

Limitations: produces cottony bundles of wind-dispersed seeds

Common name: RED ELDER

Species is very fast growing and is an excellent wildlife species, providing food for songbirds, upland game birds and squirrels

Latin name: Sambucus racemosa L.

Type of tree: broadleaf (introduced shrub)

Bark (color and texture): gray and smooth with a yellowish, brown pith (centre)
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): dark green, compound leaves having 3 to 7 leaflets
Form: bushy shrub with arching branches

Height: 2 to 3 metres

Growth rate: very fast

Fruit and flowers: cream coloured flowers in clusters developing into clusters of red, showy berries

Soil: prefers moist, well-drained soils but will tolerate some saturation

Limitations: may experience winter dieback and require pruning to remove dead wood

Common name: RED-OSIER DOGWOOD

Shade tolerant; provides cover and food for wildlife and birds.

Latin name: Cornus stolonifera Michx

Type of tree: broadleaf (native shrub)

Bark (color and texture): smooth bright reddish twigs and branchlets; very conspicuous in winter
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): light green; oval; smooth; veins strongly tend to follow margins toward leaf tip; leaf arrangement opposite
Form: arching bushy shrub

Height: 1 to 3 metres

Growth rate: medium to fast

Fruit and flowers: white flowers appear in flat-topped cluster in early June, followed by dull white berries

Soil: adapted to both wet and dry sites and a variety of soil types

Limitations: does not do well on arid sites; poor alkali tolerance

Common name: SASKATOON

Species is drought tolerant once established, and thrives on both sunny and partially shaded sites. This shrub provides both food and cover for a number of birds and wildlife.

Latin name: Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt

Type of tree: broadleaf (native shrub)

Bark (color and texture): smooth, greyish-brown
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): broadly oval to almost circular; 2.5 to 7 centimetres in length; toothed margins
Form: upright shrub

Height: 2 to 3 metres

Growth rate: medium

Fruit and flowers: white flowers in early spring; purple berry-like fruit ripens in July

Soil: grows well on wide variety of soils; moderately tolerant of salinity

Limitations: difficult to establish; susceptible to a number of insect and disease problems

Common name: SCOTS PINE

Very winter hardy, but has tendency to winter brown, particularly on dry exposed sites; commonly used on inside row of farmstead shelterbelts.

Latin name: Pinus sylvestris L.

Type of tree: coniferous (introduced)

Bark (color and texture): orange-red and flaky when mature
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): needle shaped; 3 to 7 centimetres in length; twisted; borne in groups of two per stem
Form: erect; widely spaced branches

Height: 20 metres

Growth rate: fast

Fruit and flowers: winged seeds produced in hard, knobby light brown cones; 3 to 5 centimetres; cones open for seed dispersal then drop

Soil: well adapted to dry, sandy soils; fair alkali tolerance

Limitations: will not tolerate flooding; performs poorly in exposed locations; limited value for wildlife, but young trees may be browsed by deer

Common name: SEA-BUCKTHORN

Berries start to ripen end August; commonly used to make juice and jellies.

Latin name: Hippophae rhamnoides L.

Type of tree: broadleaf (introduced shrub)

Bark (color and texture): branches gray and spiny
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): lance-shaped; light green above; silvery-white underneath
Form: shrub

Height: 2 to 5 metres

Growth rate: medium

Fruit and flowers: small, yellowish flowers appear in spring before leaves; both male and female shrubs are required to produce the yellow/orange berry fruit; fruit remains on the shrubs throughout the winter

Soil: adapted to wide range of soil types; performs well n sandy soil; very tolerant of weather extremes; has low nitrogen requirements

Limitations: suckers profusely; both male and female plants are needed for fruit production

Common name: SHRUB WILLOW

This could be one of several different species of willow collected from low-lying areas in southeast Saskatchewan. Suitable for slough or stream edges where brush cover is desired for wildlife habitat, erosion control or stream shading.

Latin name: Salix spp.

Type of tree: broadleaf (native shrub)

Bark (color and texture): grey-brown mature stems with reddish-brown first year growth
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): basic green; typically longer than wide with a ratio of 4:1 or 6:1 and a width range of 1.5 to 2 cm; serrated edges
Form: multi-stemmed bush

Height: 2 to 3m in both height and width

Growth rate: fast

Fruit and flowers: male and female flowers form catkins on separate male and female plants in early spring before leaf flush. Fruit pods split when mature, releasing seeds on tufts of silky hair

Soil: prefers well drained moist soils but will withstand periodic flooding

Limitations: performs poorly in dry locations

Common name: SIBERIAN CRAB

Well adapted to variety of climatic condition; provides high quality cover and nesting sites for birds; provides excellent browse for rabbits, whitetail and mule deer; fruit persists well into winter providing food for birds.

Latin name: Malus baccata (L.) Borkh.

Type of tree: broadleaf (introduced)

Bark (color and texture): smooth, reddish-brown
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): oval; coarsely serrated edges
Form: large spreading crown

Height: up to 9 metres in favorable conditions

Growth rate: medium-fast

Fruit and flowers: white showy flowers in early spring; small berry-like red to yellow fruit

Soil: well adapted to variety of soils; fair alkali tolerance

Limitations: susceptible to fire blight

Common name: SIBERIAN LARCH

Slowly being introduced in prairies for the ornamental and shelterbelt plantings; tends to be drought resistant.

Latin name: Larix sibirica Ledeb.

Type of tree: coniferous (introduced)

Bark (color and texture): dark brown; scaly
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): needle-shaped; light green; soft, turning golden in fall and shed before winter; needles borne on dwarf twigs in clusters
Form: tall; slender; straight tapering trunk; narrow open crown

Height: 20 metres

Growth rate: medium

Fruit and flowers: winged seeds borne in cones 2.5 to 5 centimetres long

Soil: generally does best on well-drained, light soils

Limitations: tends to leaf in early spring; looses needles in fall; appears dead during winter; poor alkali tolerance; protect during establishment

Common name: TREMBLING ASPEN or WHITE POPLAR

Most common tree in Saskatchewan.

Latin name: Populus tremuloides Michx

Type of tree: broadleaf (native)

Bark (color and texture): smooth; white to greenish; turns gray and black streaked with age; white powder rubs off when touched
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): circular to heart shaped; finely toothed margins; leaf stalk is flattened causing leaves to flutter in wind; upper surface is dull
Form: slender; rounded crown

Height: 20 to 25 metres

Growth rate: fast

Fruit and flowers: catkins appear in early spring; fruit formed in pods that split to release wooly seeds in May and June; male and female flowers are borne on separate trees

Soil: grows on almost every type of soil; does best on moist, well-drained, sandy or gravelly loams

Limitations: shade intolerant

Common name: VILLOSA LILAC

Shrub is non-suckering; deep-rooted; grows well in all regions except arid southwest.

Latin name: Syringa villosa Vahl

Type of tree: broadleaf (introduced shrub)

Leaves (shape, size, etc.): dark green; 5 to 15 centimetres long; 3 to 7 centimetres wide; heavily textured; leaf arrangement opposite
Form: wide, ball-shaped

Height: 3 to 4 metres

Growth rate: medium

Fruit and flowers: pink flowers borne in clusters at ends of branches; blooms from mid to late June

Soil: performs best in well drained clay or loam soils; good salt tolerance

Limitations: does not perform well in sandy soils; will not tolerate poorly drained sites

Common name: WESTERN SANDCHERRY

Excellent for wildlife habitat, providing both food and cover; drought resistant.

Latin name: Prunus besseyi

Type of tree: broadleaf (introduced shrub)

Bark (color and texture): reddish brown; develops silver hue with age
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): narrow; smooth; glossy; silvery upper surface
Form: short shrub

Height: .5 to 2 metres

Growth rate: fast

Fruit and flowers: white clusters of flowers forming late May to early June; small purple to black cherry fruit follows flowers

Soil: adapted to broad range of soil types and moisture conditions; prefers well drained sites

Limitations: short lived; suckers form thickets; can experience winter die-back but will regrow

Common name: WHITE BIRCH or PAPER BIRCH

Saskatchewan's provincial tree; provides food and shelter for a number of birds, and browse for moose and deer.

Latin name: Betula papyrifera Marsh

Type of tree: broadleaf (native)

Bark (color and texture): thin; smooth; reddish-brown on young trees, becoming chalky with age; peels easily into sheets
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): triangular or egg-shaped; 8 centimetres long; toothed margins except for about 1.5 centimetres on either side of leaf stem
Form: narrow; oval; open crown with slender trunk

Height: 6 to 20 metres

Growth rate: fast

Fruit and flowers: 3 to 4 centimetres long winged seeds found in catkins hang from branches

Soil: does best on moist, well-drained sandy or silty loam soils

Limitations: shade intolerant; susceptible to bronze birch borer and birch die back

Common name: WHITE SPRUCE

Shade tolerant; well adapted to all areas of province except southwest; provides protection, food and shelter for birds and wildlife.

Latin name: Picea glauca (Moench) Voss

Type of tree: coniferous (native)

Bark (color and texture): gray to brown; flaky with age; underbark pinkish when outer surface scraped away
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): needle shaped; 2 centimetres; sharp; stiff; borne singly on stem
Form: pyramidal in shape

Height: 20 to 25 metres

Growth rate: slow to medium

Fruit and flowers: winged seeds produced in light brown cones that range between 3 to 5 centimetres; mature in Sept.

Soil: trees perform best in moist, well-drained sandy loam soils; fair to poor alkali tolerance

Limitations: does not grow well on dry sites; requires protection during establishment

Common name: WILLOW (Acute)

Valuable for wildlife habitat

Latin name: Salix acutifolia Willd

Type of tree: broadleaf (native)

Leaves (shape, size, etc.): shiny dark green leaves; 6 to 12 centimetres long; 1 to 2 centimetres wide; finely toothed margins
Form: wide spreading crown; trunk tends to have multiple stems

Height: 5 to 14 metres

Growth rate: fast

Fruit and flowers: male and female flowers form catkins on separate trees during early spring; small fruit pods split when mature, releasing seeds on tufts of silky hair

Soil: tree performs well in most well-drained sites; but will withstand flooding for up to several weeks

Limitations: performs poorly in dry locations; spreading crown and roots may compete with crops when planted in shelterbelts; fair to good alkali tolerance

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Common name: WOOD'S ROSE

Drought resistant; easy to establish; provides excellent cover for birds; rose hip is a favored food of sharp tailed grouse and pheasants; browsed by whitetail and mule deer.

Latin name: Rosa woodsii Lindl

Type of tree: broadleaf (native shrub)

Bark (color and texture): stems armed with broad bristles flattened at base
Leaves (shape, size, etc.): compound with 5 to 9 oval leaflets; 15 to 35 millemetres long
Form: thicket-forming deciduous short shrub

Height: 1/2 to 2 metres

Growth rate: slow to moderate

Fruit and flowers: solitary flowers ranging from pink to rose; 2 to 5 centimetres across; bright red fruit, known as a hip, is almost circular; about 1 centimetres in diameter

Soil: adapted to wide range on soil types including well to imperfectly drained sites

Limitations: suckers to form thickets