URBAN FORESTRY
1,000 Free trees
for frogtowN
Frogtown has less tree canopy on private land than any other city neighborhood. The energetic Tree Frogs are working to change that. This volunteer group has planted more than 1,000 trees in front and back yards, and on public spaces in Frogtown. Our goal is 1,000 more trees by 2027! JOIN US!
In 2023, through a collaboration with the US Forest Service, AmeriCorps, Tree Trust and nearby neighborhood organizations, we helped to facilitate the planting of 248 trees in Frogtown, as well as in Hamline-Midway, Summit-University, and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods. Here's a summary report of our work in 2023.
By adding to the tree canopy of our community, we help improve the environmental health of residents and visitors.
Check out our map showing where trees have been planted, from 2012 to 2023. Is your Frogtown Green tree on the map?
Our 2024 tree selection with descriptions of available trees are shown below. To sign up for a free tree, click here:
Interested in a Free tree? Here's how we do it!
Learn about our trees and fill out the form below.
From fruit to shade trees, we have something for every Frogtown yard! Read about our options and decide what's best for you. Tell us your tree preference and how to get in touch with you by filling out the form below.
In fall, you dig a hole, and we plant your tree.
Volunteers will plant the tree for you! All you have to do is dig a hole for your new tree. And you'll need to water it regularly! We'll send additional tips on how to take care of it.
Yep, we're not kidding, it's really free.
Our mission is to make Frogtown the greenest neighborhood in St. Paul. We all benefit from cleaner air, shadier streets, and a healthier community.
Not a home-owner?
No problem.
Over 65% of property in Frogtown is rental. We're working hard to get trees onto rental properties. If you're a tenant or a landlord, we can work with you. Contact Chris, 651-757-5970..
OAK
shade tree
Common Name:
'Prairie Stature' Oak
Botanical Name:
Quercus spp. 'Prairie Stature'
Mature Height: 40 ft.
Mature Spread: 30 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: This smaller statured oak is perfect for urban yards. A cross between an English columnar oak and a native white oak give it a narrower pyramidal form. It is a tough tree, well adapted to life in an urban environment with emerald green leaves that change to a reddish purple in the fall. Mature oaks are great habitat for urban wildlife.
Image: North Dakota State University
Red Bud
Ornamental tree
‘Common Name: 'MN Strain' Red Bud
Botanical Name:
Cercis canadensis 'MN Strain'
Mature Height: 25 ft.
Mature Spread: 30 ft.
Exposure: Part shade to full sun
Description:
Smaller statured understory tree developed at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, this tree is typical of eastern and southern climes, but has been bred to be hearty to Zone 4. Beautiful clusters of rose-pink to magenta pea-like flowers emerge along its branches in May and form small seed pods in the summer. Prefers well drained soil and cannot tolerate salt. Can be susceptible to verticulum wilt, leafspots, mildew, Japanese beetles, borers and scale.
Image: Minnesota Horticultural Society
Out of Stock
PLANE TREE
shade tree
Common Name:
'Exclamation' Planetree
Botanical Name:
Platanus acerifolia 'Exclamation'
Mature Height: 55 ft.
Mature Spread: 45 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: London planetree or sycamore is a fast-growing shade tree, well adapted to city life. It can tolerate a variety of growing conditions and its insignificant flowers and fruit make it a great choice for a dense urban environment. Exclamation is a disease and frost cracking resistant variety with a stronger upright form.
Image: J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
PEACH
fruit tree
Common Name:
'Contender' Peach
Botanical Name: Prunus persica 'Contender'
Mature Height: 15-20 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-20 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: Produces rounded, large sized freestone peaches with firm, melting, aromatic flesh. Excellent for eating, freezing, or canning. The Contender is self-pollinating but will produce larger crops with another variety of peach tree nearby for cross-pollination. Expect tree to start fruiting 2-3 years after planting. Tree is resistant to bacterial leaf spot and blooms later in the spring, potentially avoiding late frosts.
Maintenance: Self-pollinating, but regular maintenance required to produce a successful fruit yield.
image: Arbor Day Foundation
Out of Stock
SERVICEBERRY
‘
Common Name: 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry
Botanical Name:
Amelanchier spp. 'Autumn Brilliance'
Mature Height: 20-25 ft.
Mature Spread: 15 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description:
This popular tree offers white blossoms in spring, followed by sweet purplish-black, edible fruit over a long harvest period. Berries are good fresh, jarred, or frozen (no pitting or peeling required). Heavily branched, the tree has an interesting spreading pattern and attractive light gray bark with brilliant red-orange fall leaves. As serviceberry is a native tree species, the clusters of white flowers are particularly important to local pollinators.
image: UMNextension.edu
fruit tree
Out of Stock
CHERRY
fruit tree
‘
Common Name: 'Stella' Cherry
Botanical Name:
Prunus avium ‘Stella’
Mature Height: 15-18 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-18 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: Produces fruit with dark red skin and dark red flesh. The fruit is sweet and juicy, perfect for fresh eating. You can expect an abundant number of cherries after 3 years of growth. This zone 5 sweet cherry will cross pollinate other sweet cherry varieties like ‘Tartarian’ or ‘Rainier.’ Self-pollinating, but will produce larger crops with another variety of cherry tree nearby for cross-pollination.
image: Arbor Day Foundation
Out of Stock
BLUE BEECH
SHADE tree
Common Name: Blue Beech
Botanical Name:
Carpinus caroliniana
Mature Height: 20-35 ft.
Mature Spread: 20-35 ft.
Exposure: Full shade to full sun
Description:
A Minnesota native understory tree also known as the musclewood or the American hornbeam. Its smooth blue-gray bark and interesting fluted trunk make it an attractive tree. Male and female catkins are present through winter and spring, yielding hop-like seed pods in summer. Adaptable to a variety of soil types and moisture levels.
image: UMNextension.edu
ASPEN
SHADE tree
Common Name:
'Prairie Gold' Aspen
Botanical Name: Populus tremuloides 'Prairie Gold'
Mature Height: 40 ft.
Mature Spread: 15 ft.
Exposure: Part shade to full sun
Description:
Cultivated in the Nebraskan prairie, this typically alpine species has been adapted to the heat and humid conditions of the lowlands. Its light green, trembling leaves that transition into golden yellow in the fall are a great addition to your yard. A narrow growth habit makes it a good choice for smaller urban yards.
image: Faller Landscape
linden
SHADE TREE
Common Name:
'Greenspire' Linden
Botanical Name:
Tilia cordata 'Greenspire'
Mature Height: 50 ft.
Mature Spread: 30 ft.
Exposure: Part shade to full sun
Also known as Basswood, this moderately fast-growing tree has fragrant yellow flowers in spring . These flowers are very attractive to local pollinators and make delicious honey. Produces bird friendly berries in the summer. The Greenspire variety has been cultivated to thrive in an urban canopy with a smaller stature and is more tolerant of a variety of growing conditions.
Image: Conservation Garden Park