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.
Check out our map showing where trees have been planted, from 2012 to 2023. Is your Frogtown Green tree on the map?
Want to set up a neighborhood tree giveaway program? Here's our guide!
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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..
ALL 2024 TREES
HAVE BEEN Planted!
Our 2023 tree selection is shown below, for your information.
Please check back in May, 2025 for our 2025 tree offerings.
OAK
shade tree
Common Name:
Northern Pin Oak
Botanical Name:
Quercus ellipsoidalis
Mature Height: 40-60 ft.
Mature Spread: 40-60 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: Native to the prairie ridges of southeastern Minnesota, with pointy, deeply lobed dark green leaves that turn maroon in the fall. Produces oblong acorns every two years that are an important food source for native wildlife. Prefers well consistently moist, well drained sandy soils, but can tolerate drought. Intolerant of alkaline soils and shady conditions.
Image: fast-growing-trees.com
RIVER BIRCH
shade tree
Common Name: River Birch
Botanical Name:
Betula nigra 'Heritage'
Mature Height: 40-70 ft.
Mature Spread: 40-60 ft.
Exposure: Part shade to full sun
Description: This medium sized native Minnesota tree is common in swamplands and river bottoms. Heavy exfoliating bark with salmon-cream to dark brown colors create year round visual interest in both single stemmed and multi-stemmed forms. The ‘Heritage’ variety is a vigorous grower that is resistant to the bronze birch borer. Prefers moist, fertile soils, but can tolerate drier conditions as well, making it a good choice for an urban environment.
Image: fast-growing-trees.com
fruit tree
Common Name: 'Redhaven' Peach
Botanical Name: Prunus persica 'Redhaven'
Mature Height: 15-20 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-20 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: Produces rounded, medium sized peaches with a beautiful red and golden-yellow skin. This freestone peach has flesh that is yellow with a sweet, firm texture. Excellent for eating, freezing, or canning. Self-pollinating, but will produce larger crops with another peach tree nearby for pollination. Expect tree to start fruiting 2-3 years after planting. Tree is resistant to bacterial spot.
Maintenance: Self-pollinating, but regular maintenance required to produce a successful fruit yield.
image: fedco.com
PEACH
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
CHERRY
fruit tree
‘
Common Name: 'Montmorency' Cherry
Botanical Name:
Prunus cerasus ‘Montmorency’
Mature Height: 15-18 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-18 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: Produces red skinned, firm, yellow fleshed sweet and tangy cherries that are perfect for fresh eating, baking, or drying. One of the most popular cold climate tart cherry varieties, you can expect an abundant number of cherries after 3 years of growth. Self-pollinating, but will produce larger crops with another cherry tree nearby for pollination.
image: arborday.org
SHADE tree
BLUE BEECH
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
OHIO BUCKEYE
SHADE tree
Common Name: Ohio Buckeye
Botanical Name: Aesculus glabra
Mature Height: 20-40 ft.
Mature Spread: 20-40 ft.
Exposure: Part shade to full sun
Description:
Small to medium statured tree that is native to the eastern United States, this dense shade tree can provide excellent habitat for urban wildlife. One of the first trees to leaf out in the spring. Fragrant compound flowers yield to clusters of rough-textured buckeye nuts. Prefers moist, well-drained soil conditions. Can tolerate drier soils and occasional drought, but leaves may scorch during dry conditions. Can be a messy tree and is susceptible to powdery mildew and leaf blotch.
image: Paul Wray, Iowa State University
AMERICAN ELM
Common Name: 'Prairie Expedition' American Elm
Botanical Name: Ulmus americana 'Prairie Expedition'
Mature Height: 55-60 ft.
Mature Spread: 35-40 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
A true American elm, these trees are clones of a Dutch elm disease-resistant tree found in the Wild Rice River bottom near Fargo, North Dakota. A large native Minnesota shade tree that tolerates urban conditions well, this is a classic boulevard tree for city streets.
Image: fast-growing-trees.com