Free trees
for frogtowN And Friends
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 600 trees in front and back yards, and on public spaces in Frogtown. Our goal is 1,000 new trees by 2025! JOIN US!
In 2022, through a collaboration with the US Forest Service, AmeriCorps, Tree Trust and nearby neighborhood organizations, we helped to facilitate the planting of 259 trees in Frogtown, as well as in Hamline-Midway, Summit-University, and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods. Here's a summary report of our work in 2022.
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 2022. Is your Frogtown Green tree on the map?
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Want to set up a neighborhood tree giveaway program? Here's our guide!
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..
OUR 2023 TREES
OAK
shade tree
Common Name:
Northern Pin Oak
Botanical Name: Quercus Bicolor
Mature Height: 50-60 ft.
Mature Spread: 40-50 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: Rounded, vase shape with open branch form.
Despite its common name, the Swamp White Oak grows well in a variety of soil types. It has rounded, shallowly lobed, dark green leaves with a paler green underside that turn golden in the fall. Leaves a lasting mark, capable of living hundreds of years. Mature trees produce clusters of acorns in the fall which nourish squirrels and other wildlife.
LINDEN
shade tree
Common Name: Basswood/Linden
Botanical Name: Ostrya virginiana
Mature Height: 40-60 ft.
Mature Spread: 25-30 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: Also known as a Basswood, this rapid growing tree has fragrant yellow flowers in spring and dense foliage of heart shaped leaves that provide shade in the summer and turn golden in the fall. These flowers are very attractive to local pollinators and make delicious honey. Produces bird friendly berries in the summer. Prefers moist, well drained soils, but will grow in a variety of soil conditions. ‘Redmond’ is a smaller statured variety of linden with a pyramidal form when mature.
RIVER BIRCH
shade tree
Common Name: River Birch
Botanical Name: Celtis Occidentalis
Mature Height: 20-30 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-25 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: Hackberry is known for its attractive bark that is corky and rough in texture. The bright green elm-like foliage turns to a soft yellow in the fall, and the fruits are relished by wildlife. With a round open form, it grows at a moderate to rapid rate. Extremely hardy, and adaptable to a range of urban environments including alkaline soils, drought, and windy conditions. Harvested in the fall, the nut-like fruit is edible and highly nutritious.
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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: The hardiest peach to grow well in cold climates. Produces rounded, medium sized peaches with a dull blush over green-yellow color. Flesh is bright yellow, soft and juicy. Self-pollinating, but will produce larger crops with another peach tree nearby for pollination. Expect the tree to start fruiting 2-3 years after planting. Spreading shape. Pink spring blossoms.
Maintenance: Self-pollinating, but regular maintenance required to produce a successful fruit yield.
image: fedco.com
PEACH
SERVICEBERRY
fruit tree
‘
Common Name: 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry
Botanical Name: Amelanchier spp.
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
CHERRY
fruit tree
‘
Common Name: 'Montmorency' Cherry
Botanical Name: Malus 'Dolgo'
Mature Height: 25-30 ft.
Mature Spread: 25-30 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description: This lovely crabapple blooms early in the season with apricot pink buds yielding fragrant, self-pollinating white flowers that last for weeks, making ‘Dolgo’ an excellent pollinator for other apple varieties. The large, 2” diameter fruits are a brilliant crimson that ripen in late summer and are good for fresh eating but also make wonderful jelly, pies and cider. The fruit is persistent, giving winter landscape interest as well as food for wildlife.
image: practicalselfreliance.com
BLUE BEECH
ORNAMENTAL tree
Common Name: Blue Beech
Botanical Name: Malus 'Purple Prince'
Mature Height: 20 ft.
Mature Spread: 20 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description:
'Purple Prince' has purple-bronze foliage, outstanding rose-red blossoms, and persistent maroon fruits that are good forage for wildlife. It is a fast-growing variety that resists stem splitting and matures quickly. Excellent resistance to scab, fire blight, and cedar-apple rust.
image: pinterest.com
AMERICAN ELM
SHADE tree
Common Name: 'Prairie Expedition' Elm
Botanical Name: Prunus mackii
Mature Height: 20-30 ft.
Mature Spread: 25-30 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
Description:
This chokecherry produces white flowers in spring with edible black fruit in June. The cinnamon colored, exfoliating bark has a glistening metallic sheen that adds landscape interest throughout the year. The pale green leaves turn yellow in the fall. A good wildlife plant for both pollinating insects looking for nectar and birds feeding on the ripe fruit.
image: missouri state.edu
OHIO BUCKEYE
SHADE TREE
Common Name: Ohio Buckeye
Botanical Name: Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst'
Mature Height: 35 ft.
Mature Spread: 30-35 ft.
Exposure: Full sun
The ‘Sunburst’ cultivar is a medium sized, thornless and seedless variety of locust tree, noted for its fine textured, compound leaves that are great for light filtered shade. Emerging in the spring, bright golden-bronze, leaves fade to green as they mature, then color golden-yellow again in fall. Fast growing and hardy this tree can survive a variety of growing conditions and is perfect for an urban landscape.
image: gertens.com