TREE SELECTION • BISMARCK, ND
Best Trees and Shrubs for Bismarck, ND
The best trees for Bismarck are ones that can take alkaline clay soil, wind, dry spells and zone 4a winters. Good bets from the City of Bismarck’s street tree guide and NDSU Extension include bur oak, hackberry, Dutch elm disease-resistant elms, lindens, Kentucky coffeetree and male ginkgo for shade, plus Japanese tree lilac, serviceberry and hawthorn for smaller spaces.
Two warnings up front. Ash can’t be planted on Bismarck boulevards anymore because of emerald ash borer. And most maples struggle here, so the city has dropped several of them from its planting rebate. Below is what to plant instead, by size, with the shrubs that hold up best.
LOCAL CONDITIONS • WHAT SURVIVES HERE
What Bismarck Throws at Trees
A tree that handles all of that will outlive the trendy pick at the garden center.
SOIL PH • IRON CHLOROSIS • MAPLE OPTIONS
Why Maples Struggle in Bismarck
The City of Bismarck says maples are among the Forestry Division’s most frequent removals, mostly because they don’t tolerate the alkaline soil and some aren’t hardy enough. NDSU’s tree list explains the soil problem: maples “are often subject to iron and manganese chlorosis on high pH (alkaline) soils with a pH >7.2.”
Since April 1, 2022, red, sugar and Norway maples, plus the red and silver hybrid maples sold under names like Autumn Blaze, aren’t eligible for the city’s boulevard planting rebate.
If you really want a maple, some hold up better:
Skip ones NDSU flags as needing lower pH, like Regal Celebration, which “requires soil pH less than 7.5.”
ASH TREES • EAB RISK
Why Ash Is Off the List
The city’s street tree guide is direct: "Ash (Fraxinus) trees are not allowed to be planted on the boulevard due the threat of Emerald Ash Borer." Don’t plant ash in your yard either. If you already have one, see should you treat or remove your ash tree.
Mountain ash is a different tree and can’t get emerald ash borer. Oakleaf and showy mountain ash both appear in the city guide, though NDSU notes oakleaf mountain ash "does not tolerate alkaline soils or de-icing salts," so keep it away from streets and driveways.
LARGE TREES • 7 FT BOULEVARDS
Best Large Shade Trees for Bismarck
These need room. The city guide calls for a boulevard at least 7 feet wide for large trees.
| Tree | Mature size | Why it works here |
|---|---|---|
| Bur oak | About 65 × 60 ft | Native, very drought resistant, moderate salt tolerance |
| Common hackberry | About 50 × 45 ft | Native, handles harsh urban conditions. Sensitive to salt. |
| Hybrid elm (Dutch elm disease resistant) | About 40+ × 35+ ft | Vase shape. Cultivars include Accolade, Cathedral, Discovery, New Horizon, Northern Empress, Prairie Expedition, Princeton, Triumph and Valley Forge. |
| American linden | About 60 × 40 ft | Native. Cultivars include American Sentry, Boulevard, Frontyard and Redmond. |
| Kentucky coffeetree ‘Espresso’ | About 60 × 40 ft | Seedless, moderate salt tolerance |
| Ginkgo ‘Autumn Gold’ or ‘Princeton Sentry’ | About 45 × 35 ft | Seedless males, moderate salt tolerance |
| Hybrid oak ‘Prairie Stature’ | About 40 × 30 ft | Proven cold hardy in NDSU trials |
Sizes and notes come from the City of Bismarck’s 2023 Street Tree Guide. NDSU adds a caution on elms: “Limited planting should still occur in our communities,” so don’t line a whole block with them.
MEDIUM TREES • 5½ FT BOULEVARDS
Best Medium Trees
For boulevards at least 5½ feet wide and mid-size yards:
| Tree | Mature size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Littleleaf linden | About 35 × 30 ft | Corinthian, Greenspire, Norlin, Shamrock |
| Hybrid linden | About 50 × 30 ft | Dropmore, Glenleven |
| Mongolian linden ‘Harvest Gold’ | About 30 × 25 ft | Smaller linden for tighter spots |
| Columnar Asian white birch | About 30 to 40 × 8 to 15 ft | Dakota Pinnacle, Parkland Pillar. Use bronze birch borer-resistant types only. |
| Hybrid oak ‘Crimson Spire’ | About 45 × 15 ft | Narrow, upright form |
| Japanese tree lilac | Varies by cultivar | NDSU lists Ivory Pillar, Ivory Silk, Snowdance and Summer Flare |
The city’s guide lists linden as sensitive to salt and drought, so give lindens a spot away from the street with steady water while they establish.
SMALL TREES • OVERHEAD UTILITIES
Best Small Trees, Including Under Overhead Lines
The city guide recommends small trees, for boulevards at least 4 feet wide, where there are overhead utilities.
| Tree | Mature size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pekin lilac | About 30 × 25 ft | Listed as salt tolerant in the city’s guide |
| Serviceberry | About 15 × 15 ft | Moderate salt tolerance, black berries in June. Allegheny, Autumn Brilliance. |
| Hawthorn | About 15 × 15 ft | Drought tolerant. Thornless Cockspur, Crusader, Snowbird, Toba. |
| Tatarian maple | About 25 × 20 ft | Handles alkaline soil and drought better than Amur maple |
| Flowering crabapple | About 35 × 25 ft | Salt sensitive, likes moist sites |
| Black plum | Small | The city calls it a choice tree under overhead lines, and it produces no fruit |
| Ironwood | Small | An understory tree for shade under big trees |
EVERGREENS • WIND PROTECTION
Best Evergreens and Windbreak Trees
| Tree | Notes |
|---|---|
| Ponderosa pine | About 60 × 30 ft, salt tolerant (city guide). Watch for pine needle scale. |
| Scotch pine | About 45 × 30 ft, salt tolerant (city guide). NDSU says, “Do not overplant.” |
| Limber pine | NDSU: “Tolerant of alkaline soils” |
| Black Hills spruce, Meyer spruce | On NDSU’s recommended list |
| Rocky Mountain juniper, Eastern red-cedar | NDSU’s tree and shrub guide calls them “very drought resistant and long-lived” |
For windbreaks, Iowa State Extension says to plant on the north and west sides of the home. Evergreens in windy, sunny spots can brown in late winter. See evergreen winter burn for how to prevent it.
HARDY SHRUBS • BISMARCK LANDSCAPES
Best Shrubs for Bismarck Yards
NDSU Extension’s article on tough shrubs, and its longtime Trees and Shrubs of North Dakota guide, point to these:
| Shrub | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Potentilla | Native. NDSU says it “thrives in our harsh climate,” with golden flowers all summer. Usually 1 to 4 feet tall. |
| Rugosa rose | NDSU says these “tolerate heat, drought, salt and wind” |
| Juniper | NDSU calls it the toughest evergreen option: drought tolerant and able to handle salty soil |
| Diabolo ninebark | NDSU calls it “tough as nails” |
| Spirea | Hardy to zone 4. NDSU notes gold-leaf types are “naturally weaker.” |
| Aronia (chokeberry) | Grows quickly with few pest problems |
| Redosier dogwood | Usually 6 to 9 feet, flourishes in shady, moist spots |
| American cranberrybush | Native, for moist, shady spots, with bright fall color |
| Lilac | A Dakota classic. Many newer hybrids sucker less than common lilac. |
NDSU also mentions Japanese barberry as tough, but notes some scientists consider it invasive, so we steer clear of it.
SALT RESISTANCE • STREET PLANTINGS
Trees and Shrubs for Salty Spots Along Streets
Plows and ice melt load the soil along streets, sidewalks and driveways with salt. Put salt-tolerant plants there and save the sensitive ones for the backyard.
| Handles salt better | Keep away from salt |
|---|---|
| Pekin lilac | Flowering crabapple |
| Ponderosa pine and Scotch pine | Hackberry |
| Rugosa rose | Linden |
| Juniper | Oakleaf mountain ash |
| Bur oak, Kentucky coffeetree, ginkgo, serviceberry (moderate) | Amur maple and silver maple |
Salt ratings come from the city’s street tree guide and NDSU.
SPECIES VARIETY • RESILIENT LANDSCAPES
Mix It Up
Bismarck learned this the hard way. The city cut ash from 36% to 22% of its boulevard trees after 2008, but still has about 5,200 boulevard ash to treat or remove now that emerald ash borer is here.
On your own lot, plant a mix. If your neighbors all have lindens, plant an oak. For commercial and multi-family sites, Bismarck’s landscaping ordinance already requires it: no single species can make up more than 50% of the required trees or shrubs. See commercial landscaping in Bismarck.
TREE PLANTING • SEVEN REAL STEPS
Plant It So It Lives
NDSU’s planting basics:
- Dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball, not deeper.
- Set the root flare at ground level.
- Backfill with the original soil.
- Stake only if needed, and for one year at most.
- Mulch 3 to 4 inches deep at the edge of a wide ring, kept thin at the trunk. See landscape rock, mulch and curbing.
- Water twice a week at first, then weekly, then every 10 to 14 days.
- Guard young trunks before winter with hardware cloth. See protecting trees from rabbits and deer in winter.
NDSU says spring is usually best for planting trees, and fall works while the soil is still warm.
Planting on the boulevard? You need a city permit first, and the city’s Partners in Planting program pays back half the cost of each tree, up to $100. See boulevard tree permits in Bismarck.
Questions
Best Trees and Shrubs FAQ
Clear local answers on tree sizes, maples, ash, hardy shrubs and road salt.
Not sure which trees will last in your yard?
Explore our shade tree choices, browse the shrub recommendations, or call to discuss the planting site.
What trees grow best in Bismarck?
Trees that handle alkaline clay, wind, dry spells and zone 4a cold. The City of Bismarck’s street tree guide and NDSU recommend bur oak, hackberry, Dutch elm disease-resistant elms, lindens, Kentucky coffeetree, male ginkgo, Japanese tree lilac, Pekin lilac, serviceberry and hawthorn, among others.
Why do maples struggle in Bismarck?
Bismarck’s soil is alkaline. NDSU says maples are often subject to iron and manganese chlorosis on soils with a pH above 7.2, and the city lists maples among its most frequent removals. Tatarian maple and a few cultivars like Cosmic Flare handle high pH better.
Can I plant an ash tree in Bismarck?
Not on the boulevard. The City of Bismarck’s street tree guide says ash trees are not allowed on the boulevard because of emerald ash borer, which was found in Bismarck in August 2026. It’s not a good idea in your yard either. Mountain ash is a different tree and isn’t affected.
What trees can go under overhead lines in Bismarck?
Small trees. The City of Bismarck recommends its small-tree category, for boulevards at least 4 feet wide, where there are overhead utilities. Options include Pekin lilac, serviceberry, hawthorn, Tatarian maple and black plum, which the city calls a choice tree under overhead lines.
What are the toughest shrubs for North Dakota?
NDSU Extension points to potentilla, rugosa rose, juniper, Diabolo ninebark, spirea and aronia. Rugosa rose tolerates heat, drought, salt and wind, and juniper is the toughest evergreen option. For shady, moist spots, redosier dogwood and American cranberrybush do well.
What trees handle road salt?
Pekin lilac, Ponderosa pine and Scotch pine are listed as salt tolerant in the City of Bismarck’s street tree guide. Bur oak, Kentucky coffeetree, ginkgo and serviceberry have moderate salt tolerance. Keep crabapple, hackberry, linden and oakleaf mountain ash away from salty spots.
Bismarck Landscape
Want Help Choosing and Planting?
Not sure what fits your yard, your soil or that empty spot where the ash used to be? Contact Bismarck Landscape. We’ll look at sun, soil, space and salt, and help you pick and plant trees and shrubs that will last.
See our tree services, landscape design, other contact options or our trees and emerald ash borer FAQ.