Hardy Evergreens for the Northern Plains

These tough conifers can handle the worst our winters have to offer

evergreen are a vital constituent of the winter landscape in the Northern Plains , where the other three season may last three months on the calendar but seem to fluctuate wildly on a daytime - to - day basis . These utmost temperature and weather condition changes , especially those in late fall and late wintertime , pose the great threats to tree survival , and only those trees that can tolerate such shifts have the honor of conjoin us out here on the Northern Plains . scan on for three of the hardy evergreen available that are tough enough to last our winters .

White spruce (Picea glauca, Zones 2–6)

White spruce is a hardy conifer aboriginal to Alaska through the boreal timber of Canada to Newfoundland as well as many of the northern border states , include South Dakota , Wyoming , Montana , and Minnesota . snowy spruce farm best in moist , well - drained soil in full sun and can gain a height of 40 to 60 feet with a feast of 10 to 20 feet . It can provide a shelterbelt or screen as it can handle some shade and does not misplace its downhearted leg as readily as other spruce species . White spruce is also liberal of the slightly alkaline dirt found throughout the Northern Plains and is more patient of of dry sites than most spruces .

While the square species often performs best in areas with cold winters and cool summers , there is a variety better adjust to the prairie environment : the Black Hills spruce ( Picea glaucavar.densata , Zones 2–6 ) . The Black Hills spruce is slower growing and has a denser overall frame that can display an attractive blueish - green needle color . There are also several cultivars of white spruce to consider ground on the desire face . ‘ Conica ’ nanus Alberta spruce ( Picea glauca‘Conica ’ , Zones 2–6 ) has a dense strain that matures to a altitude of 5 feet and a breadth of 3 foot . ‘ Pendula ’ weeping white spruce ( Picea glauca‘Pendula ’ , zone 2–6 ) is a very narrow , columnar tree with tears branches maturing to a height of 20 feet and a width of 4 feet .

Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum, Zones 3–7)

Rocky Mountain Genista raetam is a native of the western Northern Plains and will put up and deliver if you have highly wry or arenaceous soils and take an evergreen or windbreak in the landscape . Reaching a height of 30 to 40 feet and a bedcover of 3 to 15 feet , this silver grey - blue - dark-green evergreen can easily fit into the urban landscape . There are several cultivars to choose from that offer thin variations of leaf colour and overall form . ‘ Medora ’ ( Juniperus scopulorum‘Medora ’ , Zones 3–7 ) is a durable , very narrow specimen inaugurate by North Dakota State University that typically reaches 10 feet marvelous and only 2 to 3 feet broad . However , if you are await for something with a broad pyramidal anatomy , try ‘ Sutherland ’ ( Juniperus scopulorum’Sutherland ’ , Zones 4–7 ) . This cultivar reaches a height of 10 to 20 foot with a width of 10 to 15 foot while leave attractive silver - unripened foliage .

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta, Zones 2–6)

The lodgepole pine can be regain in its native range of Alaska to California , east to Colorado , and even to parts of westerly South Dakota . This Pyramids of Egypt - shaped evergreen plant is capable of reaching a height of 40 feet or tall with a ranch of 20 feet . It does need well - drained soil to survive and fly high on the tough dry sites of the westerly one-half of the Northern Plains . I advocate Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine tree ( Pinus contortavar.latifolia ) , the variety good adapt to our climate . Additionally , an attractive cultivar , ‘ Taylor ’s Sunburst ’ spruce pine pine ( P. contorta‘Taylor ’s Sunburst ’ ) , sport bright gilded - yellow needles in the candle phase in spring .

While there are plenty of other stout evergreens that can be grown in the Northern Plains , these three offer some of the best chances of not showing winter hurt from those dry and Laputan winter we are all too familiar with . They also fill a need in the landscape painting by providing interest in those confutative shoulder joint season of prewinter and 2d wintertime — or what most masses call downslope and spring .

— Chris Schlenker is the head nurseryman of McCrory Gardens at South Dakota State University in Brookings , South Dakota .

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