The 20 Most Popular Types of Trees in Nebraska
Did you know Nebraska hosted the first Arbor Day in 1872, and people planted over one million trees? This day paved the way for the many types of trees in Nebraska.
Nebraska was once considered uninhabitable and referred to as the Great American Desert. This state is known for its scenic views of the beautiful Missouri River and its strong manufacturing and agricultural industries. The state is also rich in natural resources and has a wide variety of ecosystems, such as prairies, grasslands, and forests.
Let’s look at Nebraska’s most common tree species and how you can identify them.
20 Most Popular Types of Trees in Nebraska
Planting trees helps protect the environment and improve the quality of life, among many other benefits. Nebraska has not been left out in planting the best tree in the state. Here are some of the most popular trees you can find in Nebraska.
1. Eastern Cottonwood: One Tree to Rule Them All
Other names: Necklace polar, eastern poplar
The eastern cottonwood has been Nebraska’s state tree since 1972 after replacing the American elm (Ulmus americana), which was first selected in 1937. The state tree is among the most popular types of trees in Nebraska. Also, it’s one of the fastest growing trees but a short-lived tree with roughly 80 years’ lifespan.
The eastern cottonwood is a large, deciduous, fast-growing tree that mainly grows along rivers, streams, or moist areas. In addition, it does well in loamy soils, although it’s a great tree that adapts easily to any soil.
It has a mature trunk height of about 20-60 m and 2.8m in diameter. The eastern poplar has large, triangular, and toothed leaves that are deep green but turn gold/yellow during fall. Also, its bark is green or light gray in color and smooth when young, but becomes fissured as it ages. This tree is used mainly for plywood, boxes, paper pulp, or making interiors of furniture.
2. Bur oak: The king of the Great Plains
Other names: Blue oak, mossycup oak, mossycup white oak, scrub oak
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is a large deciduous plant native to the great plains. It’s a type of oak tree and is considered to be the most massive among the oaks. This tree has a mature height of 70 to 100 feet, with a trunk diameter of 10 feet. It grows well in clay, loam (silt), and sand soil, and you can mostly find it along rivers and plains.
The bur oak tree leaves are lobed with an ovate or elliptical shape with a leathery texture. In addition, the leaves have a dark green top with a fuzzy on the bottom and turn golden to yellowish-brown in the fall. Furthermore, its acorns are the largest in any Nebraska oak, while its bark is gray and deeply furrowed.
The tree is excellent for lawns, recreational play areas, golf courses, and parks and is considered the state tree for Iowa.
3. A Majestic Winter Ornamental Tree; Kentucky Coffeetree
If you’re looking for a tough tree species to withstand dry summer conditions in Nebraska, the Kentucky coffee (Gymnocladus dioicus) tree should be on top of your list.
Kentucky coffee trees can tolerate any weather and grow in most soils. In addition, it is among the best types of trees in Nebraska. Gymnocladus means “naked branch appearance”. This tree got its name from its “naked” look during the winter, which can act as a focal point in your garden.
Also, it is known to have giant compound leaves, which are golden to bright yellow during the fall. Its bark is dark gray, scaly, and deeply fissured. Interestingly, the settlers roasted coffee tree seeds and used them to make a hot drink similar to coffee.
It’s good to note that Kentucky coffeetree is one of the rare species and should be monitored closely.
4. Bitternut Hickory for the Best Lumber and Pulpwood
Other names: Bitternut, swamp hickory
Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis) is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree native to the eastern United States. It’s considered the most short-lived among the hickories, with a lifespan of 200 years. The bitternut hickory is the most common hickory in Nebraska’s native woods and the habitat of moist mountain valleys in swamps and streams. It also grows well in dry areas.
The mature height of a bitternut tree is 70-115m, with a trunk diameter of 3 feet. The tree is characterized by its smooth gray bark and bright sulfur yellow winter buds. It has long, pinnate, 5-11 bright green leaflets, which change to yellow in the fall. In addition, it has a medium-sized fruit which is a bitternut of about 2 to 3 inches. This tree is an excellent alternative to green ash and elm.
Bitternut is great for making bows, and its durable wood is excellent for furniture, tool handles, and dowels. It’s also a great wood for BBQ smoking.
5. Let There Be Life With Red Maple
Other names: Scarlet maple, water maple, soft maple
The red maple (Acer rubrum) is among the best maple trees in Nebraska. It brings life to your garden with its attractive shape and spectacular red fall color.
The red maple is a deciduous medium to large-sized tree of up to 35-50 feet with a tree spread of 25-40 feet. Its leaf shape is simple with an opposite arrangement, a deltoid or palmatifid shape, and about 3 to 6 inches in both length and width.
The fruits from this tree are winged and paired samaras, which have a “V” shape and ripen in June-October. During fall, the leaves are green but turn to a brilliant red color.
Furthermore, the red maple bark is smooth and light gray when young and dark gray with ridges when old.
6. Get the Best Shade With the Mighty American Elm
Other names: American elm, common elm, gray elm, soft elm, water elm, white elm
The American Elm (Ulmus americana) is a fast-growing and deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It was the most iconic tree before the Dutch elm tree (DED) and the Nebraska state tree. However, it remains the state tree for North Dakota and Massachusetts.
Some American elm varieties are resistant to DED and grow well in rich, moist loam soils and dry and moist areas. Its mature height is 60-80 feet with 30-60 width. In addition, the American elm leaves are simple, alternate, and double serrated with an ovate or elliptical shape. Its bark is dark gray with ridges.
The leaves are always green except in the fall when they turn into a magnificent mix of gold, orange, and yellow. It’s common for excellent shade, and its seeds attract birds and wildlife. Therefore, it would be best to take great care when pruning to ensure a good branching structure.
The American elm is known for its tough wood that is hard to split.
7. The Highly Adaptable Nut Tree; The Eastern Black Walnut
Black Walnut (Juglans wood) is a rapidly growing deciduous plant native to North America and one of Nebraska’s most adaptable nut trees.
It’s a competitive tree that releases toxic chemicals known as allelochemicals from its roots, which can harm other organisms. The tree can grow 50-90 feet long with a 3-6 feet trunk diameter. It grows well in moist floodplain slopes and is also good in well-drained clay, loam (silt), and clay soils with full sun.
Its leaves are pinnately compound with an alternate arrangement and an ovate shape. In addition, the leaves are green with a yellow fall color. The tree makes an edible spherical fruit (nut) that can be black, gold/yellow, brown/copper, or green. The walnut drupes contain juglone, plumbagin, and tannin, all known to have fantastic health benefits for humans.
The highly praised black walnut has a heavy, solid, and shock-resistant dark-colored wood.
8. The Perfect Tree for a Breathtaking Garden; Redbud
Other names: Eastern redbud, American Judas Tree, Judas tree, Texas redbud, Mexican redbud
The eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is one of the best ornamental trees in Nebraska. It is known for magnificent pink, purplish spring flower colors and gold, and yellow autumn colors. The leaves are simple, alternate, ovate, or heart-shaped with an entire margin.
This tree has a medium growth rate of 20-30 feet. Its bark is black, dark brown, or orange with deep fissures. Its flowers are edible and rich in vitamin C.
9. Enjoy the Sweet Intoxicating Fragrance of American Linden Flowers
Other names: American basswood, bee tree
The American Linden (Tilia American) is among the most common types of tree in Nebraska. It’s a deciduous plant native to eastern Nebraska and known to be one of the fastest-growing hardwoods in North America.
This tree is known for its fragrant flowers, which are great for attracting pollinators. Further, it’s known to be a bee’s best friend, and the honey made from the flowers has to have the best flavors. The leaves are simple, large, ovate, or cordate with a serrated margin. Also, it has downward branching, making it an excellent border plant.
The American linden is also known for its medicinal use. For example, the flowers contain flavonoids, mucilaginous and volatile oils. This makes the flowers great for treating colds, infections, inflammation, and high blood pressure, among others.
10. The Eastern Red Cedar Is a Great Windbreaker and the Best Drought-Resistant Tree
Other names: Red cedar, red juniper, Virginian juniper, eastern juniper
The Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a slow-growing coniferous evergreen plant that can grow 30-60 feet tall. Redcedar has different shapes but is mostly pyramidal, oval, or columnar.
Its bark is red-brown with a peeling surface. The leaves are needle-like (acicular), or subdued with an opposite or whorled arrangement. Further, the leaves have a smooth or prickly feel with a green to gray-green color, which changes to copper-brown in the fall.
11. Ponderosa Pine Has the Heaviest Wood
Other names: bull pine, blackjack pine, ponderosa pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinuspine
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus Ponderosa) is a very large, coniferous evergreen tree and the most common type of pine tree in Nebraska. It’s found on the banks of the river Niobrara in Nebraska. The tree has a medium growth rate and needs low maintenance. Its shape can be open, pyramidal, or rounded with long simple needle-like leaves.
Bull pine has a mature length of 50-100 feet, with most reaching 235 feet. When young, the bark color is black/dark brown and turns yellowish brown/reddish orange.
Bull pine is often used for fencing and other construction purposes. The good thing about this tree is that it is drought tolerant, and you can plant it throughout Nebraska. It’s also an excellent windbreaker and shade.
You can plant ponderosa pine on light, moist soils, which will grow well, but it doesn’t do so well in heavy soils.
12. River Birch Is Great for Soil Erosion Control
Other names: Black birch, water birch
River birch (Betula nigra) is one of the fast-growing tree types in Nebraska and is widely planted for its ornamental value. It’s known for its exfoliating bark and gold/yellow leaves during the fall.
River birk’s bark is smooth with a salmon-pink to brown-gray tint when young but becomes ridged or looks like it has papery scales as it ages. It also turns reddish-brown or orange.
The tree grows to a height between 40 and 90 feet, with a trunk up to 20-60 inches in diameter. Its showy leaves are simple, alternate, and have deltoid/ovate/rhomboidal shapes. In addition, the leaf has a serrated margin and glabrous twigs.
This type of birch thrives well in acidic soil and is a habitat of floodplains and stream banks. River birch twigs, foliage, and buds are great attractions for wildlife, such as small birds and white-tailed deer.
The tree is often used for fencing and other construction purposes.
13. Improve Your Health with Red Mulberry
Other names: Common mulberry, mulberry
The red mulberry tree (Morus rubra) is a rapidly growing deciduous plant native to eastern Nebraska. It’s one of the most common fruit trees in Nebraska, relished by birds. It’s red fruit can be eaten fresh or made into jelly, jam, wine, or syrup.
Mulberry has tough gray-brown bark with scaly ridges and alternate leaves, 7-18cm long, broad, oblong/ovate with a serrated margin. This tree can reach 25-60 feet in height. Also, its glossy leaves turn bright red in the fall and provide excellent shade for your garden.
14. Bald Cypress Has Amazing Water Features
Other names: Swamp cypress, white cypress, tidewater red cypress, cypress, gulf cypress, and red cypress
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a deciduous conifer native to the Southeastern United States. In its natural habitat, it grows in swampy areas along rivers or lakes. It’s known for its hardiness, adaptability, and its needle-like leaves. Cypress can reach 70 feet in height or even higher. Its bark color can either be dark brown, light brown, light gray, or reddish brown. Also, the bark is thin and has vertical exfoliating strips.
The bald cypress is the state tree for Louisiana and was once named the tree of the year by Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. Even though the tree can adapt to most soil types, it does well in full sun or partial and well-drained soil.
The bald cypress leaves are long, simple, alternate, lanceolate/linear with a feathery feel. They have a green or gold-yellow color but turn to copper-brown during autumn. Cypress trees develop “cypress knees” at the base when growing in wet areas such as swamps.
Native Americans have used this tree as a building material for homes, drums, and coffins.
15. Liven up Your Christmas with White Fir
Other names: Abeto Del Colorado, Balsam Fir, white balsam, concolor tree, colorado tree
White fir (Abies concolor), previously known as Picea concolor, is an evergreen conifer species of fir with blue-green needles. It usually grows in the southern Rocky Mountains and is the most common type of fir tree in Nebraska.
The concolor tree is famous for landscaping because of its easy-to-grow and medium-maintenance properties. It can grow in moist, well-drained soils and is relatively drought resistant.
This tree can grow up to 30-70 feet tall and has thin and scaly bark that can be orange, light gray, or light brown. It has small branches that hang down from the lower branches and droop in wintertime.
The tree also has a conical crown that flattens somehow with age but remains narrow and pyramidal. The shoots are dark red-brown or grayish-brown, smooth above and slightly pubescent below; they are less than 1 mm long at maturity.
Each needle is typically 2.5-80cm long, 2mm wide, and 0.5–1 mm thick. Its excellent needle retention and abundance make it a famous tree for Christmas decorations. The white fir is mainly planted for ornamental purposes in parks and gardens.
16. American Sycamore Has the Largest Hardwood Diameter
Other names: American plane, buttonwood, sycamore, eastern sycamore, occidental plane
The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is a large deciduous tree native to the eastern and central United States. It’s considered among the best types of trees in Nebraska. Its hardwood diameter is among the largest in North America.
This tree grows in open areas and can grow up to 75-100 feet when it grows in deep, moist, and nutrient-rich soil. It’s fast growing, drought, and pollution tolerant. Some sycamores have two trunks divided at the base.
The tree’s leaves are simple, alternate, and ovate 3-6 inches in length and width. The bark is light and smooth, with reddish brown stripes on top, turning light brown underneath.
The American sycamore has excellent shade, and its wood is great for furniture, instruments, and box making.
17. Some Healthy Snack From Black Cherry
Other names: Rum cherry, mountain black cherry, eastern black cherry
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is a shrub or small tree common in North and South America. It grows quickly, reaching a height of 50 to 90 feet. The leaves are dark green, simple, alternate, and ovate, with serrated margins. The flowers are small white racemes, while the edible fruit is an oval berry that turns black when ripe.
The black cherry thrives well in Eastern Nebraska’s rich, fertile, deep soils. As a result, this tree is an excellent attracter to birds and mammals.
18. Black Locust Grows Even in the Poorest Soil
Other names: Common locust, green locust, pea flower locust, false acacia, yellow locust, white locus
The black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a medium-sized tree native to North America but has spread to other areas. It grows as an upright shrubby tree or a bush up to 30-50 feet tall and 3-4 meters in diameter.
The tree is very competitive and can do well in all soil types, including poor soil. The bark of this tree is reddish black, dark brown, light gray, and dark gray with a scally and ridged surface. Also, the leaves have a compound, ovate, alternate arrangement with an entire margin. It has dark green/blue and small yellow flowers in the spring.
The fruit is a sharp-tipped, shiny brown pod that bursts open when ripe and releases seeds eaten by birds and other animals. Further, bees use this tree to produce the best-tasting honey.
The wood of this tree is very hard, heavy, and strong, with a pale yellowish brown. People love using it for firewood, but it’s also great for fence posts, furniture flooring, boat building, and more.
19. White Spruce for Unique White Cream-Colored Wood
Other names: Black Hills spruce, Canadian spruce, cat spruce, Black Hills spruce
The white spruce (Picea glauca) is a coniferous tree with a cone-shaped crown that grows to 30-60 feet. The tree has a flattened, round shape and dark green foliage. White spruce grows best in northern America, but you can also find it in the southern parts of Canada.
The leaves are blue-green, needle-like, thin, and long. The bark is scaly, ash brown, or grayish-brown. White spruce cones are cylindrical and white or green when young, turning brown when mature.
White spruce is among the best types of trees in Nebraska that are important to wildlife as it provides foliage for rabbits, deer, and others. Also, it’s a great source of wood for cabin construction, food containers, pallets, and more.
20. Honeylocust Is Excellent for Windbreaks and Erosion Control
Other names: Thorny-locust, sweet bean tree, sweet locust
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is a fast-growing, large deciduous tree found mainly in the Great Plains. Even though it grows rapidly, it is a short-lived plant with a nearly 120-year life span.
This tree is hardy, adaptable, aggressive, and invasive. It’s also drought tolerant and grows well in most soil types, even in restricted soil zones. It can grow up to 60-80 feet. Its leaves are compound, pinnate, bipinnate, or palmate with an alternate arrangement. In addition, they have thorns that are about 3 inches long; they can be single or three branches.
There are thornless and fruitless varieties available that have been developed for landscaping purposes.
What Is the Fastest-Growing Tree in Nebraska?
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra). It can grow at over two feet every year for ten years. It has a mature height of 60-75 feet and is 45 feet spread. In addition, this tree does well in slightly well-drained acidic soil, and it grows round.
What Is the Best Time to Plant Trees in Nebraska?
The best time to plant trees in Nebraska depends on the tree you want to grow. For most trees, the best time to plant is in the spring, when the weather is warm and the ground is soft. This allows the roots to take hold and the tree to grow quickly.
However, early fall is also a good time for planting trees in Nebraska. Fall planting allows the trees to establish themselves before the cold winter weather sets in.
What Is the Easiest Tree to Maintain in Nebraska?
The easiest tree to maintain in Nebraska is the Eastern Redbud. This tree is native to the state and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, making it a low-maintenance option for homeowners. The Eastern Redbud is also relatively disease-and pest-resistant, reducing the care it needs.
Learn more about other trees:
