Conservation Forestry Product List

Available products may vary each season. Below are uses and species we most commonly offer. The Selecting Trees and Shrubs for Conservation Plantings document can also be used to help select the best tree(s) for your uses. Click the headings to expand and see our extensive selection of tree products.

Type of Tree

Deciduous Trees

Deciduous trees are woody plants typically reaching a mature height of 15 feet or more and are single stemmed for several feet above the base. Adaptability, height, rate of growth, are some of the factors needed to be taken into account before selecting a particular species.

These trees are generally used in the inner rows of windbreaks for height, providing food and cover for large animals and wildlife such as deer and turkey. Deciduous trees are often used for soil stabilization because of their deep root systems.

The Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program proudly offers these bare-root deciduous tree seedlings.

Evergreen Trees

Evergreen trees are woody plants typically reaching a mature height of 15 feet or more and are single stemmed for several feet above the base. Typically, these plants experience moderate growth rates, with adaptability to sites dependant on species, but typically do not well on wet sites. Evergreens produce cones of various sizes depending on species.

Evergreens are typically used as the dense aspect of windbreaks and to provide cover for large animals and wildlife.

Evergreens purchased through Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program are bare-root or "containerized", depending on species. Containerized species are grown in a tube in a greenhouse; Plants maintain their entire root system when containerized because they are not harvested from a field grown environment. Root systems are more intact and fibrous. Bare-root species arrive without any soil attached to their roots.

The Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program proudly offers these evergreen tree seedlings:

Non-Plant Items

The Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program offers non-plant items to assist you in developing your conservation tree plantings. Among these items are weed barrier fabric, rabbit protective tubes, root protective slurry, and marking flags.

Shrubs

Shrubs are woody plants typically less than 15 feet tall at maturity and branched close, or at, the base. These plants are often fast growing, adaptable to wide variety of sites, and drought tolerant.

Shrubs are often used for outside rows of windbreaks, providing food and cover for small animals including upland birds and songbirds. Shrubs create an “edge” effect needed for good upland bird habitat. In addition, many of the shrubs offered through the Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program provide edible fruit able to be used for jellies, jams, and pies. Shrubs also may used in conjunction with deciduous trees for soil stabilization because of their dense root systems.

The Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program proudly offers these bare-root shrub seedlings.

Prepared Bundles

Bundles are comprised of several species of trees only, or trees and shrubs, depending on which bundles are selected.

The Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program proudly offers these specialty bundles.

Windbreaks

Deciduous Trees for Windbreaks

The best deciduous trees for windbreaks are listed below, with large trees first and medium-sized trees in the second list. When choosing a species, be sure to consider soil characteristics before making a final decision. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted.

Bur Oak (E,C,W)
English Oak (C,W)
Hackberry (E,C,W)
Lacebark Elm (W)
Northern Red Oak (E,C)
Shumard Oak (E,C,W)

Evergreen Trees for Windbreaks

Eastern Redcedar is considered the best evergreen for windbreaks. Most professionals consider it the back bone of a windbreak. It is favored because:

It grows well, statewide, on all soils except for extremely wet sites.
It is the only native evergreen tree in Kansas.
It holds its lower branches much longer than do the pines and therefore, functions as a windbreak much longer than the pines.
It is easier and quicker to get established than the pines.
Its insect and disease problems are less serious than those on pines.

Rocky Mountain Juniper is considered the equivalent of Eastern redcedar in extreme western Kansas. It is not suited to the humid environment of eastern Kansas as disease problems can occur.

In spite of the above strengths, many people prefer to use pines as the evergreen component of windbreaks. A good compromise is to plant 1 or 2 rows of Eastern redcedar on the back side and complete the planting with pine on the side towards the house so that you can enjoy the service provided by Eastern redcedar and the beauty of the pine. Certainly one advantage pines have over Eastern redcedar is they do not spread in pastures.

Ponderosa Pine is the most drought and alkaline/salinity tolerant of the pines. It has the reputation of being susceptible to pine tip moth. However, the Ponderosa pine provided through the Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program are grown from seed collected in north central Nebraska, which has been shown to be tolerant of the tip moth. Also, there is some evidence to suggest that it has some resistance to common diseases. It is adapted to a more arid environment and planting this species where there is high humidity will increase the likelihood of disease problems.

Shrubs for Windbreaks

The best shrubs for windbreaks are listed below. Be sure to consider soil characteristics before making a final decision. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted.

Fragrant Sumac (E,C,W)
Golden Currant (E,C,W)
Lilac (E,C,W)

The shrubs in the list below work very well for windbreaks, but their thicket forming growth pattern is considered objectionable to some people.

American Plum (E,C,W)
Sand Hill Plum (E,C,W)
Choke Cherry (E,C,W)

Type of Environment

Wildlife Habitat

The best plants for wildlife are categorized below, with evergreens listed first, deciduous trees second, and shrubs last. When choosing a species, be sure to consider soil characteristics before making the final decision. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted. For an interactive map of the soil type in your area, click here.

Black Walnut (E,C,W)
Bur Oak (E,C,W)
English Oak (C,W)
Hackberry (E,C,W)
Pecan (E,C)
Northern Red Oak (E,C)
American Plum (E,C,W)
Choke Cherry (E,C,W)
Elderberry (E,C)
Fragrant Sumac (E,C,W)
Golden Currant (E,C,W)
Sand Hill Plum (E,C,W)

Riparian Zones

The best plants for riparian zones are listed below, categorized first for wet sites, followed by upland sites. Be sure to consider soil characteristics before making a final decision. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted. For an interactive map of the soil type in your area, click here.

Silver Maple (E,C)
Cottonwood (E,C,W)
Baldcypress (E)
Sycamore (E,C)
American Plum (E,C,W)
Choke Cherry (E,C,W)
Sand Hill Plum (E,C,W)
Elderberry (E,C)
Buttonbush
False Indigo

Wet Sites

The following trees are specially adapted to grow quickly on wet sites. None of the evergreens offered through the Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program are well suited for wet sites. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted. For an interactive map of the soil type in your area, click here.

Baldcypress (E)
Cottonwood (E,C,W)
Silver Maple (E,C)
Sycamore (E,C)
Elderberry (E,C)
Buttonbush
False Indigo

Dry Sites

The following plants are specially adapted to grow in dry soils. Evergreens are found in the first list, tall deciduous trees second, medium height deciduous trees third, and shrubs in the final list. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted. For an interactive map of the soil type in your area, click here.

Calcareous Sites

The following plants are specially adapted to tolerate chalky soils, which often include deposits of calcium, calcium carbonate, calcite and limestone. If your planting area includes these soil characteristics, these plants may grow best. Evergreens are listed first, tall deciduous trees listed second, medium-height deciduous trees thirds, and shrubs last. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted. For an interactive map of the soil type in your area, click here.

Saline Sites

A tree's rate of growth, ultimate height and general health is strongly influenced by soil characteristics. The following plants are specially adapted to grow in saline sites where other species might fail. Evergreens are listed first, deciduous trees second, and shrubs third. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted. For an interactive map of the soil type in your area, click here.

Shady Sites

All of the plants carried by the Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program are capable of growing in full sun light. Only a few species will tolerate low light situations. These species, which grow in moderate sun light (50%), are listed below. Evergreens may be found in the first list, deciduous trees in the second list, and shrubs in the third. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted. For an interactive map of the soil type in your area, click here.

Type of Benefits

Edible Fruit

Several plant species found in Kansas produce fruit that is edible by humans and wildlife. The following list contains species available through the Kansas Conservation Tree Planting Program. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted.

American Plum (E,C,W)
Black Walnut (E,C,W)
Chickasaw Plum (E,C,W)
Choke Cherry (E,C,W)
Elderberry (E,C)
Golden Currant (E,C,W)
Pecan (E,C)
Sand Hill Plum (E,C,W)

Christmas Trees

Southwestern White Pine is found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. It is very drought tolerant and is adaptable to a wide range of sites except poorly drained sites. Opinions vary as to how it shapes when pruned. There are few pests associated with this species. At this time, it is unknown what effects pine wilt will have on this species.

Eastern White Pine often bring premium prices due to the soft, delicate foliage. However, they have a tendency to winter burn, have limber branches which may not support heavy ornaments, have a lower survival rate than Austrian Pine, and they prefer moist, well drained soils. Despite these limitations, many growers still use Eastern white pine in their plantings. Pine wilt occasionally kills this species.

Fiber and Timber

The decision of which species to plant for fiber or timber production is usually determined by the soil type. The most commonly selected are listed below. Letters following each species indicate which third of the state - eastern (E), central (C), or western (W) - the associated species has adapted.