The extreme southeast region of Minnesota commonly referred to as the Driftless Area, is home to the Rochester Plateau and Blufflands subsections. This region includes all or parts of Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Wabasha, Washington, and Winona counties.

A rolling, high plateau of windblown silt over glacial till in the west and bedrock in the east, the soil depth in this region generally decreases from west to east. Plant communities were historically dominated by oak forests, maple-basswood forests, riparian forests, and tallgrass prairies and oak savannas in the drier areas. The eastern blufflands were extensively eroded by rivers and streams. Broad ridge tops, steep coulees, and deep valleys were dominated by oak, shagbark hickory-basswood forests on moist slopes, oak-basswood-black walnut forests in the valleys and prairies on the ridge tops and dry valleys.

The following species are not currently native to Ecoregion 9, but this region's future climate may be suitable  to support habitat for these species. Extension Forestry is interested in learning more about these species, and we want to know if any of these species are already present on the landscape in Region 9. Learn more about each species using the drop-down buttons below.

Photo by MN DNR

Pignut hickory has alternate, pinnately compound leaves with 5-7 leaflets. Like other hickories, it produces nuts that are valued by wildlife but are quite bitter. Settlers fed the nuts to their pigs, hence the name pignut. Pignut hickory is native to much of the eastern and central U.S., but is not native in MN. This species is hardy to zones 4-9. Learn more about pignut hickory on the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Photo by Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

Pecan, otherwise called hardy pecan, is native to the south-central U.S. and is hardy to zones 5-9. The leaves are alternative and pinnately compound. The nuts are sweet and edible (perfect for pecan pie!), and the husks split into four sections in the fall. Pecan is the largest tree in the hickory genus (Carya), and it develops a wide, spreading growth form where the lower branches becoming sweeping and low to the ground with age. Learn more about pecan on the NC State Extension Horticulture page. 

Photo by Ryan Armbrust, Kansas Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Black hickory is native to the central U.S. primarily in Missouri and Arkansas, with the northern end of its range extending into Illinois. It is a small to medium sized tree, with 5-7 leaflets per compound leave. The bark is not shaggy like other hickories, and is dark gray and coarsely rough-textured.  Like other hickories, black  hickory supports many species of insects, mammals, and birds. It's hardy to zones 5-9. Learn more about black hickory on the Illinois Wildflowers page.

Photo by Brenda K. Loveless, Wildflower Center Digital Library

Mockernut hickory, also know as white hickory, has mostly white wood and leaves similar to the other hickories. The species epithet "tomentosa" (covered in hair) refers to the fuzzy stems near the buds.It produces edible nuts for up to 200 years, and provides habitat to many species of wildlife, including many butterflies and moths. Mockernut hickory is native to much of the eastern, central, and southeastern U.S. It is hardy to zones 4-9. Learn more about mockernut hickory on the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Photo by Vern Wilkins, Indiana University, Bugwood.org

Sugarberry is a large tree with light green, simple, alternate leaves that have a rough leaf surface but smooth leaf edges. Sugarberry bark is warty. Hackberry, a cousin native to Minnesota, has rough leaves with toothed edges and bark that is warty and ridged. Both trees have small edible fruit. Sugarberry is considered hardy from plant zones 5a-10b. To learn more about this species and how to identify it visit the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Photo from iNat by sambiology

This small understory tree that has conspicuous small purple flowers along the stem in early spring. It's considered hardy from plant zones 4a-9b. To learn more about this species and how to identify it visit the NC State Extension Horticulture page or the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension website. This tree is not considered native to Minnesota and is planted in some communities including Rochester and the Twin Cities.

Photo from iNaturalist by m_whitson 

This small understory has conspicuous large white flowers in the early spring and opposite leaf arrangement, unlike our native alternate-leaf dogwood. Flowering dogwood is considered hardy from plant zones 5a - 9b. To learn more about this species and how to identify it visit the NC State Extension Horticulture page. In 1978, dogwood anthracnose was first reported in the US and has killed flowering dogwood trees since. This tree is not considered native in Minnesota and we're unaware of it being planted in the state possibly because of disease risk. 

Photo from iNaturalist by nathanaaron

Common persimmon is native to the central and eastern U.S. and is hardy to zones 4-9. It produces delicious fruit in the fall, which provides food for wildlife as well as humans. A key feature of this species is the lack of terminal buds on the branches, since the tree never goes dormant. This species also has checkerboard-like bark that can be used for identification. Learn more about common persimmon on the NC State Extension Horticulture page. 

Photo from iNaturalist by laalv1

American beech is a large, long-lived overstory tree with characteristic gray bark that remains smooth into maturity. American beech can be found growing along ravines and valleys, and the northern end of its native range extends into Illinois. It can be found as far south as Florida. The nuts are a preferred food for many wildlife species and its large crown provides habitat for many species of mammals and birds. American beech is hardy to zones 3-9. Learn more about American beech on the UMN website.

Forest health threat: Beech bark disease kills American beech due to the combination of the introduced beech scale insect and several fungal species. Beech bark disease has been detected as far west as eastern Wisconsin.

Photo from iNaturalist by morekari

Yellow-poplar or tulip tree, is a tall, slender tree with unique alternate leaves with 4-lobes that resemble the silhouette of a cat face. It also has large pale yellow tulip-shaped flowers in early summer after the leaves emerge. It is considered hardy from plant zone 4-9. To learn more about this species and how to identify it visit the NC State Extension Horticulture page or the UMN website.

Photo from iNat by conorflynn.

Osage-orange is a medium sized tree with large baseball size yellow-green, inedible, fruit on female trees. The name is derived from this orange-like fruit. The leaves are simple, elongated egg-shaped with smooth edges. Thorns form below the leaves on new shoots. The bark is furrowed, orange-brown to gray-brown with an irregular criss-crossed pattern. It is considered hardy from plant zone 4-9. To learn more about this species and how to identify it visit the NC State Extension Horticulture page or the UMN website.

Photo from iNat by mariposa21157

Blackgum has a wide range, from southern Ontario, across the eastern U.S., to Mexico. It's hardy to zones 4-9.  Its leaves are simple, alternate, and elliptical in shape. It produces blue berry-like drupes in September and October. Its fruit and flowers is prized by pollinators and other wildlife. Learn more about blackgum on the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Photo by Franklin Bonner, USFS (ret.), Bugwood.org

Slash pine is a 2 to 3-needle pine that is native along the Gulf Coast and hardy to zones 8-11. It develops an egg-shape crown that eventually becomes flattened with age, and its cones are ovular in shape. The bark of slash pine is furrowed and scaly, ranging in color from dark brown to red. It tolerates poorer soils, including wet or extremely sandy soils. Learn more about slash pine on the NC State Extension Horticulture page. 

Photo by Mary Keim, iNaturalist

Virginia pine is a 2-needled pine that is native to the east-central U.S. and hardy to zones 4-8. The needles are short and twisting. The cones are small, conical and spiny. The tree does not develop a central leader. Learn more about Virginia pine on the NC State Extension Horticulture page. 

Photo by Suzanna Cadwell

Sycamore is a large deciduous tree with reddish brown, scaly bark at the base that appears white nearer to the crown. The leaves look similar to grape leaves, and the twigs are zig-zag patterned. It produces large spherical fruit. Sycamore is native across the eastern U.S. and its northern range extends into Iowa. It's hardy to zones 4-9. Learn more about sycamore on the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Photo by Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

Scarlet oak is a tree in the red oak group that produces brilliant bright red foliage. The leaves have 7-9 lobes that re deeply divided and C-shaped. Scarlet oak is a relatively fast-growing oak and its acorns are eaten by many species of wildlife, like other oak species. The acorn of scarlet oak has a deep bowl-like, shiny, scaly cap. Scarlet oak is hardy to zones 4-9. Learn more about scarlet oak on the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Forest health threat: Scarlet oak is very susceptible to oak wilt, a fungal pathogen that kills oaks. Oak wilt kills red oaks more rapidly than white oaks. 

Photo by Franklin Bonner, USFS (ret.), Bugwood.org

Shingle oak is native to the eastern and central U.S. and is hardy to zones 4-8. It develops a round or conical form. Its leaves are glossy, leathery and elliptical in shape, unlike other oaks. Regardless of this difference in appearance, this oak is in the red oak group of oaks, similar to MN's northern red oak. Learn more about shingle oak on the NC State Extension Horticulture page. 

Forest health threat: Shingle oak is very susceptible to oak wilt, a fungal pathogen that kills oaks. Oak wilt kills red oaks more rapidly than white oaks. 

Photo by Richard Webb, Bugwood.org

This medium-sized oak tree or shrub  has unique shiny, leathery leaves with W-shaped lobes at the top. As with all oak leaves they arranged oppositely on the twig. The bark is black to dark brown with rectangular plates or blocks. It will have acorns and brown to deep red leaves in the fall.  It has been mentioned for planting in Minnesota and is considered hardy from plant zone 6a-9b. To learn more about this species and how to identify it visit the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Forest health threat: Blackjack oak is very susceptible to oak wilt, a fungal pathogen that kills oaks. Oak wilt kills red oaks more rapidly than white oaks. 

Photo from iNat by dillon_freiburger.

Shumard oak is a large tree in the red oak group that is native to much of the southeastern U.S. Like other oaks, it provides many benefits to wildlife through food and habitat. The acorns are ovoid with shallow caps. Shumard oak is hardy to zones 5-9. Learn more about Shumard oak on the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Forest health threat: Shumard oak is very susceptible to oak wilt, a fungal pathogen that kills oaks. Oak wilt kills red oaks more rapidly than white oaks. 

Photo by T. David Sydnor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org

Post oak is a species in the white oak group that is native to much of the eastern and southeastern U.S. The leaves can be distinguished from other white oaks by the two middle lobes that are square-shaped, which gives the leaves a cross-like appearance. Post oak is hardy to zones 5-9. Learn more about post oak on the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Forest health threat: Post oak is susceptible to oak wilt, a fungal pathogen that kills oaks. Oak wilt kills white white oaks are less quickly than red oaks (such as northern red oak and northern pin oak).

Photo by Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

Sassafras is an aromatic, medium-sized tree. The leaves are alternately arranged and variable with smooth edges shaped as ovals, mittens or three lobbed. It is considered hardy from plant zone 4a-9b. To learn more about this species and how to identify it visit the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Photo from iNat by vis5121.

Chittamwood, or gum bumelia, is native to the south-central U.S. and northeastern Mexico. This is a tree of many names - in addition to chittamwood or gum bumelia, it can be called by some other interesting names such as gum bully, gum woolybucket, shittamwood, or false buckthorn. It's hardy to zones 6-10. It has simple, alternate, oblong leaves and the branches can develop thorns. It also produces small black fruits that are eaten by wildlife, and pollinators visit the flowers. Learn more about chittamwood on the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Photo by John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Eastern hemlock is a large, dominant canopy conifer tree native to small pockets of Minnesota. It's listed by MN DNR as endangered so cannot be taken, imported, transported or sold. It has small cones and small flat needles and dark brown-gray, fissured or ridge bark. It's considered hard from plant zones 3a-7b. Hemlock wood adelgid has killed many hemlock trees southeast of MN. To learn more about identification visit the UMN website and the NC State Extension Horticulture page.

Photo by Bill Cook, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org