Climate Resilient Trees

what types of trees should i plant as our climate changes?

Missoula’s climate is classified as semi-arid with an average rainfall of only 14” of annual precipitation and most landscape trees require an average of 25-35” per year. These dry conditions cause large summer temperature variations and allow early and late hard frosts to occur, which can damage or kill many species of trees. The cyclical low temperatures of -20 to -25 F places Missoula in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b. This Missoula County Office of Ecology & Extension recommends plants for hardiness zones 4-5.

With conditions changing due to climate impacts, it’s important to select species that are adaptable as Missoula becomes warmer. Given fluctuating weather patterns and climate uncertainty, we recommend planting a diversity of species that can handle changes in temperatures, precipitation, and increased wind and storms.

There are many species that will likely continue to thrive in our area! Check out our list of selected climate resilient species below. For a more comprehensive list, view our working document, Climate Resilient Trees for Missoula. You can also view the City of Missoula’s Approved Street Tree List for street trees appropriate for Missoula’s urban environment.

Selected climate resilient trees for Missoula:

Shade Trees:  Accolade elm (Ulmus japonica X wilsoniana ‘Morton’ )*, Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), Green Mountain Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa)*, Horse Chestnut or Northern buckeye (Aesculus spp), Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), Sienna Glen Freeman Maple (Acer freemanii ‘Sienna’)*, True Shade Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos ‘True Shade’)*

Drought tolerant: Doug Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)*, Gambel oak (Quercus gambeii), Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)*, New Horizon Elm (Ulmus ‘New Horizon)*, Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Sensation Boxelder (Acer negundo)*

Heat tolerant: Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos), New Horizon Elm (Ulmus davidiana)*, Sensation Boxelder (Acer negundo)*

Native species: Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)*, Doug Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)*, Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia),

*Fast growing