13 Trees You Should Buy Bare-Root

You may wonder how trees tolerate being without soil in winter. Not all plants like this culture—evergreen species that grow during cold temperatures are not good candidates, while those that enter winter dormancy are excellent choices. 

Deciduous trees lose their leaves and pull their energy reserves into woody tissues. This protects them amidst frosty weather, allowing them to emerge in spring with fresh, healthy growth. Because leaves are the main way they breathe and photosynthesize, the trees tolerate bare roots when they’re leafless.

This tolerance is short-lived. Bare roots are good for a week before you must put them in the ground. Cold, dry winds are frequent during the winter, and they suck moisture out of the tender roots. Hydrate them in water buckets, or pack them in moist sawdust to protect them from frost. 

So, which species will you choose? Fruit and nut-bearing, flowering, and shade trees all make this list, offering you the ultimate selection.

Bing
Cherry

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Bing Cherry Tree

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Black Tartarian Cherry

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Black Tartarian Cherry Tree

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Fuji
Apple

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Fuji Apple Tree

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Apple

	common name Apple
	botanical name Malus domestica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-30’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Apples are one of the most abundant trees in bare-root bins. They’re common because they readily produce large crops of fruit that are delicious, nutritious, and fun to preserve. Apples make sweet jam, jelly, pie, butter, and cider. The options are endless!

Most are available in fall or early spring. Midwinter isn’t an ideal planting time, as frequent frosts and frozen soil may damage tender saplings. The trees are dormant in fall and still have closed buds as spring begins. Avoid buying soilless apple specimens if their buds break open, as they won’t transplant well. 

Though most apples grow in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9, some may work well in zone 10. Find types with low chill hours like ‘Tropical Beauty,’ ‘Adina,’ or ‘Fuji.’ Chill hours tell you how long your apple saplings need to sit in cold weather before blooming. You can find your perfect types by aligning their chill hour requirements with how long your garden stays cold. 

Pear

	common name Pear
	botanical name Pyrus communis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 40-50’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Pears, like apples, prefer growing in temperate climates with significant winter frost. Native to northern Europe and Iraq, they’re tall-reaching fruit trees that transplant well with bare roots. Find them alongside apples, plums, and cherries in sawdust bins at local nurseries. 

Though traditional pears reach between 40 and 50 feet tall, there are dwarf cultivars that make harvesting an easy task. Look for specimens with dwarf rootstock; their short-reaching roots limit the top growth. You’ll need two varieties that flower simultaneously for an optimal fruit set. 

Plum

	common name Plum
	botanical name Prunus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10-30’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Plums are iconic snacking fruits! They grow on lovely trees that are incredibly ornamental. Plums sprout white or pink blooms on naked stems in spring, inviting dozens of bees and pollinators to the site. Because they’re deciduous, young saplings can tolerate short stints without soil on their roots. Always inspect the available options and choose the healthiest of the bunch.

Plums offer a selection comparable to apples. We gardeners love them! Records show that we’ve been cultivating them for thousands of years. Give your plum a site with well-drained soil, consistent moisture, and plenty of direct sunlight. 

Cherry

	common name Cherry
	botanical name Prunus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15-80’
	hardiness zones 2-8

Cherry trees decorate old orchards, gardens, and farms. They’re classic North American trees with a graceful habit. Though most types stay under 30 feet tall, the U.S. native black cherry tree can reach 80 feet tall! Many native and non-native species grow delicious, edible cherries. The right cherry for you depends on your garden and its climate. 

If you like the appearance of black cherries but prefer the taste of sweeter varieties, opt for ‘Black Tartarian.’ It’s a sweet cherry with gorgeous black-red skin. When looking for one cherry, you should pick up two; cherries set fruit best when they have a friend nearby to pollinate them. ‘Bing’ is another delicious type that pairs well with ‘Black Tartarian.’

PawPaw

	common name PawPaw
	botanical name Asimina triloba
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 15-30’
	hardiness zones 5-9

PawPaws are the perfect native trees for small gardens! They grow fruit like mango or papaya with a fleshy, soft texture and sweet taste. Two separate varieties are necessary for pollination, though they reach 30 feet tall and easily fit into a small yard. 

Because this is a native species, local animals know about the delicious fruit! You may have to safeguard them with nylon nets or socks to protect them from squirrels, birds, and small mammals. PawPaws may be more difficult to find at local nurseries and plant shops than most fruit species, though they’re readily available at native plant nurseries. 

Persimmon

	common name Persimmon
	botanical name Diospyros spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 20-80’
	hardiness zones 4-10

Persimmons aren’t widely popular, though they should be! These fruiting species offer jelly-like fruits that work well in desserts, baked goods, and preserves. They’re also a treat for fresh eating when they’re ripe. Unripe persimmons are bitter, so be sure to let them ripen first before slicing them open.

Two main species of persimmon exist, the American persimmon and the Asian persimmon. The American one is tolerant of extreme frost, though it dislikes intense heat and may reach 80 feet or taller! The Asian persimmon is heat tolerant and hard frost intolerant, suitable for growers in zones 7 through 10. 

Hazel

	common name Hazel
	botanical name Corylus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 6-80’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Hazels produce dry fruits we call hazelnuts; they’re tasty when roasted and perfect for making homemade nut butter. Native species like the beaked hazelnut offer edible nuts to wildlife and habitat space for birds and squirrels. Non-native types offer impressive nut production, though they don’t mesh well with our ecosystems as much as their native counterparts.

Hazels require a few trees for an optimal fruit set, so pick two or three when choosing bare-root stock. The beaked hazel is a short tree under 12 feet tall while the Turkish hazel may reach 80 feet tall! Most types prefer direct sunlight, moist soil, and some shade in the afternoon during the hottest hours of the day.

Willow

	common name Willow
	botanical name Salix spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 10-80’
	hardiness zones 2-9

Fruit trees aren’t the only bare-root species you can grow! Ornamental types with lush flowers offer pops of color for bare gardens while towering shade trees protect gardeners from summer’s intense heat. Willows offer both—some have fuzzy flower buds in spring, while all types offer summer shade after their leaves grow in spring. 

Fast-growing, willows will adapt to their new home quickly after transplanting. Using stock material without soil is ideal, as it encourages more direct root contact with your garden’s native soil. The tree doesn’t have to grow in both potting soil and your garden soil, making it easier for it to thrive after its buds emerge in spring. 

Crabapple

	common name Crabapple
	botanical name Malus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 20-35’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Crabapples are like mini-versions of apples. Though you can eat them, they’re bitter and offer more ornamental than edible value. Some ways to process them include jam, jelly, and preserve making. A few species of crabapple exist, though dozens of varieties offer unique blooms, structures, and flower colors.

In the western U.S. choose the Oregon crabapple Malus fusca. The common crabapple Malus sylvestris and its relatives work well throughout temperate zones in the eastern and northern U.S. Protect the fruits from birds if you intend on processing them; otherwise, let the birds feast on them!

Ash

	common name Ash
	botanical name Fraxinus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 30-120’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Like willows, ash trees are hardy, fast-growing specimens that can reach impressive heights and thrive from bare-root planting. Though some species stay small, like Carolina ash, the white ash may grow to 120 feet tall! These woody species often grow near wet sites where moisture is abundant in the soil. 

Which ash is best for your yard depends on how much space you have and where you live. Many species are native to North America, like the Carolina, Oregon, white, blue, and green ashes. Choose a type that’ll fit in your space—you get bonus points if it’s endemic to your region! 

Maple

	common name Maple
	botanical name Acer spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 20-120’
	hardiness zones 2-9

Maples provide shade, nutritious resources for animals, and ornamental value in autumn as their leaves change colors. Many species have unique hues—find maples with red, yellow, orange, and purple foliage in fall. Some retain color during the growing season, like ‘Crimson King,’ which sports purple-maroon leaves that shine from spring through fall. 

Maples are essential native species in our local forests. The bigleaf maple grows wild throughout the Pacific Northwest, while red and black maples thrive in eastern forests. Though beautiful, these species grow well over 50 feet. Choose dwarf varieties for yards with little space. 

Red Oak

	common name Red Oak
	botanical name Quercus rubra
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 50-75’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Planting a tree is as much for yourself as for future generations. A tree lasts many lifetimes, creating links through generations. If you’re looking to plant a long-lived specimen, the red oak may be the one for you. They usually live to 300 years old, though healthy specimens may reach 500!

This oak sprouts lobed green leaves on multiple branches. The woody trunk forms a round crown over time that’s picture-perfect. Mature specimens produce acorns that grow red oak seedlings. 

Though this oak is widely available as a bare-root specimen, it doesn’t transplant well after it extends its taproot deep into the ground. Plant a young sapling once and let it grow uninterrupted for the best results.  

Japanese Tree Lilac 

	common name Japanese Tree Lilac
	botanical name Syringa reticulata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 25-30’
	hardiness zones 3-7

Japanese tree lilac is similar to other lilac bushes, except it reaches 30 feet in the air and grows like a tree! Tall branches extend from a central trunk and bloom fragrant, showy flower clusters in early spring. Though fragrant, the blooms are nowhere as sweet as traditional lilacs; they smell like boxwood or privet with a rankly sweet odor. 

The best part of Japanese tree lilacs is their non-suckering habit. Other lilacs grow many young shoots from the ground that mature into woody stems, forming dense thickets. This lilac sprouts a few main trunks and rarely has a suckering habit. Grow it in a container, or plant it at a focal point in the yard to stun onlookers with beauty!