The City of Hamilton is giving away Free Private Trees to Hamilton Residents. Plant a private tree on your property to improve air quality, fight climate change and increase property value. Trees must be planted on private property, preferably at the side or back of your home.
Pick-up Dates & Locations
Give away details
- Drive thru contactless pickup. Rain or shine.
- A variety of native tree species will be available, approximately 1 meter tall (2 gallon containers).
- 1 tree per address. Supplies are limited.
- Identification with matching name and address required for pickup.
- Do not arrive before your scheduled window as your tree will not be available for pickup.
- Homeowner is responsible to plant, water and maintain private tree.
- Call or click before you dig – OntarioOneCall.ca
Tree selections
Ironwood
Ostrya Virginia
Tree and planting information
- Small deciduous tree native to Eastern North America
- Bark is greyish-brown and divided into short longitudinal strips
- The name Hop-Hornbeam comes from the fruits of the Ironwood, which resemble clusters of hops.
- Brilliant yellow fall colour
- Slow growing pyramidal in shape aging to a wide spreading crown and long slender branches
- 7 – 12 meter height / 6 – 8 meter spread
- Plant in full sun to partial shade
- Tolerant of many soil types, sandy or gravelly, well drained to droughty
Where to Plant
- Small specimen tree for street or understory planting
- Naturalized planting to attract birds and small mammals
- Areas where space is limited
- Plant at least 6 meters from a building or other tree
sassafras
Sassafras albidium
Tree and planting information
- Small, almost growing tree
- Up to 9 – 20 m in height 7 – 10 meters wide
- Moist to dry soil conditions and is very adaptable
- All parts of the plants are fragrant with a spicy odor
- The flowers are small and yellow, and the fruit is dark blue on a red stalk
- Bark is orange-brown with deep grooves and forms soft corky ridges when it matures
- Fall color is a mix of yellows, oranges or reds.
Where to Plant
- Small specimen tree for street or understory planting
- Naturalized planting to attract birds and small mammals
- Areas where there is a large space
- Plant at least 6 meters from a building or other tree
- Can grow in full shade or full sun
Eastern Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Tree and planting information
- Small, slow growing tree that reaches 3 – 10 meters in height and 4 – 7 m wide
- Flowering dogwood is easily recognized in spring when 4 large white flower-like bracts appear before the leaves expand.
- Leaves are opposite, simple, often with wavy edges and turn red in the fall
- The bark of larger trees is brownish-grey and separated into scales, giving it the appearance of alligator ski.
- Tiny yellow flowers grow in clusters at the ends of small branches and are surrounded by four large, showy white leaves that look like petals.
- The fruits are also bright red, in clusters of two to six and may persist after the leaves have fallen
- The red fruits are bitter and inedible to humans but are enjoyed by many birds and small mammals in the fall.
- Prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils
Where to Plant
- Small specimen tree for street or understory planting
- Naturalized planting to attract birds and small mammals
- Areas where space is limited
- Plant at least 6 meters from a building or other tree
- Used as an ornamental and many horticultural cultivars exist
- Prefers light shade or full sun with ample moisture
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Tree and planting information
- Small tree, 4 – 8 m high and 5 – 7 m wide
- Rounded, spreading crown and forking branches
- Twigs are slender and zig-zagged
- Older bark is scaly and reddish-brown with orange-red patches
- In case, leaves turn yellow.
- Eastern redbud’s pink flowers offer one of the most colorful springtime displays.
- Flowers before the leaves emerge
Where to Plant
- Small specimen tree for street or understory planting
- Areas where space is limited
- Plant at least 6 meters from a building or other tree
- Used as an ornamental in parks, front yards and boulevards
- Prefers light shade or full sun with ample moisture
Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Tree and planting information
- Medium growing deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth
- Grows to about 6 m tall and 3 – 4 m wide
- The bark is gray and smooth but streaked with longitudinal fissures; often with a reddish cast
- Leaves are oval or round, less than 8 cm long, with fine teeth on the edges
- Clusters of white flowers appear in spring and tasty berries ripen early to mid-summer
- Small, edible berries are reddish-purple
- The deciduous leaves of downy service-berry may turn wine-red in fall
Where to Plant
- Small specimen tree for street or understory planting
- Areas where space is limited
- Plant at least 6 meters from a building or other tree
- Used as an ornamental in parks, front yards and boulevards
- Prefers shade to full sun
- Adaptable to different soil conditions, but grows best in moist, deep, well-drained soils
- It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard
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