Coon Rapids Launches 2026 Arbor Day Plant Sale Offering Discounted Trees, Shrubs, and Native Plant Kits

COON RAPIDS, Minn.

As spring approaches across Minnesota, the City of Coon Rapids is once again inviting residents to help grow the community’s urban forest through its 2026 Arbor Day Tree and Plant Sale, an annual initiative that allows homeowners to purchase trees, shrubs, and native plant kits at discounted wholesale prices.

The program, organized by the city’s Forestry Division, is designed to encourage residents to plant more trees and pollinator-friendly vegetation throughout the community while expanding the local tree canopy and supporting environmental sustainability.

Orders for the 2026 sale are now open and will remain available until Friday, April 17, or until inventory sells out, with plants distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

A Community Program Rooted in Arbor Day

The tree sale is tied to Arbor Day, the national tree-planting celebration that will be observed in Minnesota on April 24, 2026, with the entire month of May recognized statewide as Arbor Month.

Cities across Minnesota mark the occasion with events and programs encouraging residents to plant trees, which help provide shade, improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and create habitat for birds and pollinators.

Coon Rapids’ annual plant sale is one of the city’s most visible community participation efforts connected to this broader environmental celebration.

Trees and Shrubs Available at Wholesale Prices

Through the sale, residents can purchase a wide variety of trees and shrubs suited to Minnesota’s climate. Trees are typically sold in #10 containers and stand about six feet tall, while shrubs are offered in smaller #2 containers about two feet in height.

Among the species offered this year are several shade, ornamental, and fruit trees, including:

• Sugar Maple, known for its vibrant fall foliage and use in maple syrup production
• Kentucky Coffeetree, a hardy urban tree tolerant of city conditions
• Ginkgo, prized for its distinctive fan-shaped leaves and disease resistance
• Redmond Linden, a popular street and yard tree
• Starlite Crabapple, valued for its spring blossoms and winter berries

Fruit trees such as North Star cherry and plum varieties are also available, along with shrubs including black chokeberry and red-twig dogwood, which provide winter color and wildlife habitat.

Native Plant Kits Designed for Pollinators and Wildlife

In addition to trees and shrubs, the program again includes native plant kits, which have become increasingly popular with residents interested in restoring prairie species and supporting pollinators.

Examples of available kits include:

• Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Kit designed to support Minnesota’s endangered state bee
• Songbird Special Kit featuring seed-producing plants that attract birds
• Short and Tidy Kit, a compact prairie mix suitable for smaller landscape areas
• Bee Lawn Seed Mix, combining low-maintenance grasses with clover and flowering species

Each kit typically contains 36 plants across six species, designed to establish small prairie patches or pollinator gardens.

Unlike the trees and shrubs, which are delivered directly to homes, native plant kits must be picked up at the city’s Public Works Open House scheduled for May 16 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Ordering and Delivery Details

Residents must place orders online through the city’s recreation and activities portal.

Key guidelines include:

• Limit of four trees or shrubs per Coon Rapids household
• No limit on native plant kits
• Orders accepted March 1 through April 17, or until sold out
• Home delivery scheduled during the week of April 27

Tree and shrub prices include tax and delivery, and plants will be placed in a shaded area at the address provided during ordering.

Before planting, residents are advised to contact Gopher State One Call to locate underground utilities at least two business days prior to digging.

Strengthening Coon Rapids’ Urban Forest

The Arbor Day sale is part of a broader effort by the city to strengthen its urban forestry program, which manages public trees, combats diseases such as Dutch elm disease, and maintains forested parks and trails across Coon Rapids.

City officials say programs like the annual tree sale help diversify the community’s tree population, which is critical for protecting the urban forest from pests, diseases, and climate stress.

By encouraging residents to plant new trees on private property, the city also expands canopy coverage beyond public parks and boulevards, helping improve air quality, reduce urban heat, and support wildlife habitats across neighborhoods.

How to Participate

Residents interested in participating in the 2026 Coon Rapids Arbor Day Plant Sale can view the full tree list and place orders through the city’s online store before the April 17 deadline.

With quantities limited each year, city officials recommend ordering early.

MinneapoliMedia