Planting the Future: Coon Rapids Launches 2026 Arbor Day Tree and Native Plant Sale

COON RAPIDS, MN

As winter slowly loosens its grip across Minnesota, the City of Coon Rapids is inviting residents to help shape the community’s environmental future one tree at a time.

The city has opened orders for its 2026 Arbor Day Tree and Shrub Sale, an annual program that allows residents to purchase a selection of climate-appropriate trees, shrubs, and native plant kits designed to strengthen the local tree canopy while supporting pollinators and wildlife habitat across the community.

Organized by the Coon Rapids Forestry Division, the program offers plants at reduced, community-supported pricing while encouraging residents to play a direct role in expanding the city’s urban forest. Orders are accepted online only and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies sell out or until Friday, April 17.

Residents can review the program details and plant selection through the city’s official materials and ordering portal.

Tree sale flyer:
https://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18308/Tree-Sale-Flyer-2026

Online ordering portal:
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/coonrapids/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&activity_select_param=2&activity_category_ids=25&viewMode=list

Ordering Details and Deadlines

City officials emphasize that the program is limited by available inventory, making early orders important for residents hoping to secure specific tree varieties.

Key details include:

Availability:
All plants are sold first-come, first-served until inventory is depleted.

Ordering deadline:
Friday, April 17, 2026, or earlier if items sell out.

How to order:
Residents must order and pay online through the city’s official activity portal.

Household Limits and Pricing

To ensure broad community participation, the city has established purchase limits for certain items.

Trees and shrubs
• Limit of four per household
• Price: $45 each (tax included)

Native plant kits
• No purchase limit
• Price: $40 each (tax included)

The pricing reflects a city-supported effort to make ecological landscaping more accessible to residents while expanding tree diversity across neighborhoods.

Delivery Scheduled for Late April

All trees and shrubs purchased through the program will be delivered directly to participating households during the week of April 27.

City staff will place the plants in the front yard of the listed address, and residents are asked to ensure their house number is clearly visible from the street to facilitate delivery.

Native plant kits will follow a different process. Those orders will be available for pickup during the city’s Public Works Open House scheduled for May 16, where residents can also learn more about municipal services and environmental programs.

Trees and Shrubs Selected for Minnesota Landscapes

Each year the program offers species chosen for their ability to thrive in Minnesota’s climate while contributing to ecological resilience.

Among the shade and ornamental trees typically available are varieties such as:

• American Dream Oak, a hardy oak cultivar well suited for residential landscapes
• Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple, known for its vibrant autumn color and strong structure
• Northern Empress Japanese Elm, valued for its disease resistance and adaptability

The sale also includes shrubs selected for both visual appeal and ecological value, including:

• Common Purple Lilac, a Minnesota classic prized for its fragrant spring blooms
• Highbush Cranberry, which provides food for birds and wildlife
• Red-twig Dogwood varieties, recognized for their striking red stems during winter months

These species selections help diversify the community’s tree population, an increasingly important strategy as municipalities across the Midwest respond to threats from pests, disease, and climate stress.

Native Plant Kits Support Pollinators and Prairie Ecosystems

In recent years, native plant kits have become one of the most popular features of the Coon Rapids sale, reflecting growing public interest in pollinator gardens and prairie restoration.

The kits include curated combinations of native species designed to thrive in Minnesota soils and weather conditions. Popular collections typically include:

• Butterfly and Pollinator Garden Kits, designed to attract bees and butterflies
• Shade Garden Kits, suited for wooded or partially shaded yards
• Rain Garden Kits, which help absorb stormwater while supporting native plants

Many of the kits contain 36 plants across multiple species, allowing residents to establish small prairie gardens that bloom throughout the growing season while supporting pollinators.

The initiative also aligns with broader conservation efforts in Minnesota aimed at protecting species such as the rusty patched bumble bee, which was listed as federally endangered in 2017.

Strengthening the City’s Urban Forest

The Arbor Day tree sale is part of Coon Rapids’ ongoing urban forestry strategy, which focuses on expanding tree canopy coverage, increasing species diversity, and encouraging sustainable landscaping across both public and private property.

Urban forests play a vital role in community health. Trees provide shade that reduces urban heat, absorb carbon dioxide, filter pollutants from the air, slow stormwater runoff, and create habitat for birds and pollinators.

Across Minnesota, cities have increasingly prioritized tree planting as a long-term environmental investment, particularly as communities confront challenges ranging from emerald ash borer infestations to changing climate conditions.

What Residents Should Do Before Planting

Before planting any tree or shrub, residents are strongly encouraged to contact Gopher State One Call at least two business days in advance to ensure underground utilities are properly located.

This free statewide service helps prevent accidental damage to buried gas, electrical, water, or telecommunications lines.

Residents may also wish to review planting guides included in the city’s tree sale materials to ensure proper spacing, watering, and soil preparation.

Why It Matters

Programs like the Coon Rapids Arbor Day Tree and Plant Sale reflect a growing recognition that urban environmental stewardship begins at the neighborhood level.

When residents plant trees and native gardens in their own yards, the cumulative impact extends far beyond individual properties. Together, those plantings help build healthier ecosystems, support pollinators, cool neighborhoods, and strengthen the natural character of the community for generations to come.

For Coon Rapids residents, the annual sale offers a simple opportunity to participate in that shared responsibility — one tree, one shrub, and one garden at a time.

MinneapoliMedia
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