{"title":"Best Shade Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 3 varieties in our catalog that scored 8 or higher out of 10 for shade. Scored on canopy, form and longevity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn 8 is Very good on the adapted Beach (1905) grade, a 9 is Very good to best and a 10 is Best. Varieties that scored 6 or 7 are genuinely good at this too, and you will find them under the matching Shop by Use group.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery score in this list is sourced. Nothing is here because it is popular, and nothing is here on our word alone. The full evidence, including what each variety scored for every other use and why, is in the use guide.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"cottonwood-bundle-of-2","title":"Cottonwood (Bundle of 2)","description":"\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eA large, spreading tree reaching 60 to 90 feet in height and 40 to 60 feet in spread. This native species is found along waterways and wet meadows throughout the Plains states.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eTough and Adaptable\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eIt offers greater drought and alkalinity tolerance than many of the \u003cem\u003eeuramericana\u003c\/em\u003e hybrid poplars. Hardy to zone 2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eLow-Maintenance Bonus\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThese trees are male, and therefore don’t shed the fuzzy seeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThese trees are roughly 5 ft. tall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eImages courtesy of Matt Lavin.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"5-6 ft. tall","offer_id":42535368589378,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/cottonwood-leaves.webp?v=1789019810"},{"product_id":"northern-red-oak-bundle-of-3","title":"Oak, Northern Red (Bundle of 3)","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eNorthern Red Oak is an oak native to the eastern deciduous forest. Living up to 400 years, Red Oak has been an important timber species, as it is often used in flooring, furniture, interior trim, and veneer. The acorns can be collected in the Fall, shelled, tied up in a cloth and leached in water to remove bitterness. They can then be turned into a flour. Hardy to zone 3.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese trees are 3-4 ft. with good, developed root systems.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"3-4 ft.","offer_id":42535394869314,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/northern-red-oak-acorns.webp?v=1789020680"},{"product_id":"bur-oak-bundle-of-3","title":"Bur Oak (Bundle of 3)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-excerpt\" data-content-field=\"excerpt\" id=\"yui_3_17_2_1_1760990612189_127\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"80\" data-end=\"113\"\u003eOverview \u0026amp; Native Range\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"114\" data-end=\"313\"\u003eMontana’s only native Oak, Bur oak is at the extreme western edge of its more common Eastern\/Midwestern range in Montana, where there is a localized, though fairly large, occurrence in Carter County.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"315\" data-end=\"347\"\u003ePerformance in Montana\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"348\" data-end=\"483\"\u003eDoes very well in Missoula once its taproot gets established. There are mature Oak trees over 70 ft. on University of Montana’s campus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"485\" data-end=\"511\"\u003eUses \u0026amp; Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"512\" data-end=\"581\"\u003eNuts can be used as long as the tannins are leached. Hardy to zone 3.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"583\" data-end=\"602\"\u003eTree Size\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"603\" data-end=\"631\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThese trees are 3-5 ft. tall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"3-5 ft.","offer_id":42535335329858,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/bur-oak-acorns-on-branch.jpg?v=1789019775"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/best-shade-trees.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}